The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-08
RAILWAY WRECK AND FIRE.
Serious Loss of Life and Property Caused
by a Collision of Freight Trains.
Tank-Cars Explode and the Burning Oil Fires
an Extensive Mandatory and Other
Buildings-FOur Lives Lost
A DISASTROUS WRECK.
Four Men Killed and 100000 Worth
Property Destroyed.

Four Men Killed and 100000 Worth of
Property Destroyed.
New BRUNSWICK, n. J., Feb. AT o'clock
this morning an extra freight train from Phila-
delphia, owing to broken truck, stopped upon
the bridge over the Raritan river for repairs.
While waiting, through southern freight,
which Left Philadelphia at 1920 P. NJ, came
dashing along through the city, and not until
within 500 feet of the caboose of the extra did
the engineer see it The brakes were applied,
but to no purpose. The engine of the freight
struck the caboose of the extra and telescoped
it. The caboose struck an oil tank, of which
there were four in the train, and an explo-
sion followed Immediately. The burning
oil and wrecked cars were thrown over
and down from the high bridge into
the streets below. The burning oil
ran through the cutters down the streets into
the Raritan canal. This being covered with ice,
the oil ran over and down the canal to the wall
paper manufacturing establishment of Janeway
& Co., which was soon totally destroyed. Seven
dwellings opposite and in the immediate vicinity
of the collision, and just under the long railroad
bridge and building used as box factory by
the Consolidated Fruit-jar Company
also destroyed. The flames then spread to the
main factory of the company, which was wholly
destroyed By o'clock this morning the flames
were under control The wood work of the
bridge was burned, but the damage to
that structure has not yet been esti-
mated. Engineer French and fireman Harrison,
of the regular freight, jumped from the engine
when they saw collision was inevitable,
and escaped with but few bruises. A brakeman
on the front of the train, Frank Dumas OF
Kensington, Pa. failed to jump and was carried
down in the wreckage into the street below and
roasted to death. Patrick Daugherty, jr.,
young mechanic of this city, foolishly entered
the burning building of Janeway & Co., in
search of his tools, and has not been seen since;
it is feared that he, too is a victim of the most
terrible fire this city ever had. But for
favoring wind the whole manufacturing part of
the city would have been destroyed At no
point on the whole road could accident have
occurred where the results would have been
more disastrous. The burning oil from the cars
was literally poured over and flung upon the
manufacturing establishments Only battered
locomotive and an unexploded oil-tank stand
upon the track.
1t is now thought two brakemen on the oil
train also burned to death
The loss is estimated between $500, OOC and
ST, 900 900. Five engines were sent to the aid of
the burning city from Elizabeth and Jersey
City Only one span of the bridge is damaged
Inc Drldge was the nneSG on the pennsylvania
road. All travel on that road is greatly delayed,
as long detours have to be made
The loss on Janeway & Co s buildings, stock
and plant is $4,000; insurance, $780,,
900. The consolidated Fruitjar Com
panys loss is $500, OOO: fully insured. The
loss to the railroad cannot be ascertained for
lack of willingness the part of officials to inn
part news. The loss on the dwelling houses is
$40, 000 The insurance is distributed among
large number of companies. The bridge is not
weakened. and trains are now running on time
One of the burned buildings was stable con-
tanning number of horses which were burned
to DEATH The accident was caused by the care
lessness of telegraph operator in not giving the
proper signals on the east side of the Raritan.
Six hundred men are thrown out of work tenn
porarily. Janeway 81 Co. had orders for $780,,
900 worth of goods for the spring trade.