New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-18
BRAVE DEATH OF An OLD MAN.
UNABLE, HOWEVER, TO SAVE THE BOY.

NO FLAGMAN AT A NEw-BRUNswICK CROSSING
WHO is TO BLAME
Terrence Hickey q blue-eyed lad of fourteen years,
who lived at St. Mary's Orr han Asylum, on the out
skirts of Brunswick, N j., because his mother
drowned three years ago and his father was unable
to take care of him. got uI at o'clock yesterday
morning and took four of the Sisters OF Charity. in
charge Of the asylum in the institutions carriage down
to early mass in the Catholic church in Somerset-st
After he had left the Sisters at the church be drove
down Somcrset-st hill to do errand in another art
OF the town. Somerset-st. runs with rather steep
incline down to the Rartan Canal. Jdst below the
Catholic church George-st Somerset at almost
right angles Right the lines OF their intersection
pass the tracks Of the Pennsylvania Railroad There
Is safety gate at each of the Georges approaches to
tho tracks, but none In S,morset-st Two men go on
duty at $50 a. m. and lower these gates whenever
trains approach until 1890 p After that timc the
gates are raised and gateman Is on hand. Passers-
by and drivers must then look out for the locomotive
whistle.
It was about twenty minutes after @ when young
Hickey rened his horse do wn Sonersetst. and turned
him around the Georgest corner to cross the tracks
and 90 further downtown. There was mist in the
morning air and he could not clearly across the
streets. There was train due at that time for the
Pittsburg express which runs rapidly through New
Brunswick, is scheduled to pass the station at o:O3
Hickey thoughtless OF any danger let his horse 60 on
down to,the railroad ne just as the wagons wheels
struck the frat track there the rumble OF tran
Ii was the express twenty minutes behind time
laundering down at the rate OF forty miles an hour
Hickey was helpless His horse did not fast
enough and the boy could not jump. An old man,
gray haired and bent with seventy years OF life
was ON the other side of the tracks. He Moses
Ryuo n Trustworthy workman in Janeway & Co.'S
wall paper factory and was on bis way to work.
Almost everybody in town knew him, for he had n ed
there long while and had smile and kind word
and helping hand for any one whom he could assist
Ryno saw Hickey and called to him to hurry
up and get out of the way" And as he called the
warning he rushed down to the track as II to
grasp the horse by the reins and lead him over.
The line of cars slipped straight along on the
steel rails Ryno too late The locomotive
dashed with fearful momentum upon the horse.
striking him on the hind legs and crashing into
the front wheels OF the wagon. Young Hickey WE
knocked over on the cowcatcner and killed nst,ty.
HIS body carried along by the train IT, inc draw
on tue bridge about fifteen rods boy5nd. Old man
Ryno was struck by tho hoT.c, and both horse and
man. each dying tho mo..ent the train ran into them
were thrown 200 :oet down Somersetst. The wagon
was broken into splinters and scattered along tho
tr.cxs. -
The bodies of the boy and the who would have
saved hun were taken to tho Morgue. Each had been
struck Oh the base OF skull and each had had the
ripbt leg broken Coroner Daily summoned jury but
no inquest will be held till Monday the engineer and
conductor of the train cannot be In New-Brunswick
TIL then.
There we're few people around at the time and
several other stories told to the cause OF tie
accident One that the horses feet got stuck In the
rails and the boy trying to extricafe them.
Ryno went back 10 help hIm and While Doth were
bending down the train crashed into them. Another
is that RycO in the carriage alter hickey lett
the church and being driven down TO the factory.
This is considered improbable, the distance is not
far and Rynv generally walked. thru version is
that tue old man Tar beyond the trach and was
hit either by the horse spoke from one OF the
wheels.
Mr. Ryno lett his home blocks from the railroad
crossing about ten minutes after Elk in CHEEKY spta.
He SAID good his wife and asked berto have his
dinner st the factory promptly al noon. Hall an hour
later boy rushed into the house crying:
Uncle Nose is killed" Mrs. Ryuo tainted. she Is
almost hepes. .fG barely do the hghtest house
work one grown-up daughter lives with the family
ud attends to the home he body carried 10 the
house early D the day and lay last night in the PLAIN
front room in a cheap coffin beneath q dim oil hight
mourned by the wife and daughter and group OF
friends Both Mrs Ryno and Mr. Hickey are urged
10 sue the Pennsylvania Railroad Company Tor dam
ages Ibe townspeople are discussing the matter
earnestly and declare that the railroad company has
been unwilling to provide adequate safeguards
against accidents at the several crossings III New
Brunswick. Last summer City Clerk Cook, actiDg
under instructions from the City Council, wrote TO the
company asking it to station agmen At tue crossing
al q g. m but no answer made to the letter aud
10 extra hagmen placed on duty: In the last
three days persons have been killed on the road
chei at New Brunswick Ell her side oil the town.