Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-01-31
AN AWFUL DISASTER.
Trains Filled with Passengers Col
Tide in New Jersey-Loss of
Life IL Heavy.

New York, Jan. Is. - One of the
most appalling railroad wrecks that
has occurred in the vicinity of New
York for many years, the estimated
loss of life ranging from IL to 30
persons, took place Tuesday night
at Graceland, on the Central railway
OF New Jersey, near Westfeld, N. j.,
when the Royal Blue line express
plowed at top speed into the rear
of local train. Immediately after
the crash three of the shattered cars
of the local train took fire, render
ing impossible the rescue of many
of the wounded who were pinned fast
in the wreck. Many bodies are be-
1ieved to have been consumed. On
board the flyer all the passengers, al
though badly shaken up, escaped I'M
injured except for trif1ing bruises.
A freight train was blocked on
track 4, and the local received orders
to proceed on the express track to
or No. 4 track. Shortly after receiv-
ing orders the train had to stop for
a hot box, which delayed her so that
when she got under way again she
was due at Dunellen. She had just
started and was moving slowly when
the Royal Blue, travelling apparently
at full speed, which at that point
usually approximates IS miles an
hour, crashed into the rear end
The heavy engine of the Royal Blue
tore it's way into the rear car and at
the same time drove the forward end
of that car into the rear end of the
car ahead, which in turn was driven
into the third car, and this in turn was
driven into the fourth car from the
rear. The fourth car was only partly
wrecked, but the last three were torn
to pieces. The engine of the Royal
Blue left the rails and turned over on
her side, the engineer and fireman
sticking to their posts and going down
in the wreck. They are now in the
Muhlenberg hospital at Plainfeld and
the engineer is not believed to have
chance of living more than a few
hours.
Passengers on the flyer say the en-
gineer applied the brakes hard a min
ute or SO before the wreck. The train
ahead had sent a fagman back, but it
seems he was recalled when the train
got under way and although he left
torpedoes, the Royal Blue did not heed
them or else was going too fast to
stop in the short distance remaining.
The man who went back to flag the
train had just swung into the rear end
of his train and is among the dead.
The engine and the three worst
wrecked cars were piled into an awful
heap, containing at least 100 dead and
injured. From the mass came fear
full cries for aid. A minute~later the
wreck caught fire from the firebox of
the locomotive. The screams of the
injured in the heap were intensified as
they found themselves hemmed in by
the flames. The passengers in the two
forward cars of the first train and all
the men from the express and every
one in the neighborhood stared work
ut once to get out the injured before
the flames could reach them. At times
while telling in the wreckage, the
flames reached the rescuers and their
clothing took fire, but they worked
on, though in constant danger of be
ing killed themselves. 81, ~. 49,: +.
The hremen from WeStdeld, were
summoned by telephone, but. arrived
too late to save many lives. Doctors
were called for from Elizabeth, West.
field and Plainfield and there was :
Sscorea on hand. Is dozen bodies have
sbesn taken from tho ruins. -.