Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-11-02
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sixty People Drowned in a Rail-
road Wreck Sunday
Three Cars Jumped from TrestIe into
Water Near Atlantic City and Passen-
gers Were Caught Like rats in Trap.

Water Near Atlantic City and Passen-
gers Were Caught Like Rats in Trap.
Sixty lives were blotted out almost
instantly and without warning on Sunday
when two coaches on the new electric
railroad connecting Camden with At
lantic City n. j.. jumped from the
trestle bridge connecting the famous
seaside resort with the mainland and
sank in mud under 80 feet Of water.
The passengers were caught like rats in
a trap and only four men in the two cars
escaped. They burst windows with their
hands crawled through the openings and
came 10 the surface after the cars had
been immersed almost a minute. TIE most
horrible sight Of the disaster was that Of
the third coach. which completed the
train. This coach. tipped on end. was
held suspended 80 seconds by a projecting
beam Of the bridge. After 30 passengers
had escaped the coach dropped falling
into a mud bank not covered with water
Several persons were caught in the coach
and drowned. Their cries were heart
rending. A woulu-be rescuer. jumping on
the roof. caught woman's wrist through
a ventilator and held it until the rising
tide claimed her life. When the coach
went into the water a fat man was stuck
in one Of the windows He was filled
with hope when he found his head was
found the tide was rising and he made
desperate struggle to gain liberty and
life. Two men on the roof pulled his
arms in vain. He grew crazed with de-
spair and threshing the water with his
arms prayed and cursed alternately until
the tide swept over him. His body was
cut out an hour later. His struggles were
so terrible his sides were torn away by
contact with the window frame
The train, which was running at the
rate Of ten miles an hour. left the track
as result OF the spreading Of the rails
After leaving the TRACES it Travelled over
100 yards along the trestle. and II is
believed that Walter Scott. the motorman.
lost his nerve. as he had sufficient time
to set the brakes and stop the train. He
went down with the train. The line il
known as the West Jersey and Seashore
railroad. but II Is the property OF the
Pennsylvania railroad. Electricity was
substituted for steam only a month ago.
the third rail being used.
That all in the third coach did not die
was due to the heroism and foresight Of
William Wood. brakeman. After the
train jumped the track and while IL was
-. running across the trestle floor. he rushed
to the rear 81 the last car and opened
the door. Had he waited the door could
not have been opened. at IL was strained
y by the tearing OF a beam which held the
N-' az ~ 'i.N i.iohi'ii "a ny, "Ovu
stood guard at the door until the coach
finally fen. He assisted 20 people to
: escape through the door. As he worked
-fhe kept calling to them TO keep cool. as
the least panic might result in greater
loss Of life. Wood was rescued wher
being carried away by the tide He was
unconscious when picked up but was
| resuscitated by a physician.
Pennsylvania railroad officials STATE taai
/ the drawbridge was found properly closed
/ and locked. that the rails on the land
side and the corresponding rails on the
| draw were in perfect alignment. and thai
/ the cause cannot be determined until ths
/ cars are raised. The railroad official:
| throw out the suggestion thar a broker
| fiange on a wheel. or a broken wheel. OIL
a defect OF breakage in an axle or in sons
| OF the gear OF the forward car. was th'
4 cause Of the catastrophe.