The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-10-21
TERRIBLE WRECK AT WASHINGTON'S
CROSSING.
Rear End Collision Brings Death and In.
furious to Many Workmen.

scene of a terrible railroad disaster,
last Saturday morning, about 20
O clock, which brought death in its most
horrible form to II workmen and in
jured 30 more, some of them fatally.
The trains in collision were two ex-
ira work trains, which were engaged
in repairing the road bed damaged by
the recent flood, and were ON their
way up the river, when the fatal crash
came, which was dine to a wet rail and
heavy fog.
The first train in charge of Engineer
Fenton and Conductor Conoycr, of
Trenton, was made up of fiat car,
tool ear and the coaches containing
the workmen mostly Italians, residing
in Trenton.
1t left Warren street at !. A and had
stopped about n half mile below Wash
ington's Crossing to pick up some ears
on siding. Flagman Saums was
supposed To have gone back rcqns-
lite distance IL flag the train following.
The second train was composed of
twenty cars. loaded with gravel, with
Engineer Reed at the throttle and
carried the usual crew. 1t passed vii
hurtha nine minutes after the Ill fated
train.
The men ON the first section were
busily engaged Mt their work, and
were not aware of the close proximity
of the second train, until it had loom
eel into view. Those who could Jump
ed from the ears to places of safety.
The men i'll the coaches made des-
perate attempt to escape, but before
many in the closely packed cars, could
do So, the engine crashed into the
train, and the horrible deed was done.
The enipact drove the rear ears into
the coaches, mangling its poor victims
into senseless masses.
The uninjured men rendered into
Il frenzy ut witnessing the awful
slanster of their eountrymen, became
hereft of their reason, and attacked
their bosses and trainmen. Others
who were calmer, attempted to restrain
them and also to eNtrieate the unfor-
tunate victims.
Word was Immediately telegraphed
To Lambertville and Trenton and re
lief trains were quickly dispatched to
the scene. The Trenton train brought
squad of police who soon had the
men III control
The train from this city brought
wrecking crew and railroad officials,
and were accompanied by Drs Clos
son, Williams and McGill, who
were quickly nj work giving medi-
cal assistance. The Rev. Father
Lynch, of St Johns Church. went
among the injured, giving them
consolation and administering the last
rites Of the church, Later he was
joined by the Rev. Father Gilfillan,
of Trenton, who helped in the good
work. Al s 10 a second train from this
city carried Drs. Romine, Salmon md
LARSON to the relief.
As quickly as possible the ears were
Jacked up and torn apart and the dead
aud injured were placed in cars, and
hurried to Trenton. The injured were
quickly conveyed to St. Francis Hos
pital and the unidentified dead to the
morgue.
Hundreds of the relatives and
friends were ut Clinton street await
ing the train, and when it arrived the
detail of police were kept busy re-
straininS the hysterical wives of the
men.
Later the dead who were carried to
the morgue were claimed by relatives
and were buried from their late resi-
dences in Trenton. The funerals of
the victims were held on Monday and
Tuesday and were largely attended.
As to who is responsible for the
wreck, will be determined by the Cor
oner's jury, which viii meet in the
County Cont House, at Trenton,
Friday morning. In the meantime
the railroad officials are making no
statements.