The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-06

Cohoes, y. Y. Sept. 5.-An appalling
disaster occurred in this city tonight.
shortly before o'clock a trolley car OF
the Troy City Railway company was
struck by the night boat special of the
Delaware & Hudson at a crossing at
the west end of the Hudson river
bridge, which connects the city with
Lansingburg, and its load of human
freight was hurled into the air. Eigh-
teen of the 80 passengers were killed.
and al least 10 of the remainder will
die
The cars entering the city from Lam
slngburg were crowded with passengers
returning from a picnic at Rennsae-
laers park, a pleasure resort near
Troy. 1t was car No. 1872 Of the Troy
City railway that met with disaster. IL
came over the bridge about 7:30 o'clock.
laden with merry party OF people,
fresh from the enjoyment OF the day.
The crossing where the accident oc-
Cured Is at a grade. Four tracks of
the Delaware * Hudson railroad run
north and south at this point across
the tracks of the trolley road. 1t was
the hour when the New York boat
special, a train which runs south and
connects with the New York city boat
at Albany. was due TO pass that point.
The tracks of the street car lines run
at a grade from the bridge TO point
where the disaster took place. In con-
sequence OF this fact and frequent
passage OF trains IL has been the rule
for each motor car conductor to stop
his car and go forward to observe the
railroad tracks and signal his car to
proceed IL no trains were in sight. IL
cannot be ascertaned whether that rule
was complied with on this occasion, for
all events prior to the crash are Tor
gotten by those who were involved.
The motor car was struck directly in
the center by the engine OF the train.
which was going at a high rate OF
speed. The accident came without the
slightest warning. The car was upon
the tracks before the train loomed in
sight and no power on earth could
have saved IL. The motorman evi-
IDENTIFY saw the train approaching as he
reached the track and opened his con-
troller. but in vain. With a crash that
was heard for blocks the engine struck
into the lighter vehicle. The effect was
horrible The motor car parted in two.
both sections being hurled into the air
in splinters. The mass OF humanity.
for the car was crowded to overfowing.
was torn and mangled. Those in the
front OF the car met with the worst
fate The force OF the collision was
there experienced 10 the greatest de-
gree and every human being in that
section was killed. The scene was hor-
rible Bodies had been hurled into the
air. and their headless and limbless
trunks were found in some cases so feet
from the crossing.
The pilot of the engine was smashed.
and amid its wreckage were the
manned corpses OF two women. The
passengers Of the train suffered no in
a
the passengers on the trolley car were
young people. They included many
women.
Within 10 minutes after the collision
fully one-half of the population OF the
city was surging about the vicinity in
an endeavor 10 ascertain IL relatives
were among the unfortunate.
The injured were taken to the city
hospital and 10 the Continental knit
ting mill the former not having sum-
cient ambulance service TO care for
them all.
The corpses We're placed in boxes and
taken TO a neighboring mill shed. Many
of them We're unrecogniZable. The crash
was frightful in its results. Headless
women with gay summer dresses
oathed in their own blood and the blood
of others: the limbs without trunks or
any means Of Identifying TO whom they
belonged. women's and mems heads
-Eu-utu ana Ied-uIES alstpFLe0s DOdleS
rushed and fiatteued. These sights
constituted a spectacle horrible TO be-
hold.
The train of the u. & II. road imme-
iiately after the accident proceeded TO
Troy. The engineer stated that he did
hot see the car until he was upon IL.
He tried 10 prevent his train from strik-
ng the car. but his efforts were fruit
ess His train was going at a very
ligh rate OF speed az the time. He was
ome minutes late and was trying to
make up lost time. In consequence OF
he caution taken by the trolley road
o ascertain il the tracks were clear
Il this crossing, the engineers have al
Ways felt safe in running by at a high
ate OF speed. The engineer says that
he first he knew the car was coming
vas when il hove in sigh; al the cor
Ter Of the street at which the crossing
5 situated. He was but a short dis