The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-10-03
MANY MEET DEATH.

Bridge, n Y-Tho Death List May
Reach Thirty-Four Bodies Recovered.
PALAT1xE BRIDGE, N. T., Sept os-The
st Louis express No s, which loft ALBANY
at 10 o'clock last night was telescoped
about two miles east OF here 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
see 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,
ner sleeper on the end. The
crash was terrific. The second
section telescoped into the first section.
knocking out the lights and plunging every
thing into darkness Up to this hour-2 a.
m-.our bodies have been taken out of the
sleeper, and 1t is feared the total number
of deaths will run up. to twenty
6ve and possibly more. as the car
was full It is difficult to get
particulars The four tracks arc blocked
by the " eek. East-bound trains are
stopped az Palatine. The first section LETT
Fonda at ll:2l, ten minutes late. The Sec
lions of the st. Louis express usually run
ten minutes apart
New YoRK, Sept ga correspondent of
the Times was aboard the wrecked train,
and ina special dated Canajoharie he writes
thus:
Just how the accident happened is not de-
terminel. Conductor Abel says his rear
brakeman was sent'back, but Engineer Horth,
who IS very badly hurt, has said that he did not
see him, and the first he saw was the lights Of
the train. Horth IS in q bad way. Both legs
are broken.
when the crash come the Times CORE
spondent was asleep in the coach next ahead
of the sleeper Of the first section. Every seat
in the car was taken. One-hal1 OF the pas.
sengers were women. They made a wild
break for the door, but we're deferred from
jumping out in the darkness by tho cooler
headed passengers.
'There was not o surgeon or doctor on the
train, and it was with the greatest difficulty
that whisky and brandy were procured for
was built on the north side of the tract. that q
realizing sense CT the disaster was obtained.
1.-THE wreck could not have occurred in
more unfortunate place. On the left, in the
pitchy darkness. and fifty feet below.
was the roaring Mohawk. Not a light could
be seen except those in the coaches.
The lights in the sleepers had all been ex-
s'hHuiSA0O. Ou0'uoAA u tuo pdSoCuSCES "cE0
awakened from a sound sleep to find them
selves wrapped in gloom. For awhile the peo-
pie were too dazed to do any thing. The train
men were mute and reserved as usua! under
such circumstances.
"Axes and saws were procured and willing
hands set to work to cut away the sides CT the
telescopod cars. How many bodies, IL any,
are left in there at this writing it is impossi-
BILE to tell. When the correspondent left the
scene at midnight they had not made much
progress.
Engineer Weeks, Of the first section, said:
MY engine had broken down. Somethi had
happened to the steaul-chest, and was out by
Immediately sent my fireman back to see
what was the matter, and Conductor Abel dis
patched flagmau to Palatine Bridge, two
miles away. for assistalce.''
1.-THE correspondent tried in vain before
leaving to and the rear brakeman OF the first
train secti,'n, but could not lind him. He IS
the most important person lust now, for 1t
was his duty, as prescribed by the rules OF the
company, to run hack at least 600 yard, the
moment the train stopped.
''There ~ q discrepancy as to the length OF
time that the first section vas standing there,
some persons claiming that scarcely moment
elapsed before the crash and others that they
were standing fully five minutes.
1.-THE first news was brought to Palatine
Bridge by the correspondent and Mr.. T. H.
Coleman, Of Hornelsv!le, who covered the
two miles over the railway ties in less than
half hour. The village was asleep,
but Mr.. Coleman, by the assistance OF
Officer Barrett, went from house to
house awakening surgeons, who were hurried to
the front as quickly Us vehicles could take
them. All trains cast and west, freight aud
passenger. were held at Palatinc. Within half
IN hour every doctor had gone forward and as
sistance had been tclegraphed TO from Fonda
and Little Falls.
1T was just by O m racle that the saster
was not rendered tenfold more terrible. With
in hve minutes after the crash the meat ex-
press came tearing along on the fourth
track at the rate of thirty miles an
hour. 1t was stopped just in me, else it
would have dashed iato the debris OF the
wreck. The second Atlantic express, due in
New York at 7;3O in the morning, was also
hailed at the station just us it was pullin :;
out"
ALBANY, N. Y, Sept %, 3:3j q. m--Au-
thenttc Information received here says
four persons were killed in the accident at
Palatine Bridge, three men and one wom-
an. Train No. 10 from the West, due here
at 2:31, left Palatine at 2:o5, one hour late
She stopped at the scene of the
accident Just lonr enough to take
on Engineer North. An ambulance
was in waiting at the depot and
ne was conveyed TO the hospital he
talked freely and said he slowed up his
train near Speakers thinking ho would
crawl up on section one. At the scene OF
the accident there is sharp curve.
and ine 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 was caught
and hOth leDS were cruslnd IT, Ia NOT
known whether he will survive or not
fears being entertained that he will die
from the shock
UTICA, N. Y, Sept %, a. ma special
from Canajoharie says that between forty
and fifty persons were killed at Palatine
Bridge railroad accident The railway peo-
pie here know very little bout the acci-
dent At this hour, :; a. H., wrecking trains
have left St. townsville and Little Falls