The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
DANGER ON THE MAIL CARS.
Sono Remarkable Accidents and HAIR
breadth Escapes.

WASHINGTON. June 17.-Capt James z.
White. General Superintendent OF tho Railway
Mail Service. keeps on his desk in the Post
Office Department photograph TINT attracts
much attention. and that illustrates probably
the most remarkable feat ever performed by
a railroad locomotive. The photograph was
taken after the great accident at New Ham
burg N Y. on tho New York Central Rail-
road over year ago when the mail train
dashed through an oren drawbridGe and
WAS wrecked. the mail destroyed. and the
engineer. fireman. and ono mail clerk killed
The train was running at terrific
rate OF speed and reached tho bridge before 1t
was discovered that tho draw was open.
There was no time to do anything but jump
and this is what the big engine did. 1t actu-
ally cleared the 2S-foot draw and landed
safely on the other side. tho train going down
through the opening. This Is the biggest
jump ever recorded 10y q locomotive. and tho
Post OHlce Department officials think it will
never be equalled.
But all sorts of peculiar accidents occur on
the mail trains throughout the country in the
course Of year, but the reports OF them at
tract very little attention. In Capt. Whites
Office record is kept of all the casualties that
occur to mail trains and mail cars. and at the
end OF each year the reports are compiled and
included in tho General Superintendent's an
nual report to the Postmaster General. The
clerks. under the direction Of Chief Clerk Alex.
TIN Year hey
will have some remarkable incidents and hair
breadth escapes to report: in addition to the ne
New Hamburg.
Only tho other day. on June ]. Q, peculiar ac-
cient occurred while the fast mail was passing
| across tho mountains OF PENNSYLVANIA. One OF
the clerks In tho mail car turned to see what
| his companion. a clerk named hincaid. was
doing and found him Mt tho side door OF the
| car clinglng with his hands to tho lower arm OF
the mail catcher, his heels resting on the odEe
| The clerk Grasped his companion to draw him
inside but found him in a sort Of trance. foam
and his muscles rs rigid as iron. 50 that It was
utterly impossible to move him. He was there,
Franklin. Pa. where it was learned that he was
| struck ON tho sidc of the head by some unseen
! object. and after the accident had remained IN
theory was ADVANCED that tho clerk may have
S and Mas 5ssidoi that must haS:
which had q hot Journal. and being struck BY
the sides Of bridge over which tho train nass-
voluntarily chung to it with a death-li grasp.
lie has since recovered.
Near GaleshurS. H.. a short time ago: tho
some school childrsn driving q RAILROAD spike
between tho ends OF two rails The entire
$50 feet. When it stopped, ii was found, the
hot water and steam from the boiler were
pouring into the mail ear. that before tho &c.
railroad i man has yet come forward to explain
Only less remarkable is what, happened to
the engine In another railroad accident In
which u mail car was involved. There was a
Eenoral smash:up. and the engine before it's
over the mail car and landed right end up on
the other side.
The departm ent has just received mail ad-
vices about an accident that occurred on the
Northern Pacific Railroad last month. which Is
one Of the most peculiar of its kind ever re-
corded. An enst-bound PASSENGER train car
morning. on a bridge with tho fast freight
noxtto, tile locomotive with its storage end
majority Of railroad accidents are. The engineer
OF tho freight train left the station. contrary to
hn at he coaa reach the n9S.
due there. but he couldn't. Both trains had
been going down. grade before they met, but
irclGht train did not stop until it lad crushed
the G STRANGE ' part s,1s d Ills ac"ient. "'D '0O
The tender Of +, the passen M train WI was
cary .se tns @ entire
Y was lying in y bunk at the storage end and
OF the tender passed under the mail car. while
the tender Itself wont through it and passed
Just over Clerk Lownsb sherry and knock cd down
the stove which stood Just beyond the foot OF
his bunk. When the tender settloI down it
rested on the stove. leaving just enough room
between it and the heor to permit Lown.-
Live Goals poured out OF the stove
and ,sot tho car, on fire. and the clerk.
unable to move. shut his eyes and awaited his
tank OF the tender burst and deluged the mail
car. The great quantities q, water extin-
Shut his eyes expecting to die by drowning.
However 10 made an attempt to save himself
To- cut a hole In The side Of the car through
which The water ran and left him free. Then
another hOlo was cut and the clerk was rescued.
He Is again sorting letters ON the Northern lh-
cilic Railroad.
IRJfY OFFICERs As INDIAN AGENTS.