The morning call., 1891-10-02
DEATHS ODD ARRIVAL.
A Pine Plank Crashes Into a Train and
Kills a Passenger.

Kills Passenger.
One of the most peculiar accidents in the
record of railroad fatalities has occurred on
the New York Central Railroad, at a time
when all its trains were crowded with pas
sengers and its accommodations taxed to
the utmost, says New York special to the
Boston Globe.
The usual Saturdays rush had been mnde
for the trains leaving the city soon after
noon. The one leaving New York at IL AS
o'clock and Jersey City 10 minutes later
was so crowded that every seat was oc-
cupied, and many passengers had to stand
up.
Among those without seats was William
Boag of Greenyile, n. j. He was in the
forward end of one of the last cars, ard
stood with four or five others. Soon after
the train pulled out the conductor informed
those who were standing up that they might
find seats IN the last car. Mr.. Bnag and five
others remained standing. nevertheless,
most of them intending to alight at the first
station.
When the depot had been left about a
mile behind. the train was going at full
speed around long curve. Another curved
track, used exclusively for freight comes
close to the passenger track at this point.
AS the passenger train flew by the point
where the tracks are closest together it
passed freight train going in the opposite
direction.
Amid the roar and rattle of the trains the
passengers, who had just left Jersey City.
suddenly became aware that something had
happened. Those in the coach where Mr..
Boag was standing heard a tearing and
crashing. They jumped to their feet amid
the sound CT breaking glass and grinding
wood.
At the same instant huge plank from
the freight train tore its way through tine
end of the car 1t made large hole through
the outside woodwork, smashed the win
dow, carried away the toilet-r0Om and
struck Mr.. Boag on the side of the head,
killing him instantly in the presence Of the
atfrighted passengers.
William A. Eddy of Bergen Point one of
the passengers in that car, said to Globe
reporter: "The plank which killed Mr..
BOag was piece of pine or hemlock, which
had been detached by the door of one of the
freght-carS, which was swinging open. This
loose door caught the end of the car in which
l was seated aud tore its way along for half
the length of the car. and then it fell to the
ground.
THE big plank was either part of the
door or of the freight-car 1t came in end
wise with terrific force, struck Mr.. BOag on
the head and remained there until we
reached the station. There was great eX-
clteinent among the passengers, and not
little Indignation that their lives should be
placed in jeopardy BY the carelessness of the
company Mr.. Boag and five or six others
were standing in the aisle, at the end of the
car, when the accident occurred, but nobody
else was injured.
THE side of his skull was crushed in and
death must have been instantaneous. He
bled fearfully, but the train was not
stopped unt we reached COmmunipaw.
Undertaken Speers had a big pine plank
in his back room. He exhibited it as the
one which had killed Mr.. Boag. 1t was IS
feet long and inches wide, painted on one
side and resembling the boards forming the
deck" of the ordinary freight-ear. Pieces
of broken glass were embedded in the end
and the plank was broken in several places.
Mr.. Boag was about 80 years of age and
leaves widow and two children.