The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-09
RAN 700 FEET ON THE TIES.
THE ". Y. CENTRAL'S SOUTH
WESTERN LIMITED DERiILED.
Although Going al a speed OF 90 Miles an
Hour. Not n Coach Of the Long Line
Tipped ONer-Engine Never Left the
Track-No Passenger seriously Hurt.

UTICA. Feb. Strain No. II. the South
western Limited. on the New York Central
Railroad was deralled at st. townsville
thirty miles east OF this city, at $40 O'Clock
tonight. The breaking Of coach axle
was responsible for the accident with
the exception OF the locomotive the entire
train left the rails and travelled over the
ties for distance OF nearly 700 feet. No
one was killed and no one seriously in
jured, although all the passengers received
bad shaking up and dozen or more sur
fered sli ght bruises.
The Southwestern Limited Is one OF the
heaviest trains running west over the New
York Central aud it's scheduled speed Us
close 70 Fifty miles an hour. II left Albany
on time, at 4.2o o'clock this afternoon, and
at O'Clock was rushing through the village
Of st. townsville at a sixty mile an hour
clip when the axle on the forward truck
OF the cafe oar, the second from the loco
motive, snapped at the journal box and In an
instant the entire train was bounding over
tho ties. The couplings and air hose re-
manned unbroken, and after traversing
about 700 feet the train was brought to
sthndstill. Not a coach OF the long line OF
Pullmans or day coaches tipped over and
the locomotive was not derailed.
With recollections Of Saturday mornings
disaster at Whitesboro still fresh IN their
minds. the two hundred or more passen-
gers aboard the Limited became panic
stricken and rushed from the train as soon
as its wild course had been checked. Grips
and wraps were abandoned by the passen-
gers who had mind only to their personal
safety.
The first duty Of the trsinmen after
looking out for the welfare Of the excited
Passengers was 10 take account OF the
seriousness Of the accident and take pre-
cautions against any possible additional
disaster from oncomlng trains Flag
men we're despatched eastward and west
ward and surgeons 10 st. townsville were
summoned TO the scene, as II was feared
al first that there had been loss OF life and
serious injury to many
Investigation revealed the fact that no
one was seriously hurt, though many OF
the women passengers became hysterical
when brought to full realization of their
narrow escape. Practically the entire train
in its flight over the ties deviated less than
four feet from the rails on which II had been
speeding. Its terrific momentum alone
saved 1t from being thrown into the ditch,
according 10 railroad men who were early
or the scene Had such thing occurred,
tho loss OF life would have been appalling
Track No. Was torn up for distance
uf GOO feet, and section OF track No /, the
eastbound, was smashed and twisted out
Of shape for distance OF 100 feet by the
rear truck Of the rear day coach OF the
train swerving around moment before
it was brought 10 a stop.
The greatest havoc was wrought In the
cafe car. the breaking Of the forward axle
Of which caused the derailment. A
number Of passengers were partaking
OF dinner at the time and when the car
left the rails these passengers were bounced
around like rubber balls while dishes and
food went sailing through the air. One
passenger in describing his experience
said that he was seated at the table when
the car was deraied. The next moment
he said he was under the table, then on
top Of the table. and in another second
found himself suspended in the air with
one foot dangling througha broken window
The passengers on the wrecked train
we're transferred to another westbound
train an hour after the accident and con-
unued on their journey westward. Wreck
ing crews were summoned from this city
and Albany and the work Of placing the train
back on the track was begun at 10 o'clock
tonight Traffic was not seriously impeded
by the accident.