The Portland daily press., 1891-08-07
And The Victims IOf This Disaster
Would Have Escaped.
As it Was, an Express Train Dashed
Into a Freight,
And Eleven Persons We're Killed in
the Collision.

SYRACUSE, N. Y, August 6.-The st.
Louis express, on the West Shore railroad,
which leaves here at 15S a. M, met with
terrible accident three miles west OF Port
Byron this morning, near what is known as
the Duchess Cut The train was running at
high rate Of speed. and at that point ran
into freight train. The wreck was an aw-
full one, and up to last accounts the deaths
| numbered eleven. Those killed outright and
those who died from the results of their In
| juries, were all Italians. with one exception
the fireman Of the passenger train. Eleven
Italians were badly hurt, and four viii prob
| ably die. The Italians were In the smoking
car, which was completely wrecked, hardly
| a whole piece Of timber being left OF It. The
wreck took fire, and the passenger train was
burned, With the exception Of three sleeping
cars. The train was made up Of two ex-
press cars, baggage car. a smoking car, a
day car, and four sleeping cars.
The freight train which caused the acci-
dent consisted OF 40 0cars. and was bound for
the west. 1t was to let the "hyer" pass It.
track Il had had started to to leave the main Sads
track, and was half way upon the switch
when coupling broke In the middle OF the
train. Realizing that th9re was no time TO
lose, Conductor Tobin Of the freight train
lantern to check the flyer" but whether he
did not get far enough up the road, or his
signal was not seen, Is not known. A new
coupling had been made and the freight was
slowly starting; In a minute more Il would
have been out Of the way, and the disaster
would not have occurred. At 4 o'clock, the
relief train started from the West Shore de-
pot In this city for the scene Of the accident.
On arrival there desolate sight met the
the wants Of the injured and car
ing for the dead victims awere seen
many brave helpers from among the passen-
gers and crew on the Inflated train. They
moved about silently In the early morning
light, and with scarce means at hand they
did heroic work. A more desolate place for
a wreck could hardly have been found. For
quarter Of a mile the single track runs
upon an em6ankment about twelve feet high.
On either side Of the tracks through this lit
tie valley extend the widely known Monte
yuma marshes. Int the dim distance beyond
are to be seen low lying hills, but the helpers
on the relief train this morning saw nothing
but the dense fog which surrounded every
object. and rendered 1t almost impossible for
on ahead.
The dead were laid In the baggage cars.
The physicians did everything possible for
the comfort Of the injured, and at 730
start was made for Syracuse. When Port
Byron was reached the dead were taken of
and laid In the freight house and the train
continued slowly 70 Syracuse. As the train
with the injured slowed up at the West
Shore depot In this city great crowd Of pe0-
pie rushed to the platform. The day police
aud other city officials were at the station to
render aid. Ambulances, the police patrol,
carriages and other vehicles waited 10 carry
the Injured to hospitals and homes.
John +. Bowditch Of Boston. who was a
passenger on the express en- route to De-
troIt says the accident occurred between
and o'clock. II had been riding 10 the
smoking car" said Mr.. Bowdltch, "and had
been In doze, but was fully awake when
the crash came. Quicker than can take a
second thought there was crash, shrleks,
and all was darkness and confusion. / felt
myself pinned down by a great weight I
could look below me and see broken boards,
beams and car wheels, but was unable
| to move. Soon / heard the cracking Of
flames. You cannot Imagine the horror that
crept over me as thought that In the next
moment the flames would be upon me and
would be slowly cTemated alive. MY God,
help me- / cried. Hurry, hurry Just then
heard voice. Here's imam alive, let's
get him out. Then 1 heard the sound OF
axes, and pleasanter noises never greeted
my ears, can assure you. It was hope not
unmixed with fear, however, for there fre-
quently came.the thought that the flames
would drive away the workers before they
reached me ann would be left to my fate.
suppose 1t was only a few minutes, but lt
seemed an age, when daylight broke In from
above and two burly train men hauled me