The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-07-19
GAY TRIP TO DISASTER.
Sunday School Excursion
Train Wrecked at
buffalo.
The TLAGMAN'S HEROIC ACT
With a Broken Arm and Crushed
Side lie Runs 10 Flag An
Approaching Freight.

BUFFALO, n. Y, Jnlv 10. 1898. The
excursion train carrying the Sunday
schools of Bethany aud Bethlehem
Churches of Buffalo, on the Western.
New York and Pennsylvania Railroad,
was wrecked at Enst Aurora at fifteen
minutes to eight o'clock last uight. One
man was fatally injured, and fifteen or
twenty others, old uud young. more or
less seriously hurt. Owing to lack of
facilities for communication The full
details of the wreck were not
obtainable until after midnight. The
accident is one Of the most remarkable
in the history of railroad wrecks. The
engines were crushed into masses OF
twisted steel, aud lying in the bottom OF
the turntable, were covered with the
timbers, broken glass aud iron of the
first two coaches. These coaches We're
filed with eXcursiorists, and that they
escaped with no moro serious injuries is
almost miraculous
CAUSED BY CARELEssNESs.
AS near as eau he learned, the accident
was due to carelessness. The evening
local train from Buffalo TO East Aurora
had just pnlled into the station, who're it
stops. Engineer Holland had taken his
locomotive to the turn liable, preparatory
to heading it toward the city for the
moroinQ trip The switch was left open,
as the engineer intended taking his
engine ont on the main track and back
to the siding for the night. just
beyoud the turn table is sharp curve,
aud beyond that the track rises IN
grade. The excursion train rounded the
curve and came down the grade Engi-
neer Rtmsbury saw the danger, but 1t
was too te TO stop his train, aud 1t piled
into the pit on top of the engine already
l%3on the table. The baggage car ana the
nrsU two coaches were II comnlete wreck.
AN INDEsCRIBABLE SCENE.
The sceue iu the wrecked coaches was
almost indescriba5le. the women and
chtlGren being thrown down and over
the seats ana through the windows, cut
with flying spliuters. broken limbed and
bruised Then the ears took Ire from
the engines, but au additional horror Was
prevented by the prompt action of the
village fire department. Citlzsns rushed
to the rescue, aud doctors we're sum-
lnonet from This city. the injured we're
speedily removed aut upou the arrival of
a special Car bearing surgeons, were
given all possible attention.
| here WAS one heroic act. Bob Han
fagnan of the excursion Train, was
t lrown from the baggage Car aud re-
c-Ived Il broken arm and crushed side.
Despite his severe injuries. he seized his
q ~ aud ran up the track TO warn a
freight train coming down the grade. He
accemDlished his'nufpuse. bat after that
5 was 00ne. be fell IaiItiug beside the
track, wntfe he was foa..d an hunr after
ward.
lack Norris, the fireman of the exeur-
sion iraln, was The most seriously hurt.
HIS head struck telegraph pole, aud his
skull WAS fractured.
THE INJURED.
The list of the seriously injured. is as
folIows:-
Harry Sauer, both legs broken. The
spiintered bone broke turougn the flesh
aud ii was necessary to cut away large
piece frem the thigh in order TO properly
set the Injured limb.
Arthur Sauer. leg broken and serious
bruises, and cuts about the face.
Fannie Whitmer, cut about feet and
legs aud bruised otherwise seriously.
Willie Whitmer, her ten-year-old
brother. legs badly crushed and severe
cuts about head.
George Ferguson, cut Gu face and seri-
ously bruised internally.
Mrs. Murphy, cut ON face. Her Two
children were bruised and cut, but not
seriously.
Nellie Ssessel, leg crushed and head
cut, possibly skull fractured.
Mrs. Robert Hood, legs badly injured
and cut about face.
The others suffered sprained ankles
and other slight Injuries.
IRE train bearing those who escaped
aud these who could pc moved reached
this city soon after midnight.
TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT
A thorough investigation OF the causes
of The wreck will be made today. Super
iuIendent Dabney said the following
rule governed the movement OF trains aU
the point where the accident occurred.
''Train No. 112 can use the main track
to point half mile south of East Au-