Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-02-27
Trains Collide in a Tunnel.

New YORK, Feb. 24.-On Friday last
there was q collision of two trains in the
middle of a railroad tunnel through Fourth
avenue. near Eighty-hith street, in this
city.
An accommodate on train from the
Grand Central depot ran into trail carry
ing only employees, which was on the way
to the yard at Mott Haven. The train was
the Boston express, the cars of which were
on the r way To DO cleaned. The tunnel
was filled with fog and smoke and was so
dark that scarcely anything could be SEEN
The accommodation was running at the
rate of about thirty miles an hour and car
red l25 persons. At point about half
way between Eight-fourth and Eighty-ffth
streets the engine ran into the rear Of the
Boston express sleeper. wrecliing the
smoking Car aud driving it partly through
the palace car TO which IL was
coupled. Both trains came to a stand
still within quarter of minute.
The tunnel was FLEA with wrockage by
the collision, and moment after il
occurred a light switch engine on the
down track ran into it, jumped the rails
and turned partly across the tunnel. Six
men were on it, but none were hurt
The teleScoped cars, a mass of broken
timbcrs and spl nters, were piled up under
one OF the roof openings Of the tunnel, and
taking fire Immediately the smoke attracted
the attention of people in the neighborhood
Those that were near heard shreHs and
calls for help. Civilians and policemen
climbed over the railing Of the small park
that surrounds tho opening and looked
down upon the wreck.
A crowd quickly collected aud all poss
bic assistance was given. Two hrs alarms
brought six engines, which soon began play
ing on the flames. Ladders were brought
and let down through the op ming, and the
rescuers began TO search for the dead and
dying.
AS the fire was put out and they were
able TO get inside the cars, the scenes pre-
sented were fearful. Dead and roasted and
broken bodies in all sorts Of pltiable atti-
tudes were among the debris of the interior
But one was not dead. Between the head
of the locomotive and the end Of the car
into which it had smashed was suspended
by the shoulders the body Of man whose
legs had been torn off. His clothing had
all burned off and his body partly roasted
He was still alive. A fireman touched him
and from the head above the end of the car
that jammed HIM against the locomotv 2
came moan and the words: "For Gods
sake leave me alone and let me die" The
strong men were forced TO turn away mo
mentarilly in horror. II took twenty min
utes 10 extricats the poor fellow and carry
him 10 the surface. He died before an ex-
animation could be held. Every fresh body
brought out steamed as if it had been par
boiled in addition TO being burned. The
dead were finally lifted ub through the
open .ngs in the tunnel and carried away.
the injured Were sent to hospitals, and after
ten hours work the tracks were cleared.
The k lied number SIX persons, five men
and one woman. Three others were very
seriously injured.
Engineer Fowler OF tho accommodation
was arrested and committed W thout bail.
He and his fremen declare the clear signals
were out Neither was seriously in ured
The accident happened on what is known
as the II lrlem line. which Is operated and
managed by an organization known as the
Grand Central Station