New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-09
RUN DOWN BY A SWIFT TRAIN.
TWO MEN KILLED AND ONE BADLY INJURED.
THEY WERE ALL DASHED IN DIFFERENT DIREC-
TIoNs, AND THE WAGON WAS SMASHED TO
SPLINTERS

TIONS, AND THE WAGON WAS SMASHED ~
sPLINTERs.
At an unguarded railroad crossing in Paterson
n. j., made doubly dangerous BY the fact tha'
gates stood there uncovered, fast passenger truin
on the Erie Railway in the gray dawn OF yesterday
morning dashed a milk-wagon to sphnters anu
killed two of the three brothers who were Its oc-
cupants. while the third lies in hospital suffering
from serious wounds.
John ]. Ruff, aged thirty, and his brothers.
Reuben t., aged twenty-one, and Blake, age
seventeen. three well-conducted and rd-worKnS
vounp men. had all worked in the silk mills OF
Paterson as weavers. They were unmarried ana
lived with their parents in Burhans Lane near
Halcdon-ave A short time ago John secured unc
lease for seven years of farm near Sadule hVer, E
Bergen County, and arranged to work II @ Tr'n % LIE
father and his two younger brothefs' iIr
farm products and milk IN Patterson; i"c l"i'i.
had not vet moved all their householu g1%ous % ~ :;
their new home, and their parenls sun "a NV Ioni ~
Paterson. The boys slept du the lam ~ W
after things there. w., l.; q
Yesterday morning they drove to Paterson ID - =
covered wagon They brought scvtEa f thoir cq cnso
crs when they reached the Van louten-St. crosSlng
of the Erie John and Blake sat on the seat ana
Reuben stood behind them with ms hahus Oh ,ie,t
shou Idcrs 70 steady himself Reuben says thlt
they heard train but did not think that III was
very near. 1t was hnlf-past a m, ana me gates
were I'D This was because tnc gdtl1tn uO's ~,
% on duty until 6 o'clock there beng no nlght
man AT the crossing But there is fast passenger
train. the first down train TO New-lork IN the
morning. which leaves Suhern at about o'clock
and which is due in Paterson half an hour Eter:
Thi. ia No so, Conductor James Ostrander, OF
Sufrern 1t struck the wagon aud dashed IL 10
splinters scattering them along the tack Tor sew
eral hundred feet. -. = .ho
The engineer says that the first he knew o. me
disaster was when he saw the fragments uyins
mast his cab window lie stopped the tram withlh
its length. so suddenly that the passengers were
thrown from their seats The three young men
were picked up at different points along the track
John and Blake had their heads terribly cruShel
and John was dead Blake died few minutes
I,ter at the Marlkct-st. station two blocks away
without having recovered CONSCIOUSNESS. R,unen'
also unconscious was taken to the General 10
nitaL lie recovered later, but was given oPia'ess
70 0uiet him After he had rested he was tod ol ol
The death of his two brothers, and ne related the
circumstances of the accident There were 20 no
other witnesses of the calamity 10 tell OF II;
Renben had two severe scalp wounds ana soine
bruises. lie was thought to have every chance oil
recovery. , ~, h1.
The horses escaped as if by miracle. The blow
from the flying locomotive had evlden'N
cut them loose and they ran long distance before
thev were stopped. Coroner Goodridge TOOK
charge of the corpses, and he will hold an inquest