The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-18

Wrecked Cars Caught Fire After the
Crash---Passengers Leaped for Life
From the Open Cars--- Details of the
Terrible Disaster.
A locomotive became unmanaSeabe ID
the Bay Ridge yard Of the New York and
Sea Beach Railroad shortly before 4 p. NJ on
Labor Day, and. deserted byits engineerand
fireman, dashed out upon the road to Coney
Island. Four miles from Bay Ridge, at
Woodlawn Park 1t overlook and crashed
into train of seventeen cars loaded with
excursionists from New York and Newark.
NJ.
Four cars were wrecked and seventy
persons were injured. OF these there were
ten that the surgeons said would probably
die.
The wrecked cars took fire from the run
away engine. and but for the heroic work Of
their fellow passengers many Of the injured
would almost surely have been burned to
death outright.
The police of Brooklyn arrested Engineer
Frank Jensen and Fireman Matt Ross. Of the
runaway engine, on charges Of criminal neg
as follows
At about clock engine No. 8, OF the
Sea Beach line. pulled out Of the SiXty-ffth
street station in South Brooklyn with train
of seventeen crowded cars bound for Coney
Island where a number Of labor organiza-
tions were celebrating Labor Day. In going
out of Sixty-hfth street there is a heavy
grade for about mile, and engine No. 6
manned by Frank Jensen. engineer, and
Arthur Ross, fireman, which was used about
the yard for various purposes, was employed
to help No. 8 and its train up the grade. AS
soon as the train reached level grade en-
gine No returned to the yard.
Engine No. 8, with It's heavy load proeead-
ell on its way toward Coney Island, AMI at
$40 o'clock was standing at the Wood
lawn station at Sixty-afth street and
Twenty-second avenue, when down
the track toward South Brooklyn a de-
tached engine was seen approaching. No
attention was paid to 1t at first but as 1t
came nearer and nearer the more nervous
passengers in the rear turned around to see
it. On 1t came, putting spltefuuy and fairly
flying along the track.
Suddenly people began to cry out as 1t ap-
preached and rose from their seats Before
more than few of the affrghted passen-
gers had an opportunity to leap from the
sides OF the open cars the engine
bore down upon them like a
whirlwind, plowing its way clear through
the two rear cars. grinding them up as ii
they had been mado of straw and hurling
two or three hundred people through the
air, some to probable death others to long
time suffering.
Shrieks, groans and maledictions rent the
air. Passengers leaped from the sides OF
the cars and ran into the nearby fields. fear
fnl % IA
OF destruction was only partly done. Finally
the iron horse, after slipping its wheels for
several minutes. stopped, and then from
under the wreckage shot out a volume OF
flame
In an Incredibly short time four cars
which few minutes before hal held merry
pleasure-seekers were turned into bonfire.
The fact that the cars were OF the open
kind alone prevented a horrible loss Of
life. for even the passengers who were
pinned fast in the wreckage were
rescued with little difficulty by
the willing hands OF those who had gone
through the accident unhurt. The shock Of
the blow given to the runaway engine broke
the train in two, sending all but the cars that
were afterward burned down the track 100
feet out of harms way
1t was several minutes before help came.
Word was sent to the Bath Beach Police
Station, mile away. The crash attracted
the attention Of q number of people driving
in the neighborhood, and also OF a number
Of farmers who lived near by These hurried
to the scene and were Joined by scores of
others in the course OF half an hour.
Dr. Lundbeck, of Bergen street
Brooklyn, was riding on Twenty-second ave.
nue. with his daughter when he heard the
crash. They and Roundsman Isaac Frank,
OF the Bath Beach Precinct Station, reached
the wreck at the same time The doctor gave
valiant service. directing his attention first
to those who were manifestIy most seriously
Injured.
A fire alarm was also turned in, and by the
time the ambulances arrived two or three
fire engines drawn by horses dripping with
perspiration and exhausted from q three.
mile run were at the wreck. There was lit
tie use for the engines and hook and ladder
trucks. The ambulances, however, were
soon filled with small portion of the three
score and more of people who needed medi.
cal attention.