The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-01-30
TWENTY-F0UR ARE DEAD
AWFUL ACCIDENT ON JERSEY
CENTRAL RAILWAY.
Flyer Crashes Into Local and Three
Passenger Cars Are T~elescoped and
Many Persons Killed and Injured
Wreck Takes Fire at once-Bad-
ly Injured Are Incinerated-Many
Bodies Burned to Crisp.


New York, Jan. 2S.-One of the most
appalling railroad wrecks that has oc-
CURED insthe vicinity of New York for
many years, with an estimated loss of
life ranging from ~ to 80, took place
tonight at Graceland, on the Central
Railway of New Jersey, when the Royal
Blue line express ploughed at top speed
into the rear of a local train.
Immediately after the crash three of
the shattered cars of the local took fire,
rendering impossiblet the rescue of many
of the wounded who were pinned in
the wreck. Many bodies are believed
to have been consumed.
The passengers on the Flyer escaped
uninjured except for trifing bruises.
The Royal Blue, westbound, was IS
minutes late, and was running at high
speed and overlook the slower train
just beyond Graceland. The heavy en-
CINE of the Flyer tore it's way into the
rear car and the two other cars were
driven into those in front, the three be-
ing torn to pieces. The Flyers engine
fell on it's side, the engineer and fire.
man going down in the wreck. They
are now in the hospital at Plainfield.
The engineer will die.
The flagman of the local was sent
back, but was recalled when the train
got under way. He left torpedoes, but
they did not stop the Royal Blue. The
man sent back to flag the train had just
swung onto the rear of his train and is
| N,@n th4 I4al NJ a-r., a1l A.
three worst wrecked cars were piled in
to a heap, containing at least a hun
dred dead and injured.
| From the mass came fearful cries for
aid and a minute later the wreck caught
fire. The screams of the injured in the
heap were intensified as they found
themselves hemmed in by flames. The
uninjured passengers and trainmen
went to work at once to rescue the in
jured, taking many from the wreck.
Some of the injured burned to death in
sight of those working with %despera-
ton to save them but the flames soon
gained complete mastery.
A score of physicians were brought
from neighboring towns and the cars Of
the Flyer were converted into hospitals.
The dead as taken out were laid in a
row alongside the track.
The flames were eXtinguished and the
work of recovering the bodies began.
Out Of the first car eight bodies were
taken. The sight, while the wreck was
burning, was h%orrifying. Men could be
seen in the wreckage pinned fast mid
timbers and struggling to be free, while
the flames roareu around them. The
rescuers we're helpless to aid them. as
they had already been driven from the
wreck by the flames.
The imprisoned ones begged for
death to end their agonies and implor-
ed those laboring to get them free to
crush their heads with the axes they
were using to chop away the w%reckage.
One of those who tried to take out a
man pinned in, found he was held down
by one leg near the ankle and, seeing
that it would be useless to do anything
else, he is said to have finally severed
the mans leg and carried him to one of
the parlor cars. Both rescued and res
cuer were badly burned.
Following is a list of the dead as far
as are known:
EDGAR WILLIAMS, lawyer, New
York.
c. P. THAYER, Plainfeld, secretary
to Senator Thomas G. Platt.
HARRY G. HAND, New York City.
HARRY PATTERSON, Dunellen.
GEORGE F. RED, Scotch Plains.
THOMAS CUMMINGS. Plainf1eld.
ROWLAND CHANDLER, Plainfield.
EDWARD FLYNN, Plainfield.
In addition to these there are many
charred bodies unidentified still at the
scene of the wreck.
The injured at the Plainfleld hospital
are as follows:
Edward Clark, Plainield .
William Samson, Plainfield.
Miss Lizzie Cutter. Plainfield.
William Dunn, Plainfield.
George Force, Plainfield.
Howard r. George, Plainfleld.
Miss Mildred Everett, Plainfeld.
Mrs. D. U. Cummings, Plainfield.
E. M. Brokaw, Plainfield.
Miss Cora Brokaw, Plainfield.
Frederick Kannen, Plainfield.
Roy Apgar, Dunellen, N. ].
William Frederick, Dunellen, N. J..
William Geddes, Dunellen. N. J..
George Chandler.
Charles ~Longworthy.
Mrs. Belch.
Mrs. Mary Ryan.
William Vanwanter.