The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-11-29
CRASH ON
RAILW AY
Dover Local and Buffalo Express
Collide at Higgins Crossing.

and Firemen Saved Lives by Jump
ing Several Injured - Eastbound
Train Ran Ahead of Orders
The most serious accident which
has occurred on the Morris & Essex
Division of the Lackawanna since
the disaster on the Haokensack mea-
dows some years ago was that of Sum
day afternoon when the east bound
local train due here at 3:16 collided
with the west bound Buffalo epxress
at a curve on the Higgins estate two
thirds of mile west of the Morris
town station. The west bound train
which left Hoboken at 1.40 was on
time at Morristown; as there were
no passengers for Scranton or points
beyond it only slowed up as it passed
the local station and was not running
over fifteen miles an hour when the
eastbound train crashed into it with
terrific force, as it was running not
less than forty-five miles an hour.
The Buffalo train was in charge of
John Skillman, engineer, with Chas.
Loper, formerly of Morristown, fire.
man. Engineer Hill was in charge of
the east bound train. The engineers
saw when their trains came around the
curve a collision was inevitable al
though both remained with their
hands ON the throttle until just before
the crash when they jumpe !. Skill
man was badly bruised about the legs
and body; Loper also received a
severe shaking up. The former was
taken to All Souls Hospital while
Loper returned to his home in Hobo
ken. Hill happened to jump in a
heap of sand, and although somewhat
cut and bruised was not seriously
injured. His fireman also escaped
uninjured.
James Clinton, a hackman of Morris
Plains who sat in the front seat of
the east bound train was caught be-
tween the seats and it was necessary
to cut his overcoat before he could
be relieved. He was sent to his home
at the Plains.
Conductor Nichols was in charge
of the west bound and George Brown,
of Summit, one of the best-known
conductors on the Morris & Essex
Division, was in charge of the train
going east. These trains formerly
passed at Morristown, but under the
recent schedule the east bound .rain.
which is generally known as the Eas-
ton mail, excepting Sundays. was to
wait at Morris Plains until the west
bound train made the switch at the
gravel pit.
The engines met with terrific force.
The cab of one locomotive was
thrown down the bank, while the
steam chest of the other was also
thrown down on the other side. The
baggage cars telescoped the tenders
until nothing but the trucks of the
latter could be seen.
All the passengers were more or less
shaken up. 1.-THE Buffalo train being
composed of heavy cars did not suffer
to the extent the local train did. In
the dining car very little crockery
and glassware remained unbroken.
AS soon as the accident occurred
word was telephoned to Agent White
at the Lackawanna Station. who
promptly ordered doctors and ambul-
ances. and notified the authorities at
Hobokep. Division Supt. Ketcham ac-
companied by Train Dispatcher
Sickles came up on special. while
a wrecking train was sent from Wash
ington After the hardest kind of
work all night, in the heavy rain, the
wreck was cleared away about four
O'Clock in the morning, SO that when
the Dover express came down Monday
morning it passed over the rails which
had been torn and twisted with but
little delay.
AS soon as possible after the colli-
sion a special train was sent from
Dover in charge of Conductor George
who took the west bound passengers
from the wreck to Dover where they
were transferred to special train
for Buffalo and the west, which had
been sent around over the main line.
1t is remarkable that Notwithstanding
the force of the collision no fatal
results attended it.
Conductor Browns left arm was
broken and he was otherwise general
ly shaken up, but is about. Engineer
Skillman who was taken to All Souls S
Hospital left there yesterday. James
Clinton who was taken to his home at
Morris Plains is improving.
The accident was caused by the east
bound train not obeying orders which
had been issued for it to wait at
Morris Plains until the Buffalo train
passed it there, or until the where
abouts of the latter train was known,
so that the east bound train could
proceed in safety. This train is usual
" known as the Easton mail, and is
generally run by Conductor Henry
Hoffman. Conductor Brown and his
crew run il abOut once a mouth aud