The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-21

John Haucke, car cleaner, nineteen
years old.
John Murray, labOrer, 80 years old,
burned to death. He leaves a family.
james B. Flynn, mechanic, 50 years
old. -
List OF injured:
Daniel N. Culberth, colored cook, in.
terually.
VIM. D. Brown, brakeman, badly
crushed.
A Hudson River Railroad fireman
named Rankin, badly crushed.
NEw YORK, Feb. 2O.-The Fourth
avenue railroad tunnel was the scene OF
sfrightiul disaster this morning.
A shop train, consisting Of empty cars,
was moving through the tunnel at 7:lO
o'clock, and stopped at Eighty.6tth
street. Behind it came train No, 10, the
New Haven local, that left the Grand
Central Depot at 7:lO a. m. The New
H,yen train ran into the standing shop
train, wrecking itself aud the rear cars
Of the train with which it had come
into collision.
Ina few moments flames broke out,
and while everything was still in terror
and confusion, a third engine running
lipht," that ia, without cars, crashed
into The wreck. The fire was soon ex.
tingushed and the work OF rescue be-
yan, BY 1880 five bodies had been
Iound and seven persons, seriously in.
iureJ, had been removed to the hos.
pital.
train we're badly shaken up, but beyond
some slight cuts and bruises none OF
them was badly hurt. The passengers
were taken back to the Grand Central
depot in Harlem train that was just
passing at the time in the east tunnel.
THE WRONG SIGNAL.
Engineer Fowler, Of the New Haven
traip, said that when at Ssventy.secoul
street he got the white signal, which
vssa signal to 90 ahead. There was no
nnging OF the bell, either, as is custom
ary when the danger signal is up. He
was running at the rate OF about twenty
miles an hour on the northbound track.
He was so close to the shop train before
he was aware Of It, that be telescoped
it before he was able 10 put op the air
brake. The shop train consisted OF
seven cars, including several sleepef1
that had come into the Grand Central
depot early in the morning and were on
the way to the repair shop.
On the telescoped shop train there
wsre probably dozen or more employ
es both Of the road and OF the Wagner
Company.
Claude Durard, while on his way TO
work, heard crash as II building had
fallen. The next moment he heard an
agouized cry for help. Four young men
who were in the neiGhborhood Joined
him, and all rushed around to Eighty
fifth street and took ladder from q
building in the course OF erection. They
placed Il over the iron railing which
surrounds the openings in the tunnel,
und lowered it down the opening
whence the cries OF distress came. BY
this time, however, one ot the cara had
caught FIRE, and the heat and smoke
drove the Tescuers back.
The cries for help still continued, and
silst as the rescuers could they trans
ierred the ladder 10 still another open
ing furthernorth.
THE FLAMES AT WORK.
As soon as the flames were seen the
party OF rescuers sent an alarm to the
FIRE engine companyin East Eighty.Glth
street. The fremen responded prompt
", and a stream OF water was at once d.
reCted upon the burning cars. 1t was
soon discovered that nearly all those in
the two rear cars had been killed.
After the fire had been mastered, the
fremen, armed with axes, tried to clear
away the debris go 90 TO be able to get 81
the bodies. 1t wns finally decided to
pull the two cars apart, andShe locomo'
live OF the New Haven train, with tear
and crash, parted the two cars, draw.
ing one OF them about ten feet from the
other.
In heap OF burned cushions, wood
and iron the bodies were found and
taken out and wrapped in blankets.
They were then placed side by side on
the aouth.bound track. The bodies were
burned beyond recognition. Parts ot
some oil the bodies were completely
burned away.
A HORRIBLE SCENE.
Six eGgines soon began playing on the
flames. As the water put out the FIRE
they were able to get inside the cars.
The picture presented was fear
iul. Dead, roasted and broken
bodies were in all sorts OF pitable atti'
tudes, but one was not dead. Between
the head OF the locomotive aud the enn
ofthe car was Suspended by the shoulders
the body OF man with the legs torn Oh:
His clothing had been all burned of and
the body partly roasted. He was nude
and swollen, but was still alive.
fireman touched him, and from the
head above came moan and the WoTde
"For Gods sake lesve me alone, and lei
me die" 1t took tVsnty minutes 20
GxtricAte the poor fellow. BE was still
alive when carried up to the light, pu'
before he could be examined he wa
dead.
Every fresh body brought out steamec
Bif II had been parboiled In ADDITION Y
being burned. The dead were hnallI
gotten out, and after ten hours worl
the tracks were cleared.
Engineer Fowler, OF the New Hayel
train vas arrested and committed With
out bail, He and bis fireman each DO
declare tbs signals we're out. Nesthe
was seriously injured.