The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-10-04
FR,cnrFuu WRECK.

+ FRlChTFUL WRECK. NE
Collision Between Two Sections Of . New
, York Central Express Train-ssveral
sleepers Crowded With Passenger
Wrecked-Many Victims.
CANAJoHARiE. N. Y, Sept ga fright
ful fatal accident happened on the Central
railroad near Palatine bridge last night
and three sleeping cars are in . shapeless
mass, while many lives have been Lost
The accident occurred two miles east Of
Palatine bridge The FIRST section Of the
train broke down and before the second
section could be tagged it ran into the
first section. The first section Of the ST.
Louis express No. 8. which left Albany ct
ten O'Clock last night broke down and
stopped for repairs two miles east Of Pala.
tine bridge. The rear brakeman was sent
back to signal the second section. but for
some unknown reason failed to perform
his duty. The engineer Of the second sec.
ton says he did not see him and the first
thing he saw was the lights of the first
section directly in his front The first Sec
tion was made up of baggage. mail, ex.
press and three passenger cars, packed
with people, and Wagner sleeper on the
end.
The crash was terrific. The second sec.
ton telescoped into the first section,
knocking out the lights and plunging
every thing into darkness. 8 -
Up to two o'clock four bodies had been
taken out of the sleeper and it was feared
the total number of deaths would run mp
to twenty-five and possibly more. as the
car was full. 1t is difficult to get par.
ticulars.
Engineer Worth Of the second section
was SO badly injured that he is not ex-
pected to survive the night He resides
in Albany.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
NEW YORK, Sept ga newspaper cor
respondent telegraphs: "A serious acci.
dent occurred on the New York Central
road at IL 40 last night two miles east Of
Palatine bride. The first section Of the
st. Louis express which left New York at
six o'clock had broken down, an accident
having happened to the steam chest when
the second section, which was COM
posed of eight vestibule sleeping
coaches drawn by sixty.ton en-.
CINE and running at the rate Of
thirty miles an hour, dashed into it. The
first section was drawn by Conductor
I Weeks, had a baggage, express and mail
cars and three coaches which were packed
with people, one Wagner sleeper and two
private coaches. The private car Kanka.
kee telescoped the first vestibule sleeper
for half its length. The only damage done
to the day coaches was the crashing OF
the windows and putting out the lights.
The first third and fourth tracks were
Uttered with wreckage.
"Just how the accident happened IL al
this hour Zone o'clock) not determined.
Conductor Weeks says his rear brakeman
was sent back, but Engineer North, of the
second section, who was very badly hurt,
says he did not see him North is in Q
bad way. He had q pillow under his face
and looked very CHASTITY.
every seat in the car was taken. One
half of the passengers were women. They
made wild break for the door, but were
deferred from jumping out into the dark
by the cooler. headed passengers The
wreck could not have occurred in q more
unfavorable place On the left fifty feet
below Is the roaring Mohawk river. The
lights had all been extinguished and all
was total darkness. One-h half of the pas
sengers were wrapped in slumbering
dreams and awoke to find themselves in
extreme darkness and all confusion.
"There was not q surgeon or q doctor
on the train and it was with the greatest
difficulty that whisky and brandy were
procured for the wounded. 1t was not till
q large bonfire was built on the north side
of the track that q realizing sense Of the
accident was obtained. Already six
wounded passengers, including one lady.
had been taken from the Wagner sleeping
car. Axes, saws and picks were procured
and willing hands at once set to work to
cut away the side OF the telescoped cars.
How many are dead or wounded il il i'm.
possible to tell as yet
Engineer Weeks Of the first sec.
ton said: Ny engine had broken
down and / was out by thu side
of my engine when the crash
came. Immediately sent my fire.
man back to see what was the matter and
Conductor Abel dispatched q f1agman to
Palatine bridge, two miles away, for as
sistance.'
ut was just by miracle that the dis
aster was not rendered ten fold more
terrible Within five minutes after the
crash the meat express came tearing along
the fourth track at the rate of thirty
miles an hour. It was stopped just in
time, else it would have dashed into the
debris of the wreck. The second Atlantic
express due in New York at 1880 a. m. was
hailed at the station just as it was pulling
out" T~t .r..