Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-05
LAID A RAIL ACROSS.
Fiendish Effort to Wreck a New York
Central Train.
HAPPILY NO LIVES WERE LOST.
'Arbitrating the Central Strike To-
day at Albany.
[APPILY NO LIVES WERE LOST.
GENERAL WEAVER AGAIN NOMINATED.
A RAIL ACROSS THE TRACK.
Diabolical Attempt at Train wrecking
on the New York Central

ALBANY, n. Y, Sept 5.-The second section
Of train No. l3. the Adirondack and Montreal
express from New York on the Central Hudson
railroad, was wrecked at a point about three
miles below Greenbush between midnight and
a. M Six sleepers were wrecked. but miracu-
lous as il may seem. no one was killed. The
injured list will foot up about seven. the most
seriously injured being Mrs. Atkinson of Tren-
ton. N u, who was badly injured about the
back; Mrs. jenkins of Brooklyn. head badly
cut, and Trainman Saulspaugh, back wrencked
The others have backs and limbs wrenched.
but none OF the cases are fatal 4 single rail
placed crosswise on the track in front of
the train resulted in the disaster. Six
coaches were turned bottom side up at the
bottom OF fifteen-foot embankment and three
were twisted and wrenched beyond repair. The
officers Of the road and physicians left on a
special train at 2:30 am. for the scene of the
wreck. OF the eight sleepers comprising the
train but two were left on the track The others
were either on the embankment or lying across
the rails. Traffic is at a standstill and not a
train was moving after midnight. 1t is un-
likely that the blockade will be lifted today.
The train was in charge of Conductor Hudson.
who was in the frs. sleeper when the crash
came. He ielt himself hurled through the air.
TURNED soMERsAULT.
The car turned n complete somersaul. and
settled Ill the bottom of the ditch bottom up
He and Trainman Saulspaugh crawled out the
window and, after procuring q light. released
Mrs. Atkinson who was the only Passenger in
the car. The woman was borne to the rear and
placed in a sleeping compartment in one of the
rear cars. All of the other passengers were
taken out through the windows of the partly
wrecked cars and assisted TO the rear. where
they were made comfortable. Among the sixty
passengers were q number of New Workers and
nearly half OF the total were women. Nearly
all were asleep in their berths and knew
nothing until they felt themselves dashed from
their hunks and opened their eyes 10 find
themselves lying across other passengers. I'm
provised hunks III the relief train were made
for the injured by three Albany physicians and
their wants were tendcrly administered 20.
Fortunately none OF the cars took fire or the
loss Of life would have been great. Most
of the passengers got off at Albany and re-
manned at the hotel for a while to
collect their scattered senses. All were able to
proceed on their journey except Mrs. Atkinson,
who was taken to the city hospital on a
Paris journal, who was on the train, told
reporter that every one behaved nobly
on the train and each tried TO assist the
other. Mr.. Leclerc says the crash was tre-
mendous and he believed his last hour had
ccme. Superintendent Bissell will this morn
ing institute rigorous investigation to ascer-
tain, if possible, who placed the obstruction on
the track. The destruction of the train must
have been decided upon in hurry, for the
wrecked train was but twenty-five minutes be-
hind the first section and that came through all
right The loss in money to the company will
foot up into the thousands.
THE ESoISEER's STORY.
The statement Of the engineer is TO the effect
that he was running at a high speed as he was
late. The first indication he had of an OBJ
struction on the track was the complete turn
ing over Of his engine with terrific crash.
For a while he was stunned, but he soon re-
covered and he and his fireman started back
toward the express, due in twelve minutes.
They succeeded in signaling it and then re-
turned TO their own train. The front of the
engine and the small trucks were badly
smashed. Examination shows that not only
was the obstruction placed on the up track, but
the down track was also blOckaded. Two pas
sengers started for Albany, and as soon as
they0rrived the wrecking train was sent out.
Superintendent Bissell said this morning: 1t
is the greatest miracle OF the age that every
body on the train was not killed" Another at
tempt was made TO wreck a passenger train
this morning The train from the west due
here at $40 this morning came slowly creep
ing down through the gap OF West Albany,
when the engineer saw an obstruction on the
track. The train was stopped and it was found
that three ties had been thrown on the tracks
by some miscreant- They were removed and
the train proceeded to this city.
HEhAhD tlESDS.
The plans for placing the obstructions on
both tracks must have been carefully laid and
quickly accomplished. The first section of the
Montreal sleeper had passed over that point
within the hour before. bystander at the
scene of the wreck said the evident intention
in placing the distractions on the tracks was to
accomplish the destruction of the valuable
freight trains which pass both ways over the
Hudson river division at that time of night
ha frnl IN vi lv kirrr hot thaI
second section, which was wrecked had passed
on time. The three vestibuled cars, which
were ditched, remain intact. They sustained
no damage beyond broken windows and
scratched paint work. Each car cost 1900.
The monetary loss appears to be small compared
with the value of the rolling stock which
composed the train. Supt. Bissell said that
these cars were the finest in the world in point
of strength and durability, and 1t is undoubt-
edly owing to this fact that no lives were lost
All trains due south between midnight and z
a. m were held in this city and Greenbush.
Third Vice President Webb has telegraphed
Supt. Bissell that he has offered reward OF
$4,000 for the detection and conviction of the
person or persons who placed the obstruction
on the track.
WRECK on TIE DELAWARE AND HUDSON.
PLArrsBuna. NY, Sept 5.-Passenger train
No. 25 on the Delaware and Hudson railroad.
due here at 7:05 o'clock this morning, was run
into by a freight tram at Howard. between
Port Henry and Westport, at $50 this morn
ing Both engines were badly damaged and
Engineer Murray and Fireman Starr of the pas
senger train and one passenger are reported
killed. Particulars not yet obtainable.
Later reports confirm the killing outright of
Engineer Murray, Fireman Starr, and A. @.
Kniffin in the Delaware and Hudson wreck
near Westport this morning. The Adirondack
special was so minutes late, and the extra
freight was sent out on the passenger trains
time. 1t Is very probable that the passenger
train made up some Of the lost time, and did
not give the extra freight time TO reach How
ards siding. Passengers are being trans
ferred.
MISSISSIPPI TRAIN wRHcKERs.
vIcKsBURo, Mrsa, Sept 6-The Louisville.
New Orleans and Texas railroad passenger
train No. 2, due here at midnight, but two
hours late, was derailed on an embankment five
miles south OF here this morning at o'clock
and badly wrecked Every car left the track,
but the sleepers were not overturned All the
others rolled down the bank and the engine, |
tender and baggage car we're wheeled upward |
No loss Of life occurred, though Conductor
Gurley, Engineer Cook and two passengers are
confined to their beds owing TO severe bruises |
The wreck was the result OF deliberate malice, |
q rail having been loosened.
ONE N INDIAN rRRnrfoRY.
DRNuox, TEXAS, Sept 6-The south-bound |
freight train Of the NIX. and 7. RR, was |
disched at Checotah, Indian Territory, yester-
day afternoon, and Engineer Doud and Fire