New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
A SLEIGHING PARTY'S PERIL
THEIR HORSES KILLED BY THE EMPIRE
STATE EXPRESS
THE occupants OF THE CUTTER GOT OUT JUST
BEFORE THE CAME AND ALL
ESCAPED TNHu'RT

Seventeen persons in seighing party had
narrow escape last night when the Empire
State Express, close by the Kingsbridge sta
ton. cut through the sleigh and killed the at
tached horses Fortunately all members Of the
party had scrambled out into the snow before
the sleigh was struck. The party had been
arranged by ]. X. Torrens. coal dealer. who
lives at No. so East One-hundred- forty
seventh-st In the party were six women. the
driver Of the party John Drew, who s en-
ployed by Torrens.
1t was the intention Of the party to go to
Yonkers and return. The sleigh sped along Old
Broadway. and reached the crossing at kings
bridge. close by the station. about 9:4o o'clock
According to Torrens and his driver afterward
the gate Of the crossing was open, there was
no signal shown and no Waterman was in sight
Just az the crossing reached. one of the
horses slipped and fell. dragging his mate
down with him The animals fell on the tracks
Drew. the driver jumped from his seat as ola
Frank Lett, another member of the party, who
sat beside him. Lett holding one OF the
horses heads the other having got on his
feet. when suddenly there sounded the distant
shrek Of an engine whistle.
My God" cried DAILY, its train
In an instant there shrieks from the
women in the sleigh and shouts from the men.
One man lifted his wife bodily. threw her on
TO a snow heap and jumped himself. The other
members of the party fell out somehow. Mrs.
George Hardy and her daughter. Anna, We're
the only two who were absolutely helpless.
They seemed to have been stunned by the
thought Of the danger. The daughter threw her
arms about her mothers neck. and the two sat
shrieking.
In the general confusion with the wild
screams Of the others of the party, the paving
OF the PROSTATE horse. and the warning whistle
OF the approaching train. the women sat. until
two men who had been the last to get out
turned and saw them. The fash Of the engine
headlight showed a red streak in the snow not
two hundred feet away. when the men dragged
the two women out and rolled with them over
into the snow.
Almost at the same instant there was a crash.
n shrieking whistle. and flash OF light The
engine of the Empire State Express had struck
the two horses squarely. thrown them high into
the air with the sleigh dangling after them.
Before those who had so narrowly escaped deatn
could realize what had happened, the tram had
turned the curve and was far away, speeolhe on
its way to reach the Grand Central station on
schedule time.
The horses had been ground TO pieces, ana
there was scarcely enough OF the sleign ielt 20
carry away. But the members ot the parry
were safe. and not one or tnem ndi 'i'oi- tl'o' "
few scratches Without exception, however,
they were so badly frightened as scarcely 10 De
able 10 speak
When Mr.. Torrens had recovered some ne
told the police that second before the crash
came the Waterman in charge OF the CROSSING
had rushed UP waving a white lantern inc
Kings bridge police station is only rev hundreo
feet from where the accident occurred, and half
a dozen patromen were soon nt the CROSSING
They were able to quiet the alarmed selghins
marty and started them on their way nome
.ha. gr1rl
would II. made to determine whether the cross
ing had been properly watched.