Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-01-08
FRIGHHFUL COLLISION
Fatal Results Of Railroad
Accident at Hastings, Ny
a Careless Signal Man to Blame
for the Horror.

Twelve human lives were sacrificed in the
wreck on the Hudson River Railroad near
Hastings n. Y. It was the most serious
disaster in the annals o. that road during the
past twenty years, and one mans Ignorance
and carelessness was responsible for it all.
Summed up in a word it amounts TO this
that by a carelessneSs almost beyond the
mind OF man TO understand, ana for which
there is not the remotest shadow of excuse
or pallladOn, seven men and women were
slaughtered outright, four more 90 horribly
scalded, burned and mangled that they died
few hours later, and half a dozen others so
fearfully injured that il they survive they
will carry to their dying day the fearful
traces of the ordeal which they went
through. And all this because a employe
who was sent back to signal a train preferred
to sit in a station and smoke cigar instead
Of standing at his post on the tracks and
attending to his duty.
The Niagara Falls express, which left the
Grand Central Station, New York City, at
7:30 o'clock in the evening, was stopped
three-quarters of a mile south of Dobbs
Ferry, because of the temporary break down
of the engine of train ahead. Behind the
Niagara express was rushing onward the
heavy st. Louis express. As soon as the
Niagara Falls train stopped Conductor
George Wilkins sent his rear brakeman,
Herrick, back 1000 yards with a red lantern
Win orders TO Uno express.
He took his red lantern and walked back
toward Hastings. For some unknown reason
he utterly ignored his orders and went back
to Hastings, where he entered the
station and began to talk TO Station
Agent De Lannoy. On rushed the
ahead, hidden by curve, and of its passen-
gers, was in the hands Of a man who gave
no thought to his duty nor to the danger his
negligence involved. The express dashed
past the station, and Herrick realized the
tragedy that was inevitable. 1t was too
late.
With his red lantern in his hand he stag
gered out upon the platform and listened for
the crash. It came like rumble OF distant
thunder. Engineer James Donohue, when
too late, had seen the train ahead as his own
iron monster, Engine No ST.. one or the
most powerful on the line, swept around the
curve. He reversed his engine, applied the
air brakes and leaped just In time to save
his life.
The engine struck the sleeping car Gibral-
tar and tore it to pieces. Clear through the
car it went, while from its broken pipes
poured out volumes of scalding, sutfocating
steam, that cooked human flesh. Twenty
two people were in that fated car. BY as
miracle two escaped.
The scenes that followed were terrible.
PASSENGERS from the other cars peeriug into
the wreck saw human forms, and ran for
the tools provided by the road for jus5 sucn
cases in order to release them. Thrse
axes broke to pieces when put to
USE and then the dead and dying
men and women had to be pulled out as
best they could. Many residents OF that
thickly settled district had heard the crash,
and came to the rescue. Women came,
bringing mattresses and bedding, and
bravely helped the surgeons in their
work A corps of doctors were soon at work
from the near villages.
Not a wheel of the Cincinnati express
left the track. It's engine was demolished.
The train was backed to Hastings, and after
the track was cleared all uninjure1 passen-
gers were transferred to it and continued
their journey north.
The wounded were taken to Dobb's station,
and the dead-twelve in number-to larry
town. to Vanderbilt's undertaking establish
ment.