The Brookhaven leader., 1889-10-03
FRIGHTFUL WRECK.
CoIlision Between Two Sections of New
York Central Express Train-seyeral
sIeepers Crowded With Passenger
wrecked-Many victims.

Collision Between Two Sections OF New
York Central Express Train-several
sIeepers Crowded With Passenger
wrecked-Many Victims.
CANAJoHARIE, N. Y, Sept pa 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. 5, which left Albany at
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
ton was made up Of baggage, mail, ex-
press and three passenger cars, packed
with people, aud 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.
Up to two O'Clock four bodies had been
taken out of the eeper and it was feared
the total number OF deaths would run up
to twenty-fi five ind possibly more, as the
car was full. It 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 pa newspaper cor
respondent telegraphs: "A serious acci-
| dent occurred on the New York Central
| roe at IL 40 last night, two miles east OF
| Palatine bride. The first section of the
ST. Louis express, which left New York al
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 a sixty-ton en-
gina and running at the rate o.
thirty miles an hour, dashed into it. Th'
first section was drawn by Conductor
Weeks, had a baggage. express and mai
cars and three coaches which were packed
with people, one Wagner sleeper and twt
private coaches. The private car Kanka
kee telescoped the first vestibule sleeper
for half Its length The only damage dom
to the day coaches was the csashing o
the windows and putting out the lights
The first third and fourth tracks wer
Uttered with wreckage.
"Just how the accident happened is a
this hour (ons o'clock) not determined
Conductor Weeks says his rear brakeman
was sent back, but Engineer North, of th
second section, who was very badly hurt
says he did not see him. North is in
bad way. He had a pillow under his fac
and looked very CHASTITY.
Every seat in the car was taken. On
half of the passengers were women. They
made a wild break for the door, but wer
deferred from jumping out into the darl
by the cooler headed passengers. Th
wreck could not have occurred in a NOR
rnfavorable place. On the left fifty fee
below is the roaring Mohawk river. Tit
lights had all been extinguished and al
was total darkness. One-half Of the pas
sengers were wrapped in slumberine
dreams and awoke to find themselves ir
extreme darkness and all confusion.
"There was not a surgeon or a doctor
on the train and it was with the greates
difficulty that whisky and brandy were
|
large bonfire was Luilt on the north side
of the track that a realizing sense of thu
accident was obtained. Already si1
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 t.
cut away the side of the telescoped cars
How many are dead or wounded it is inn
posaihle tn tell as vat
Engineer Weeks of the first sec.
tion said: My engine had broken
down and I was out by ths side
of my engine when the crash
came. / Immediately sent my fire.
man back to see what was the matter ant
Conductor Abel dispatched a aagman Il
Palatine bridge, two miles away, for as
sistance.'
at was just by miracle that the dis
aster was not rendered ten fold NOR
terrible Within five minutes after tn
crash the meat express came tearing aloni
the fourth track at the rate of thirt.
miles an hour. It was stopped just IL
time, else it would have dashed into tn
debris Of the wreck. The second Atlanti
express due in New York at 1880 a. m. wa
hailed at the station just as it was pulling
out"