New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-01
were across the track before a full view Of the
road was obtained. Then Mccormick to his

a
road was obtained Then Mccormick to his
horror saw train bearing down upon them at
the rate Of forty miles an hour. and only fifteen
Mccormick saw the danger all in the party saw
1t. Instantly the laughter Gied away and in its
place rose piercing. terrible scream One Of
the girls-it was afterward said that II was Miss
Bessie Gibson, whose escort was John Lewis
rose. panc-stricken. and attempted to jump. but
her escort held her firmly in his seat. II 1t was
Miss Gibson. this action saved her life.
The eye Of the veteran driver took in the situa-
ton at the instant. With the rapidty Of light
ming he made UP his mind and so quickly did
he act that there was not perceptible the slight
est tremor Of hesitation He saw that. with the
leaders across the track. to retreat was impossl-
BILE The only salvation was to lash the horses
forward and clear the track, IL possible, before
the train struck the coach.
BLOW FOR LIFE
McCormick's long whip swung through the
air and struck the horses with such blow as
they had never known before The mans i'fe
or death was in that blow. 1t was a desperate
chance with the odds against him. but he took
it. StunG by the blow. the horses leaped for
ward. At the same instant the warning Whistle
shrieked out from the engine, whose engineer
and fireman saw the danger when 1t WAS 100
late. second before the crew of the engine
and the party on the tally-ho were in ignorance
Of each others proximity or even exist ,nce;
the next instant they had met, and one o. the
parties was almost wiped out Of existence
The first seat had passed the track; me sec
ond followed it. The tay-ho was -four seated
one of the old-fashioned kind. AS the third
seat full on the track the engine struck IT,
There grinding crash. the air was iuI
Of dust and smoke. and the engineer. bringing
his train to a standstill by the most frantic
efforts looked back to SEE mangled bodies strew-
ing the ground. and Of he taliy-ho Eot
vestigc except two wheels ard mass of splh-
terS.
THE destruction Of the tally y-ho," said = by
stander afterward. was complete. 1 never sew
anything like it. Nothing but splinters! Splin-
terg everywhere and not whole board o" !ath;
nothing whole except the two wheels!
within two minutes after the collision" said
another bystander Il think it is no exaggera-
ton to say that thousand wheelmen were on
tho spot They seemed to swoop down suddenly
from dozen different directions, and the cross
ing was packed with spectators before doctor
had arrived"
THE WORK OF RESCUE.
The first physicians the scene were DR.
Bradbury Aver. Of Lynbrook, and DR.. Hutchisop
of Rockville Centre. who began to care for the
injured. Five Of the party were dead or dying
four Of whom were men and one girl. Miss Dora
Bertsch. No one able at the time to tell
who she was. She was pretty young girl
rather short in stature with regular features
and dark wavy hair. Coroner Coonlbs, OF In
wood. was sent for and came at orce to take
care of the bodies.
One OF the men was so mangled as II be unrec-
ognzable La.e last night it was said that this
young man was William Gilchrst, 1r
As quickly as possible the survivors were re-
moved Seven of them were taken to st. Johns
Hospital, in Albany-ave. Brooklyn, and seven
more were removed to their homes. The seven
who were taken to the hospital were the TWO
Barnes boys. Miss Stewart. Mrs. Andrus. Jonn
Lewis Walter Wellbrock and MISS Emma
Bertsch. Those who were taken home were MISS
Gibson Richard Bates Miss Hem, Miss Pash-
ley, Miss Bulmer, Miss de Bedts and MISS Stiii"
man.
HIS JUMP SAVED HIM
So quickly did the accident happen tina! only
one person jumped. This was Harry Lewis VINO
was in the second seat The moment Lewis saw
the train e realized that only miracle coulo
avert the coming collision. While the rest sat
paralyzed with fear, Lewis sprang to his feet'
At the same moment McCormick's blow with
the whip sent the first and second seats OF the
tally-ho flying across the track. and Lewis, reach
ing the side, sprang out just an instant oeiore
the smash He had been riding win ms lace
toward the back of the coach, and IN 1uInpihs
he sprang forward. He was thrown 10 the
ground but escaped without the shghtest IN
Jury The other uninjured man was wyatt,
who is unable to explain how II was that ne
alone of all the people in the coach was unhurt.
with the rest he was thrown to the ground Dut
the engine did not strike him. and. except 1or
hrn,se on the back Of the hand. caused by coming
In contact with a stone. he mas not scar Ills
ESCAPED seemed almost miraculous