Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-09
A CHAIN OF ACCIDENTS.
Collision Between Ferry Boats Followed
by Railway Disaster.

DS Isaiway DISASTER
A Long Branch express train crashed into the
rear of an Easton local on the New jersey Gen.
trail railroad at the Danforth avenue station,
Jersey City, yesterday afternoon. The rear
passenger day coach was telescoped. One
woman was badly, perhaps fatally. injured and
nine other passengers received more or less
serious injuries. The accident was due to a
delay of fifteen minutes of the trains. caused
by the Central railroad ferry boat crashing into
a transportation boat in the fog in New York
bay.
At 100 o'clock the Washington flyer. Easton
local and Long Branch express trains leave the
foot of Liberty street. A dense fog hung over
the river, and the ferry traffic was being carried
on with the usual carefulness. The Central
ferry boat had reached midstream and was
steaming along slowly, when suddenly one Of
the Central corlpany's heavily laden Transport
tation boats doomed up before the ferry boat,
and. before the engines could be reversed,
there was a terrific crash.
The passengers rushed wildly about from
side to side Of the boat and the greatest con-
fnsion prevailed. Quiet was finally restored.
and il was then discovered that the front rail of
the ferry boat had been carried away and few
windows broken.
The panic-stricken passengers were huddled
together in the ladies' cabin, shrieking and cry
ing. when the captain appeared among them
and assured them there was nothing 10 fear.
The boat proceeded more slowly to CommUni-
paw and arrived there fifteen minutes late.
The three trains were quickly made up and
the Washington flyer was the first to draw out
of the depot. Then followed the Easton local
in charge of Engineer Wolverton of Elizabeth
port The Washington train had passed Dan
forth avenue within five minutes at terrific
rate of speed.
Engineer Wolverton was running more eau
tiousy and had scarcely passed Danforth ave-
nue. when the rear brakeman discovered the
body of a woman lying on the track about fifty
yards below the station. He pulled the bell
cord and the crew hurried back to care for the
supposed injured woman. The discovery was
quickly made that the woman, who was sickly,
had tainted and fallen on the track and had not
been struck by the train.
The crew returned TO the train, which lay be-
low the depot. and the signal to start was
given. The train was scarcely moving when
the Long Branch train. in charge of Engineer
milford, rushed out of the fog, and before the
collision could be averted or warning given
crashed into the rear car of the Easton train.
The smashing Of glass and crashing of wood,
with an accompaniment of shrieks and groans,
were all that reached the of the passengers
at the depot. The car completely tele-
scoped, and 1t is miraculous that only ten Of
the forty occupants were injured. Both trains
we're quickly brought to standstill, and then
the work of rescue began.
Mr.. G.. H. Fresch, assistant trainmaster said
"The accident was caused by the fog and the
sliding Of the wheels on the slippery tracks. 1t
was entirely unavoidable, and no human agency
could have prevented it,"