New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-13
FUNERAL PARTY KILLED
WOMAN DIES ON ENGINE.
Three Slain, Fourth Viii Die, at
Notorious Penny Bridge Crossing.

youths disregard for his responsibility as
gateman at one Of the most dangerous rail-
road crossings within the city limits resulted
yesterday afternoon in the death Of two women
and man. fatal injuries to a fourth person and
the arrest Of himself and a fellow empoye whom
he had left in charge Of his work. The accident
happened TO a funeral coach only few hun
bred yards from Calvary Cemetery from which
1t was returning. The coach was struck by
Long Island Railroad train on its way TO Long
Island City from Far Rockaway. The team and
the three persons in the coach were killed: the
driver was hurled ffty feet from his seat ana
fatally injured, his skull being fractured
On the train were Detective Sergeant Nc
Cauley and Coroners Physician Nammich, OF
Jamaica Mrs Nellie Terwilliger, from the
coach. had been hurled on the roof Of the cab,
and the physician was the first TO see her there
He climbed up and found her still alive. The
train was started again at top speed for Long
Island CITY. with the physician working over
Mrs TerHilliger on the engine roof. She died
before half the distance had been covered.
Henry, TAYLOR. Of No 1116 42d street. Brook
lyn had lust been buried In Calvary Cemetery.
Shortly after l o'clock the carriages began to
return to Brooklyn. To reach the borough IL
ras necessary 70 cross the railroad tracks at
the Penny Bridge, across NewtoWn Creek at
Meeker avenue. Several Of the coaches got
across in safety. The fourth one 10 leave tho
cemetery was driven by John Healy who
lived in 44th street Brooklyn. In the coach
were Mrs Sarah Halliday. Mrs. Nellie Ter
williger and her husband, Everett TerWilH-
ger. of No. 247 9TH street. Jersey City. Just
above the crossing is a signal tower Inc cross
ing is protected by gates across the roadway
| In the tower are employed Hugh J. Cornell the
towerrnan. Of No 116 Sd street. Long Island
/ City. and Charles McAvoy the gatemah' OF NO
! 81 Broonle street, Brooklyn
Young McAvoy who is only sixteen years olu'
| works twelve hours day. with no time off for
luncheon He is supposed TO eat his dinner "fllle
| AZ his post Yesterday he wanted some pie at
! noon. and leaving Cornell in charge OF both
Gates and the tower, he walked to Greenpoint,
! more than a mile away. to get three pies.
While he was gone the westbound train from
! Far Rockaway came along. running nearly iorty
! miles an hour building Just above the cross
,rg hides the trains until they are less than
two hundred feet from the crossing A hill also
| loads down from the cemetery entrance, and II
{. hard work for the horses to hold the carriages
| back
Healy left the cemetery with his horses on
trot He did not see the train. The engine
driver did not see Healy nor the coach. The
| towerman Cornell. tried TO lower the gates, but
| If he had done so it would have pnioned the
| horses. holding them and the occupants OF the
| carriage for certain death.
! The near gate being UP, Healy drove upon ths
! rails TO find his progress blocked by the de-
| scending gate on the further side, Seeing the
| train right upon him, he swung his horses over
| and dashed them TO a gallop down the tracks.
| They had barely caught their stride, when the
| locomotive hit the coach from behind. and threw
It forward over onto the horses.
With a crash of splintering wood the train hit
the carriage. smashing it completely. and going
on with hardly slackened speed, the engine
driver making frantic efforts to stop his train
| The bodies of those in the coach were hurled
| many feet. Mrs. Halliday was impaled upon
| nickel fence Healy thrown in front of the
! locomotive, which passed over and severed his
air TO the roof Of the cab Of the locomotive
where she lay unnotced until seen by Dr. Nam
! mich who climbed the roof to her aid.
/ Healy was picked up and carried into hotel
| Mrs Halliday's body carried there also.
! Further along the track Terwilliger found.
nearly dead. with both legs cut off The horses
| were cut TO pieces. An ambulance call was sent
TO St GATHERINGS and the Eastern District Hos
pital DR.. Coyle the first to arrive from st
| GATHERINGS Hospital and Terwilliger and Healy
were hurried there The former died a short
time after he had been admitted.
Shortly after the accident Young McAyoy re-
turned with his pies. He arrested by Po-
lice Captain Bernard j. Hayes and taken, to
eether with Cornell. TO the 4th street police
lion Young McAvoY told the police he had
gone after PIE. The engine driver. Edward FL
lott also was placed under arrest He says
that the coach drove directly in front OF his
locomotive.
Many serious accidents have occurred at the
Penny Bridge crossing of the Long Island Rail-
road on June G. 1900, three men were killed
Il. 1901, five persons. attending a funeral at
Calvary Cemetery. were thrown from coach
hy train. but no fatalities resulted.