New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-25
FOUR DASHED TO DEATH.
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON THE PATERSON
BRANCH OF THE ERIE ROAD.
TWO WOMEN AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN
IN A CARRIAGE AT AvoNDALE N. j.

| IN CARRIAGE AT AVONDALE n. j.
THE FIFTH VICTIM NAY DIE
The most tragica accident that has ever oc.
Cured the Paterson Branch Of the Erie
Railroad was witnessed at the Westinghouse
crossing Of the road at Avondale at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and il resulted in the death
OF four persOns-a woman and three children
while fifth victim-a woman, who was badly
niurcd-may die.
Washington-ave. is the main highway between
Newark and Paterson and is much travelled. II
is macadamizcd its entire length. At Avondae
the railroad crosses the highway at grade and al
mast diaqonaly. There are no gates fagman.
and the only prccaItion against accident is an ai-
tomato gong at the crossing, operated by electric
batteries on the track in each direction, which
rings when train reaches certain point in ap-
preaching the crossing Four fatal accidents have
occurred AZ this crossing, but further safe
guards were placed there. Train No. 81. with
Frank HOar. engineer, left Newark for Paterson
at 3 ~ D. IN. When the train was approaching
the Waslington-ave. crossing the engineer saw
double phacton containing women and children
near the track. The horse appeared to be unman-
ageabe. He blew tie whistle and reversed
| the lever. but the next instant he the form
Of a woman whrl in the air and the fragments
| OF the carriage dash against the pilot OF the
| engine. The crossing is about 500 yards from
the station. and the train was brought to stop
before it reached the station
Some Of the passengers had heard the unusual
whistle and saw a horse with the Harness
dragging. gaoping wildly up the avenue. A
number of persons jumped of and walked back.
The sight they brhefd filled them with horror. Be-
side the tack lay the forms Of five persons, two
women and three children. Both the younger
children were dead, their brains having been
dashed ont. A young girl. thirteen years DID,
stood almost on her head among pile OF railroad
ties piled up beside the track. She still breathed
when taken into the arms Of two men, and then
gaspcd and died. One dead and the
other apparently so, bat gave signs of life and
was carried into the house of William Joyce,
near the track, where physician attended her
1t was ne time before the identity Of the vic
tins was learned, but it was ascertaincd that
they all belonged in Newark The list Of dead
and injured is as follows
MRS. MAY GRrETL. ,wenty.'ix yeats old. Of No. Io7
BelleyilcAVe.. Newark
CLARKE GRr ETH nye years old.
RALPH GRuETf. two years old.
NELLIE WILLIAMS. thirteen years ol1 or 30. 800
Summcr-aye.. Newark
INJURED
MRS LIZZIE WILLIAMS. thrty.avc years old. Of No
800 Summcraye. Newark.
Mrs Williams's husband is Clark Williams,
superintendent Of the Metropolitan Industrial In
surancc Company Of Ncw-York in Newark. Mrs.
Gructl's husband is II. Grutel, clerk in the
Central Railroad yards at Communipaw. After
the accident messengers were sent for the hus-
bands Mr. Williams had gone a yachting
trip and could not bc reached. Mr.. Gruetl
reached his home in Newark late in the evening
and learned Of his bereavement. He went at
once 10 Avondalc. whore the bodies of the victims
had been temporarily placed in the Catholic
church. The carriage party made up early
in the afternoon The women were sStcrs-in-
law, and the horse and carrlngc belonged 10 Mrs.
Williams who drove the party down
toward passac and returned along Wash
ington-avc. At Avondale the carriage was
stopped at a we'll. and the children got IA drink
of water The young girl got out and collected
some wild flowers. Then they drove on to the
crossing friend who also driving and
had stopped to pick flowers salutrd them few
seconds before the collision occurred and wit
messed it, William Joyce, whose house stands
on AN elevation near the crossing, was standing
on his porch and the carriage approach the
crossing and heard the train. lie says he dill
not hear the automatic bell ring and heard no
whistle or locomotive bell.
The horse was apparently driven right ahead
and the carriage was struck in the centre. Mrs.
Williams. who driving. clung to the rcns
and was dragged by the horse, which cut
clear from the vehicle. She struck on her face
and her nose was broken and face laccratcd. All
the others pitched out hcadong by the
shock Of the collision and struck on their heads,
none Of then being mangled by the wheels |
When the train was stopped the pilot was cx-
amincd and mass Of hair and blood was found
uEon it, The force of the collision had been such |
that the oak woodwork Of the pilot p"nc
tratcd about two inches in several places. The
bodies Of the four victims wcr; placed on the |
turf alongside the track and covered with wrrps |
Nothing was left of the carriage but fragments
strewn along the track half way TO the station. |
Notice of the accident sent to the county |
physician. at Newark. and that official arrived |
at Avcndalc at the iIomcnt when train No. 81 |
had reached the station OH its way back to |
Jersey City County physician Elliott was first |
inclined to take the engineer from his engine.
the terminus. and tclcgraphcd for his arrest
The Irbun" reporter who was on the spot
half an hour after the accident. saw some Of
the residents. who expressed the deepest mdis-
nation at the railrold company. The company,
they sail. had been tod repeatedly within the last
few years TO put yates and a 9at"man AT the
crossing. but no notc, had been taken of their
warnings The crossing. they sni. was the worst
dath-tmp in Essex County. he reporter asked
the engineer, IIoar when he had first the
carria9c. He replied that he saw it approaching
the track when he too close to stop the
zine The horse appeared to he running. lie
pulled his whistle and reversed the lever but il
was 70, late 10 avoid collision. lIoar is corrob-
Grated about blowing his whistle by passengers
Oh the train.
Frank Clifford. OF the Park Bank, New York.
{ olonrl Prout and other men living in Nmtlev
were on tn, train. Mr. Clifford said last might
that he was in conversation with Coloncl Prout
and when nearing Avondae hcnid the engine
give an unusual whistle Colonel Prout al', re-
marked about it. They felt no shock ami were
not aware of the collision until the train drew
np at Avonlalc After the accident several trains
passed the crossing, AMI il was remarked that
the antoma;ic gong did not sound or could not
be- card fifty feet away.
Mr. Williams after being taken into the Joyce
house was placed upon improviscd couch in
the sitting room and attended by DIR. PhilhOwPr,
Df Nutlcy who was helped by three women neigh
ors The pastor OF the Catholic Church, adjoin-