Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-10-20
THE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Clearing Away the Wreck-MOre Bodies
Found-The Telegraph Operator Gives
the Wrong Signal.
JERSEY CRY, n. j., Oct. l9.

JERSEY CITl. n. D., Oct. ~.
Thomas P. Pratt, telegraph operator at
Marion, was arrested this morning charged
with having been the cause of the accident
on the Meadows last night Pratt is % years
old and an experienced operator He admits
that he did not give the right signal. He
said he was advised by his friends to desert,
but he refused to do So He is held to sw ait
the action of the coroners jury. He resides
at 32S Fifth street in this city with his life
and three children.
Three more bodies were discovered this
morning buried beneath the front of the Le-
high Valley engine. They were brought 20
this city and placed in the morgue. The re-
mains were those of woman, and un-
recognizable, and two boys apparently about
III years of age. The tracks have been
cleared and trains are running on schedule
time. All that remains of the wreck is the
Lehigh Valley engine, which is completely
destroyed. 1t will be dug out some time to-
day and it is thought that more bodies will
then be found. There have been eight deaths
IN all, and most OF the wounded, it is thought,
will die. The depot is surrounded BY a
crowd of spectators awaiting news, aud great
excitement prevails here. The bodies in the
morgue have not been identified.
New YORK, Oct. 10.
The task Of removing the wreck of the
Lehigh Valley engine from the mud at the
scene of the Hackensack bridge disaster will
take several hours, when it is thought that
many more victims will be found. 1t is
thought that not one of the injured now in
the hospitals can recover. The arrest of
Thomas ?. Pratt, the telegraph operator at
Marion, this morning, charged with the re-
sponslbllity of the accident, caused intense
excitement. He frankly acknow ledged his
mistake in giving the wrong signal, and said
that he would conceal nothing. He said he
gave the emigrant train three minutes to clear
Hackensack bridge and then sgnaled for the
southern express. Pratt had charge of the
station of the east side of the bridge, and after
signaling the express he should have waited
tor return answer 80. X" After the train
had cleared the bridge he at once saw his err
ror and telegraphed back 10 hold the Lehigh
valley train. 1t was too late, however, when
the dispatch reached the signal station on the
west side of the bridge. as the train had al
ready crossed.
The following is full list of the dead and
wounded SO tar as is known at present
Killed, Karl Henry Grammar, aged 80 wears
an Unknown boy, aged about eight; an un-
known woman, head off; Enlovia Arneares,
aged 26 Four more ladies were found this
morning under the wrecked Lehigh locomo-
tive. Two unknown boys were found under
the pilot truck, one aged about eight and the
other about twelve, and an unknown woman
dressed in gray, the head and arms gone an
unknown man the trunk burned to a crisp
Wounded-M. Klinger, Is years old,
Norwegian reported dead but still living, legs
and skull fractured, will die ; Owen Hail, en-
gineer of the Lehigh Valley locomotive, Sc
we're confusion on the head and neck, but
still alive; Stewart A. Bowers, fireman, 80
years old, skull fractured and internally in
jured, it is believed he cannot live; Ralph
Curry, aged %, married, badly injured about
the neck; Christiana Bolsta Norwegian,
aged 4, condition critical; Lama Redessa
Melanorud, Norwegian, aged 32 seriously
injured two year old child had its leg
broken. +. X. J Uberrath, conductor of the
emlgrant train, aged 43
The wrecked Lehigh Valley engine was
raised at 30 tonight In the mud beneath
the boiler was found the body of boy ap-
parentlv 10 years Of age. Both legs were
of below the knees, the right side of the face
crushed in and the hands were scaded Be
side the body was found the right leg of
boy who was presumably about l2 years of
age. This limb was encased in boot The
member does not correspond with the remain
ing portions of bodies in the morgue and it
is thought that another life has been lost.
This makes total of nine deaths The pile
OF debris still stands where the locomotive
lay and workmen are carefully searching it,