The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-02-06
DEATH ON THE RAIL. 0.
An Appalling Disaster on Now
York Suburban Line.
SCENES WE'RE HEART REND1NG.
An Express Train. Going at the
Rate of sixtv-nvo Miles I'M
Hour Ron Into n local

wrecks that has occurred In the vicini-
ty of New York for many years took
place Monday night, Jan. 20, at Grace
land on the Central railway Of New
Jersey near Wcstlield, N. j., when
the Royal Blue Line Express ploughed
at top speed into the rear end Of a
local train.
Immediately after the crash three
nt the shat tered cars Of the local train
un,ll fire, rendering impossible the
rescue uf many Of tine wounded. who
we're pinned fast in the wreck. Many
bodies are believed to have been cun-
sumcd On board The Flyer all the
passengers, although badly shaken
up, escaped uninjurcd except ror;Lrill-
ing bruises.
The train which was run into New
York ut $40 and runs as all express
to Bound Brook, making stops at
Elizabeth, WeStticld and Plaintield.
I.ryond Bound Brook it runs, lis {. To-
al. The Royal Blue train left fifteen
minutes later but travels alta high
rate OF speed and makes no stop cX-
{, pit it Elizabeth and is scheduled to
uycrtakc the slower train just beyond
Graccland, where the latter switches
from track three on to track four to
permit the Royal Blue to pass.
Monday evening Il freight train was
| blocked on track humber four and the
| local received orders tx proceed on the
express track to DunellOn and there
take the outside or number four track
Shortly after receiving orders the
Train had to stop for Il hot box which
delayed her SO that when she got un-
der way again she was due at Dunel-
lon. She had just started and was
moving slowly when the Royal Blue,
travelling apparently at full speed,
which at that point usually approx
mates G5 miles an hour, crashed into
Tic rear end.
The heavy engine Of the Royal Blue
tore its way into the rear car and at
the same time drove the forward end
Of that car into the rear end Of the
ear ahead, which in turn was driven
into the third car and this in turn was
driven into the fouth 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 stick
ing to their posts and going down in
the wreck. They arc now in Mullen
| burg hospital at Painted and the en-
gneer is not believed to have a chance
OF living Of more than few hours,
~ Passengers on the Flyer say: the en-
1 $3.50 II e1iod- t. l,n -bsoaitea p,ara = a
minute or so before the wreck The
train ahead had sent ilagman back,
but it seems he was recalled when the
train to stop in the short distance re-
naming got under way and although
he left the torpedocs 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 flung into
the rear end Of his train and Is among
the dead. The engine and three
worst wrecked cars were piled into an
awful heap containing at least one
hundred dead and injured From the
mass came fearful cries for aid a
minute later the wreck caught fire
from the fire box Of the locomotive
The screams Of the injured in the
heap were intensified as they found
themselves hcmmcd 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 started to work at once
to get out the Injured before the
flames could reach them. At times
while toiling In the wrcckage the
flames reached the rcScuers and their
clothing took fire, but they worked on
though, in constant danger OF being
killed themselves. Some Of tho in
jured were burned to death in sight
Of the men who were working with
desperation to save them, but the
flames soon gained complete mastery
Of the two last cars.
| The iircmen from Wcstfield were
summoned by telephone, but arrived
too late TO save many lives. Doctors
were called from Elizabeth, Westticld
and Plainticld, and there was score
on hand. The parlor cars OF the
Royal Blue train were converted into
temporary hospitals. The dead as
they were taken out were laid in Il
row along side the track until means
could he found to convey them to
Plainficd. The fircmen after time
mastered the flames. Then the wreck
age was attacked again and the work
Of recovering the bodies was begun.
Out OF The first car eight bodies
we're taken. The sight while the
wreck was burning was horrlfying.
Men could be seen In the wreckngc
pinned fast amid the timbers Of the
cars and struggling to be free while
the flames roared around them. The
rcscucrs were helpless to aid them a,
they had already been driven from the
wreck by the flames. One OF those
who tried To take man pinned In
found that he was held down by one
leg near the ankle and seeing it would
be useless TO do anything else Is said
To have finally severed the mans leg
and then carried him to one OF the
parlor cars. Both rescued and roscu-
crs were badly burned.
/ When the engine ploughcd into the
rear car 1t partly split the car open
and at the same time lifted 1t up and
on to itself. This car was the first
to take fire and most Of those In IT
are dead. Some OF them are believed
to he beneath the overturned engine.
Those in the car ahead which Was