Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-10-30
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Frightfal Accident Happens Near
Atlantic City.
CARS DROPIN WATER
Many Of the Passengers We're Net
Able to Get Out Of Submerged
Coaches and Lost Their
Lives by Drowning.

Atlantic City. N. J., Oct. 2s.-By this
wrecking OF three-coach electric
train on the West Jersey and Seashore
railroad Sunday afternoon a number
Of passengers perished.
While crossing over a drawbridge
spanning the waterway known as the
"Thoroughfare." which separates Al.
lantic City from the main land. the
train left the track and plunged into
the water. The passengers in the first
two coaches. with one or two excep-
tions. were drowned Up TO midnight
Sunday night twenty-five bodies had
been recovered.
The disaster. the worst that has hap.
pened since the Meadows wreck of
July 30. 1896. occurred at $3.50. The
train. made up OF three heavy vestibule
electric coaches. which left Camden
az I O'Clock in the afternoon. carried
at least eighty-eight passengers, as
that number OF tickets are held by the
conductor.
While running az a speed said 70
have been moderate the first coach
left the rails and dragged those follow.
Ing II over the ties fifty feet. Sudden.
ly swerving. the first two coaches
plunged over the side OF the bridge
into the water fifteen feet below. The
third coach struck an abutment, broke
its couplings. and for q brief moment
hung suspended over the water. Brief
as was this period. however, II gave
more than a score OF passengers an
opportunity 10 escape by the rear door.
Then the car slid off and followed the
other two into the water.
The accident was witnessed by many
persons on shore. and assistance was
promptly sent from Atlantic City. The
water az the point where the train
plunged In was not deep enough 20
cover the coaches AZ first. but as they
quickly settled in the mud. and as
the tide arose they we're soon hidden
from sight except the trolley poles.
Divers were sent down 20 try 70 reach
the dead bodies in the coaches. but
as darkness set in. and as the tide
ran more swiftly. they were unable
for a long time TO reach them.
Late In the evening a wrecking crew
arrived on the scene. and with their
aid and the use Of derrick. a dozen
or more bodies were taken out and
brought TO this city.
Al 1850 o'clock Monday morning the
total number OF bodies recovered was
forty-four
II was then stated there were at
least thirty more corpses.
When the rear car OF the train
caught on the abutment OF the bridge
wher II hung. poised for a minute.
ther was a frantic rushe OF the pas
sengers for the rear door. Probably
q score or more got out. and IA the
car plunged over the edge. leape6 into
the water. The moments delay, how.
ever. gave several passengers an op-
portunity TO leap In the water before
the car was finally submerged.
Motorman Scott stuck TO his post
and went down with his train. Con-
ductor Curtis also perished. The third
trainman. Brakeman Wood. proved
himself a hero When the train left
the rails. and was humping over the
ties. Wood ran 20 the rear door OF the
last car threw II vide open and held
Il for the passengers. 10 escape He
held the door until the car slid off
the bridge. and went into the water
with H. lie then swan 10 shore. His
action In holding the door open prob
ably saved many lives.
when the third CO.. dropped into
the water Henry Re ~&' was In the