New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-23
TRAIN AND STAGE CRASH.
A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A NEw-JERsEY
GRADE CROSSING.
THE LIVES OF THIRTY-FIvE PERSONS IMPER-
ILI.ED-THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE AND
ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS PROBABLY
FATALLY HURT Baking
HORSES THE CAUSE.

HORSES THE CAUSE.
Passaic. n. j., Dec pa freight train
crashed int, the side OF big stage loaded with
women and men at the crossing Of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad at Della
wanna. four miles from here this evening. There
were thirty-hve persons on the stage, and few,
II any, escaped injury. Fortunately. however,
only two OF the passengers In the stage were
seriously hurt They
CRANE. WILLIAM the driver. injured internally: taken
to ST. Marys Hospital. VIII probably die.
SWANKIE. CHARLES injured internally taken to st.
Mary's Hospital. Likely TO die
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The accident occurred about o'clock. The
stage used to transport the men and girls
employed in Worthen q Aldrich's mills. at Della
wanna to and from this city. William Crane
the driver. The stage left the mills little
later than usual this evening. There were. as
nearly can be ascertaned, thirtytour OF the
employees in the stage besides the driver. The
railroad crossing was reached in safety. The
men and girls were In good humOr and were
singing and laughing The driver went upon the
tracks at slow pace. the gates being up. 1t is
said that when the horses were fairly upon the
tracks the gates began to drop and that the
driver. in an effort 10 get across, was In the act
OF whipping up the team when the gate In front
OF them dropped into position Before the driver
could force his horses forward and reach the
gates the stage struck by the engine.
The pilot OF the engine hit the stage appar-
emily directly between the front and rear wheels,
and must have thrown It into the air and pushed
It aside Those inside were thrown out and fell
in all directions. The only person who fell in
front Of the engine Charles Swankie. one
Of the mill hands. He struck on the cowcatcher
1ia-
tance away.
The air was He'd with cries and screams
from the excited and injured men and women.
No one In the stage escaped bruises Those
who reached the scene first thought that the
accident much worse than II was. for most
OF tn. girls had tainted and lay as II dead.
while some OF the men who afterward were able
TO go to their homes dazed and some
unconscious from striking on their heads when
tossed from the stage
A call at once sent TO this city for ambu-
lances and doctors. Both hurried to the scene OF
the accident. There the doctors attended 10
those who were found TO be slightly Injured
and those whose injuries appeared to be most
serious sent in the ambulances to the hos
pitals Besides Swankie and Crane. Nellie
Wasdykc. William Morgan. Lena Wasdyke
Lena Dennis. and John Fecny. all Of whom
suffered from bruises about the head and body
were taken to the hospitals In this city. Later
In the evening all. with the exception Of Crane
and Swankie went TO their homes.
1t is said that the train ala Mt whistle aS IL
approached the crossing and that the bell was
not ringing. An eyewitness Of the accident
said afterWard that the gateman had lowered
two OF the gates when the driver OF the stage
went on the tracks These gates were the two
on opposite sides OF the track and left Just half
OF the crossing open for the passage OF the
wagon. The railroad officials on the ground
refuse to talk. but others say that the story is
not true.
THE DRIVERS STATEMENT.
Crane made statement at the hospital late
this evening. lie said that he knew that the
train was due, but thought he could get over the
crossing ahead OF 1t. and would have done 30 had
not his horses baked. He has been driving the
stage nightly for months. According to him. hc
was on time. and was tn" train. Tney usually
met at the place where the accident occurred
The train sometimes passed before he crossed.
and sometimes he crossed first Crane declared
that when he squa-ey upon the track the
horses saw the gate descending In front OF them.
Had they kept on. the gate would have been
lowered part way and. after he had passed on,
would have come down. The horses the arm
in front OF and above them move. and became
frightened and almost stopped, and before he
could urge them on the gate came down. and
then the train hit the stage. There is a steep