River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-10-03
MANY MEET DEATH
Frightful Railway Accident at PaIatins
Bridge, n. Y.-The Death List May
Reaeh Thirty Eso.. n..ts.. M .-...-,a.I

MANY MEET DEATH.
FrightfuI Railway Accident at PaIatins
Bridge. n. Y.-The Death List May
Reach Thirty-FOur Bodies Recovered
PALATINE BRIDeE, n Y, Sept IS The
81 Louis express No ;, which left Albany
at 10 o'clock last night, was telescoped
about two miles east of mere at about
midnight The first section broke down
and stopped for repairs The rear
brakeman was sent back TO signal
the second section, but for some reason
failed TO perform his duty. The engi
neer of the second section says he did not
ace him and the first he saw was the lights
OF the first section directly in front of him.
The first section was made up OF baggage,
mail, express and three passenger cars,
packed with people, and a Wag
ner sleeper on the end. The
crash was terrific The second
knocking out the lights and pIunging every.
thing into darkness Up TO this hour
m.-sour bodies have been taken out of the
sleeper, and it is feared the total number
of deaths will run up to twenty
five and possibly more, as the car
was full It is difficnlt to get
particulars The four tracks are blocked
by the eek East-bound trains are
stopped AZ ralatine. The first section left
Fonda at 81, ten minutes late. The sec.
tons of the St Louis express usually run
ten minutes apart
NEW YORK, Sept 2S-A correspondent OF
the Times was aboard the wrecked train
and in Especial dated Canajoharie he write
thus:
Just how the accident happened is not de
termined. Conductor Abel says his rear
brakeman was sent back, but Engineer H0rth
who is very badly hurt. has said that he did not
see him, and the first be saw was the ghts Of
the train. Horth is in bad way. Both legs
are broken.
When III crash came the Times CORE
spondent vas asleep in the coach next aheaC
of the sleeper OF the first section. Every seat
in the car taken. One-half OF the pas
sengers were women. They made a wilC
break for the door, but were deferred from
jumping out in the darkness by the cooler
headed passengers.
There was not a surgeon or doctor on the
train, and 1t was with the greatest difficulty
that whisky and brandy were procured FOL
the wounded II was not until a large bonfire
was built on the north side of the track that &
realizing sense Of the disaster was obtained.
The wreck could not have occurred in g
more unfortunate place. On the left, in the
pitchy darkness. and fifty feet below
was the roaring Mohawk Not light coulc
be seen except those in the coaches
The lights in the sleepers had all been ex
tingushed. One-half Of the passengers were
awakened from a sound sleep 10 find them.
selves wrapped in gloom. For awhile the PEG.
pie were too dazed to do any thing. The train
men were mute and reserved usual under
such circums tances.
Axes and saws were procured and willing
hands set to work 10 cut away the sides CT the
teIescoped cars. How many bodies, If any,
are left in there at this writing 1t is mposst
bio TO tell. When the correspondent left the
scene at midnight thy had not made much
progress.
Engineer Weeks, Of the first section, said
My engine had broken down. Something haC
happened to the steam-chest, and was out by
the side of my engine when the crash came }
immed ately sent my fireman back 10 see
what was the matter, and Conductor Abel dis.
patched a flagman 10 Palatine Bridge, two
miles away. Cor assistance"
''The correspondent tried in vain before
leaving 10 find the rear brakeman of the first
train section, but could not find him. He ls
the most important person lust now, for il
was his duty, as prescribed by the rules of the
company to run back at least coo yards the
moment the train stopped
There is a discrepancy as 10 the length Of
time that the first section was standing there,
some persons claiming that scarcely moment
elapsed before the crash and others that they
were standing fully five minutes.
The first news was brought 10 Palatine
Bridge by The correspondent and Mr.. T. II.
Coleman, OF Hornellsv lie. who covered the
two miles over he railway ties in less than
half hour. The village was asleep,
but Mr.. Coleman, by the assistance o.
Oficer Barrett, went from house Il
house awakening surgeons who were hurried tC
the front as quickly as vehicles could take
them. All trains east and west, freight ana
passenger. were held at Palatine. Within hall
an hour every doctor had gone forward and as
sistauce had been telegraphed TO from Fonda
and Little Falls.
1T was just by q m racle that the sasteI
was not rendered tenfold more terrible With
in i've minutes after the crash the meat ex
press came tearing along on the fourth
track at the rate OF thirty niles an
hour 1t was stopped just in tine, else il
would have dashed into the debris OF the
wreck. The second Atlantic express, due in
New York at 7;30 In the morning, was also
hailed at the station just as it was pulling
out"
ALBANY, " Y, Sept Is, 3:3J a m-Au-
thentic information received here says
four persons were killed in the accident at
Palatine Bridge, three men and one WON
an Train No, 10 from the West, due here
at 2:30, left Palatine at 2:05, one hour late.
She stopped at the scene of the
dfEIutnN luoL ION thOuEn W Ndht
on Engineer North An ambulance
was in waiting at the depot and
he was conveyed TO the hospital He
talked freely and said he slowed up his
train near Spraker's thinking he would
crawl up on section one. AT the scene of
the accident there is a sharp curve,
anu he did not see the first section
until almost on to it; then he ap-
piled the brakes, but they would not work.
He did not jump, but stood between the
engine and the cab where he WIGS caught
and both legs were crushed 1t is not
known whether he will survive or not
fears being entertained that he will die
from the shock
UTICA, n Y, Sept %, 3 a. ma special
from Canaioharie says that between forty
and fifty persons were killed at Palatine
81 idge railroad accident The railway PEG
pie here know very little about the acct
dent At this hour, 3 a. m. wrecNing trains
have left st townsville and Little Falls