The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-02
MISPLACED SWITCH
Causes Bad Wreck on the N. Y. &
N. {. Road This Morning.
ENGINEER AND FIREMAN HURT.
The Washington Special" Smashes Into
the Willimantic Local Freight In the
Yards Here and Wrecks Both Engines
Passengers Badly shaken Up.

Another smashup occurred on the New
York and New England road this morn
ing, but fortunately, by the prompt
action OF one of the engineers, no one
was seriously injured The Washing
ton Special" leaving Washington station
at $40 A. NJ. and due in this city soon
after o'clock, was thrown in head-on
collision with freight train making up
in the yard in this city, by a misplaced
switch. Passengers were thrown vio-
lently from their seats by the force of
in promiscuous confusion along the
track.
The special. which Is in charge of Con-
ductor Searles. aud which il sometimes
known as the workinglnen's train on
account OF the great number OF working
men which IL carries, VAS booming along
ut good rate of speed towards this city.
Good time was being made and as the
train passed under the Atwell's avenue
bridge the track was seen to he clear.
The usual stop WAS made at the Rhode
Island Locomotive Works aud the trip
was again taken up.
Engineer Snyder, an old and faithful
empioye of the road. was at the throttle
with swift but sure giances for danger.
At "A point almost opposite the place
lately occupied by the old round house
TIE way freight for willimantic was
being made up. The engine, u hugh Mo-
gul, No. 30, had Just backed from the
main track where it hid been taking
water onto the siding and by some over
sight the switch was left open.
As at that time of the morning every-
thing was sLrJuded In darkness, aud be-
lieving everything to b. clear Engineer
Snyder, not seeing any danger signal,
allowed No. 2s to rattle along at a good
jog. Suddenly while scanning the track
ahead, he saw TO his horror, that the
switch was open, and In a moment he had
shut off steam. But it WAS too late to
cheek the speed OF the sp scial aud a mo-
ment later the front wheels Of the engine
caught the open switch and both engines
came together with a terrific crash.
The force OF the collision threw the
passengers from their seats and smashed
the fronts of both engines. The engineer
aud firemen OF the mogul, jumped from
the cab as the passenger enRine dashed
In on the side track and by so doing prob
ably saved their lives. Conductor Searles
Of the special Immediately. with the train
hands made an Investigation of the pas
sengers, but found that no one WAS badly
hurt, although several were very badly
sha ken up and brusied by the violence of
the snock
Engineer Snyder and Fireman Lille of
No. %, were both slightly injured, the
former sustaining painful dislocation
OF the right shoulder by being caught be-
tween the tender and cab, aud the latter
a bad confusion by being hit on the head
with a piece Of steel. Both men were en-
abled to return to Washington, where
they were attended by DIR. Smith.
The tracks and ground in the vicinity
of the collision were covered with debris
and portions Of the machinery Of both
en- zines. Three OF the box-cars on the
siding were completely wrecked aud
splintered and the tender OF the mogul
was driven neatly into the interior Of one
Of the cars The front OF the mogul was
smashed. the pilot aud bumper being
twisted and shattered with the terrific
force Of the collision.
The wheels and trucks of both engines
were either broken or displaced, and the
jammed inwards. A peculiar feature of
the collision was the manner In which
No. 2s met the shock. Being one of the
lightest engines on the road m it
struck the heavy Mogul the engine rose
gracefully skywards and rested after the
poked almost directly into the Moguls
headlight. and veeriug slightly TO one
side remained in that position. The
tender OF the passenger engine was badly
twisted and bent, and the front of the
Baggage and smoking car was battered
In aud splintered.
Immediately after the collision flag
man was sent up the road TO hold all
trains and word was at once sent TO head
quarters notifying the management of
the accident. A gang Of about forty
wrecksrs was dispatched TO the scene and
work was at once begun on the wrecked
engines.
IL was not until late hour this morn
ing howeyr. that the main line was
and traffic resumed, and there