The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-06-20
AUTOMOBILE HIT BY TRAIN
r. S. Sayer and Wife Killed, Theil
Two Sons Injured.
Accident Occurred Near Goshen, n. r.
Party Was on Way to sumo
MGR Camp.

Goshen, N. Y.-An automobile in
which Richard S. Sayer. Treasurer of
the Rider Ericsson Engine Company
Of New York City, his wife and two
sons, were passing over the Erie Rail-
road tracks at Seeley's Crossing, near
here, at night, was struck by fast
train. Mr.. Sayer and his wife were
instantly killed The two sons, Rich
ard Jr., aged thirteen, and Ray, seven
years old, were injured. The colored
chauffeur escaped unhurt.
The family We're on their way from
Englewood, N. j., to Goshen, where
members of the respective families
of Mr.. and Mrs. Sayer reside. 1t was
the intention of the party to spend the
night at Goshen, leaving for Mr.. Say
er's camp in the Shawangunk Noun
tains, Ulster County, the next day
The party left Englewood early in
the day, intending to spend few
hours at Walden. N. T.. where the
Rider Ericsson engine factories are sit
uated. They left for Goshen late in
the afternoon.
How the accident occurred is not
vet known, except that the automobile
was in the middle of the tracks when
the fast train of the Erie road came
along. The heavy train struck the car
in the middle and shattered it. The
occupants were thrown for a distance
and parts of the automobile were car
ried for several hundred yards along
the track on the pilot of the engine.
When the train was stopped the
news of the accident was telephoned
to Goshen. A special train was i'm
mediately prepared, but DR.. d. T. Con-
dict, the regular surgeon of the Erie
road stationed here, arrived at the
scene of the accident in ain automobile
ahead of the train.
DR. Condict found that both Mr.. and
Mrs. Sayer had been killed instantly.
The young son, Ray, it was feared
had also sustained fracture Of the
skull. Richard Jr., was found in
semi-conscious state, and was only
able to ask for water when picked up.
The chauffeur was standing near by.
unhurt, but too frightened to speak.
The baggage which the party had had
in the automobile, was scattered far
and wide
The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Sayer
were placed in a car of the relief train
and brought with the injured boys to
Goshen When the train arrived here
1t was thought best to send the injured
lads on to the Thrall Hospital at Mid
dletown.
Mr.. Sayer was fifty-five years old and
q native of Goshen, where his father,
the late William M. Sayer, was a
wealthy and much-respeeted lumber
merchant. Richard Sayer and his
brother, William M. Sayer, Jr., went
into business about twenty years ago
and were successful. William M.
Sayer, Jr., is now the President of the
Rider Ericsson Engine Company, of 80
Warren street, New York City.
Mrs. Sayer was before her marriage
Frances Lowe, daughter Of the late
Judge Lowe, who was prominent in
Middletown law and politics. The two
boys were the only children of the
couple.
Besides the aged Mrs. Sayer, who
has lived here for the last fifty years,
Mr. Sayer leaves three sisters, Mrs.
J. w. Colt and Mrs. Joseph Coates,
both well-known in Goshen and Mid
dletown, and Mrs. Hitchcock, the wife
Of DIR. Hitchcock, of st. Johnsbury,
VT.
1--WE were coming down slight
HILL" said Chauffeur Charles + jack
son. ''As we approached the crossing
we were warned by people on the side
walk that there was a train coming.
Mr.. Sayer. who was on the seat with
me, told me to go on, as there was lots
of time. AS we hit the track | saw
the train and tried to turn, but instead
of steering clear of the track the auto
slid in front of the train. I jumped
lust in time and was not hurt"