New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
SURVIVORS TELL THEIR EXPERIENCES.
John pUcKLEY's GRAPHIC pEscMPNoN-M1ss
EVA EpEE1R,S NARROW ESCAPE.

JOHN BUCKLEYs GRAPHIC DEsCRPNoN-M1sS
EVA FREER'S NARROW ESCAPE
Poughkeepsie. Dec. 25 tSpeciaD-Among the pas
sengers on the Niagara Falls Express last night
was John Buckley who was his way here to
spend Christmas with friends lie and q friend
were in the smoking-car Of the train. In an in
terview to-day he said "Just above YonIers the
air brakes of our train were applied SO suddenly
and SO hard that nearly every passenger In the
car was thrown forward. When the train stopped
I and others went out the front platform OF
the smoker to see what was the matter. We had
stopped within thirty feet Of Croton train, which
was also bound north. We returned 70 our seats
in the car and were talking about a handsome
woman who had passed through the car toward
the rear.
Suddenly there was a terrific crash and every
BODY in the car was thrown out Of his seat, and
our train shot ahead struck the rear end Of the
Croton train and rebounded. Everything was in
confusion and we could hear shrieks. AS soon
as possible we got out Of the car and walked
back We saw a man who was shouting for
an axe. lie was almost frantic. lie said
his wife was pinned down in the wreck and dead
and no axe could be found. We could not get
her out. Further along we saw the head and
shoulders Of woman sticking out OF O window
looked at her and both recognized her the
handsome woman who had passed through the
smoker. We also saw one man leaning over the
PROSTATE form Of another, the latter exclaiming:
L am dying His friend spoke cheering words
to him, but he died in less than five minutes"
In the telescoped car were John r. Bag nall,
Editor Of "The Evening STAR" OF this city, and
Miss Eva Freer, also of this city. They arrived
at the Grand Central Station in time TO get on
board Of the p. M train for Poughkeepsie, but
had to wait for a belated messenger bringing
parcels to them, and that was the cause Of their
coming out on the Niagara Falls express. Mr..
Bagnan and Miss Freer were sitting together
When the crash came he was hurled against
the window his heal going through the thick
plate glass. lie was scaded from his
chest up, but received no other injury. His
father applied at ST. Lule's Hospital, 1onkers
to-day to see him. but the attending physician
told him it was not advisable for them 10 meet
lie, however, told the father that the patient
would probably be out IN day o. two. Miss
Freer had her knee fractured and received other
injuries. They, with others OF the injured, lay
at the little station from ii p. m. until a. m,
when they were taken TO st. Iukc's Hospital
Miss Freer was brought here to-day on = noon
train, and taken TO her home in North Clover ST.
She makes the following statement:
"The last car on the train was coach and we
took seats in it. After the first stop, the con-
ductor knowing we desired a seat in the sleeper
which was the next car ahead, told US there was
vacant place in that car for u.s. and we entered it
and took the first section in the north end OF the
car. About s 80 p. IN. our train was side-tracked
The first warning / received Of the accident was
when the train dashed into the coach. Mr..
tl,r
ahead of US, his body protruding half way out
lie was prevented from going all the way cut
by a high stone wall close to the train. | was
pitched forward and my left limb was pinioned and
my dress fastened. We were taken out by Some
of the wrecking force, laid on mattresses and
taken to the station. / was taken to the hospital
in an open wagon and Mr.. Bagnall in q car
riage. My injuries consist Of fractured
knee, and my right hip and forehead are
injured and the top OF my head
ecalded Mr. Bagnall is badly scalded about the
head, face and hands. When / left him this
morning he said he was feeling quite comfortable
The doctors do not think lac has received any in
ternal injuries. The conductor of the train told
me that when the train was side tracked, he sent
the rear brakeman back TO signal the express. lie
said the brakeman was all dressed up for Christ
mas and, instead OF going Immediately back, went
into the station with his lantern, and the express
dashed up before he cane back was told this
morning that four detectives are looking for him,
as he had not been seen since the collision
II is stated here that Mr.. Bagnall and Miss
Freer are engaged to be married dispatch
tonight. from So. Johns Hospital, says:
Mr.. Bagnalls injuries consist mainly Of burns
largely about the head and f1ee His condition Is very
serious but strong hoIes Of his recovery lie
delrous part OF the tIme but when
at o'clock resting somewhat easier; his condition
being however unchanged since this morning.
A later dispatch says:
Mr.. Bssnsil u unable v talk. We have hopes ef him.
but ssnr =, dsAnitely.