Evening journal., 1896-02-21

All the Passengers NhfrOWiy A1hch 10 NA'h
Their Lives-RalIroad Men making a
Flying switch Across the street-1'ralkes
Refused TO Work.
JERSEY CITY, Feb. 21.-The dangeN OF
grade crossings i'm cities was forcibly illals-
trated in this city when a horse car rutl-
ming between this city and Hoboken waa
run down by caboose at the Grove street
crossing Of tho Erie railroad and six per
sons, who were riding in the car, narrow
" escaped death.
The following is a complete list Of the
iniuredi
Henry Bernard years old, Of Lynd-
hurst, N. j., injured severely about the
head.
Mrs. George Bernard, mother Of Henry,
slightly bruised and thought to be injured
internally. She and her son were removed
to St Francis hospital.
Morris Fogelson, s2 years old, of 300
First street, Hoboken, n. j., bruised about
the legs; went home
Abraham Gross, 80 years old, of 5S7
Grove street, bruised about the legs and
body; went home.
Mrs. Mary Sternwald, 2s years old, Ct
1898 Park avenue, Hoboken, n. j., cut on
bho hcuu W h9AhB nPAAeOA9i 9SA' HN'''S 80
a coach.
Edwin S. voorhis, tho only other occu-
pant Of tho car, who lives at "a Greenwich
street, New York, was unhurt.
Tho Grove street crossing IS the most
dangerous Of all the many railroad cross
ings In this city. Numerous accidents
have happened at that point, and strenu-
Gus efforts have been made to secure the
elevation OF the tracks In consequence.
Took Proper Precautions.
The accident was strange in many re-
speots. 1t was not caused by train nor
by an engine, but by caboose. Horse car
No 131 Of the North Hudson line was on
its way from this city TO Hoboken. II
reached the Erie crossing at 4 O'Clock.
There are so many trains passing at all
hours Of the day that tho horse cur COM
pany requires its conductors to walk ahead
Of the cars This rule was complied with
by Henry Goolet, the conductor. George
Dixon and Michael Mcintyre, the flagmen,
had notified him that the track was clear.
Drill engine No. s67, in charge Of james
Harding, engineer, with caboose No.
30, All, In charge Of Milton Hannis, con-
duotor, had passed up the track minute
before. When the engine reached Eric
street, a block above, Harding, the en-
ginoer, suddenly reversed his lever and
came back. When about half block from
Grove street, he cut the caboose loose and
sent It driving down the tracks to make a
flying switch.
When Hannis, the conductor, saw the
horse car, he put on the brakes but was
unable to stop the cabOose in time, and
the next instant It crashed into the car.
The force Of the impact lifted the rear end
Of tho car from the tracks smashed In its
sides and drove 1t down the tracks until
the caboose could be stopped
shrieks OF Frightened Passengers.
The shrieks Of the frightened passen-
gers attracted crowd, and instantly an
alarm was sent out for the police and am
balances. Chief Murphy and Captain
John +. Kelly at once hurried 70 the scene,
and ambulances were sent from Christ,
St. Francis and tho city hospitals but
when they arrived It was found their serv-
ices would not be needed except for Mrs.
Bernard and her boy, and they were taken
Co st. Francis only because It was impos-
sible to take them to their homes.
When the horse car stopped, the reai
door was found 70 be jammed fast and
was forced open by Louis Niehardt, an ex.
pressman, the front door being blocked by
the cabooEe.
Then the passengers were liberated and
taken 60 neighboring drug stores, where
their injuries received prompt attention.
Michael Collins the driver Of the cor,
held fast TO his horses but they broke
loose from the car when IL was struck and
was dragged along the street before he was
able to stop them.
Dixon and kioIntyre, the flagmen at the
crossing, say they never knew caboose
to be cut loose from a drill engine to make
a flying switch before They supposed the
engineer would back the engine down az
usual and leave the oaboose on the siding,
where it was 10 stand until morning.
Neither Harding, the engineer, nor Han.
mis-, the conductor Of the caboOse, could be
found after the ncoldent.