New-York tribune., 1905-02-05
TRAIN BLOWN FROM TRACK
Exploding Engine Wrecks Passing
CdrS-Justice Hooker injured.

| wrecks in the history of railroading in this
! tion occurred at Whtesboro three miles west OF
| this city. at an early hour this morning. Train
| %, the Western express. drawn by an en-
! gine of the type known Pacific. AS this engine
was passing train No. 80 the Buffalo special
| eastbound it exploded The force OF the ex-
i posion was felt In the second car of the east
| bound train, as the westbound engine was di-
| rectly opposite that car when the explosion oc-
Cured. Both trains were running what may
| be called full speed. and well filled with
! passengers. The westbound train IS known as
one OF the best trains on the road for sleeping
car passengers. It was supposed that score
| or more of lives had been lost and that twice
| that number of people had been seriously in
| jured, but when the wreck was examined
| carefully as possible in the daylight of a morn
| ing on which the mercury registered fifteen de-
| grees below zero it was found that not sin
| gle passenger had been killed, that there were
| possibly injured passengers who would die,
and that the wounds were really few. Justice
| Warren B. Hooker was severely injured.
| The dead are:
ALLEN. John. Albany: engineer westbound
| Brennan. John. Albany fireman OF wesbOund train
| Those seriously injured:
BELL Mrs. OF Buffalo wife o. superintendent
tid pullman Car Company; arm broken and other in
BENDIGER Hiram. Syracuse; contusions and abrasons
| Drumming. F. IL. Pttsburg; sprans and contusions.
CORRIss. Mrs. Charles. Utica contuslons of head
R4Hs A s4dss5 VT Editor of The Rutland
EVEREST Mrs: F. W: Buffalo; wife Of the sIIpern-
Central ana Hudson River railroad; badly sDrainsd
HOOKER. Warren B. Fredonia; severely bruised
| LACGHLlN Louis. Utica; contusions and sprains.
| 1EDERER. D.. New-York City; sprains and bruises
LUsK Daniel D.. Randolph. N Y; badly burned the
back and cut over one eye: not in dangerous con-
MCCARTHY Mrs. John Syracuse: bruises and abr.sions
AosENBAUM. H. w. New-York City: bruises and
ROTH, George F. Rochester: lacerations Of head and
ROTH. Mrs. George F. back injured.
| srRAssER. L NJ, Albany; cut and bruised
severely from shock
CAUSE OF WRECK NOT KNOWN.
As both men in the exploding locomotive were
killed. there will never be an explanation Of the
| cause Of the explosion. The engine had been
| acting we'll during the trip UP the Mohawk VAL
! ley from Albany, for. though the night was in
! tensely cold there had been no complaint or
| trouble about making time
The westbound train did not leave the rails.
The knowledge that an accident had happened
came to the sleeping passengers this train
when the cars slowed down with a suddenness
and shock which threw the occupants of the
| berths backward with great force. in some cases
tossing them to the floor This shock fol-
| lowed by gradual slackening of the speed, until
| half train length ahead the cars came to a full
| stop. The of the westbOUnd train showed
excellent discipline. Men we're sent east to flag
| approaching trains. In the intense gloom Of the
! early morning the more serious plight Of the
| eastbouud express was not observed immedi-
| atcly, but when the situation became known the
crew of the Western express and many pas
sengers hastened TO tho rescue. The long train
of thirteen cars literally had been blown from
the rails if it had been string OF toy coaches
The rear Pullnans had toppled into ditch TO
the side Of the track. but the forward cars had
been hurled into adjoining field at distances
varying from ten to forty feet. Several were
thrown from the supporting tracks and wheels
and ploughed deep into snowbanks, their ends
being demolished by the impact
WORK IN BENUMBING COLD.
In these circumstances the rescuers expected
10 find many dead, An hour or more was de-
voted to extricatng passengers from the in
terror OF the sleeping cars. but while many were
found to be cut and bruised, no one was dead
The work of reaching the passengers was car
red on In an atmosphere which benumbed the
feet and hands and which caused great distress
to such of the rescuers as had responded only
partly clothed. The roar OF the explosion
awakened nearby residents, who assisted in re-
lieving the imprisoned passengers Sleighs were
procured and several Of the injured were taken
to the Whitesboro Sanatortum.
One Of the last TO be taken from pullman
car was Justice Warren B. Hooker, who was Sc
verely bruised, and who was found wedged III
between woodwork, Judge Hooker said that
he had been thrown with great force from MS
berth and found himself lying across the wood
work Of the opposite compartment. NOT until
assistance came was the judge able to leave the
car which was resting on its right side, with lts
rear end spIintered The arrival of 4 relief tran
from Utica hastened the complete examination
of the overturned cars. Some of the injured
were taken back to Utica at once. Soon after
ward a special train was made up ana tne
westbound passengers were carried on 10 buA-
falo. , - T.,
the sIceping car on the eastbound train. which
was opposite the engine OF the westbound tram
at the instant of explosion This car was put
on at EuffaIo II was lifted from the track and
hurled about fifty feet away IN the lot, ana i
said to have turned over four times in the flight
| This car was broken a considerable extent
but II was not possible to get the passengers
ONT for nearly an hour after the wreck fortu'
| nateIv no fire occurred, or all would nave oeen
roasted. as the car could not be broken open
| A mont six hundred feet OF track are torn up and
strewn with wreckase and about every person
! on both trains was shaken up, but nearly all OF
them went forward on late trains and required
no treatment. The total damage arising Ir0LH noo
the wreck in property loss viii be ABOUT $oo.Voo
Judge Hooker to this city and took a
westbound train for Buffalo. At Rome Dr. /
q Mock took the train and accompanied MN
70 Syracuse The latter was in great pam ano
| would not allow DR.. Mock to examine him care
fuIly Ouieting medicine was given Judge
| Hooker and n railroad surgeon from syracuse
was on hand TO accompany him TO DuhKlrK- Inc
Hooker family physician was TELEGRAPH 10 'iiee'
the train at Buffalo if possible
Sidnav I West of New-York, reported thai
he had left a large sum of money IN MS ciothlne
in Pullman car but after search II Wa
r-i,,ar nm as lost Guards were placed around a!
the cars until tomorrow. when the search VII
be resumed. - -, o.o;5aa+ r.b;c+
nuzzIes the officials. is the position OF tht
pp1Iir1an car Fversham, which lies in a lot hfty