The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-19

New York, February 1G.-Sixteen
passengers were killed outright souc
others had died OF their injuries AT
midnight and at least fifty more we're
more or less seriously injured following
the wreck of the White Plains and
Brewster express on the Harlem divis-
ion OF the New York Central and Hud-
son river railroad near Woodlawn road
in the Bronx, a borough OF orentcc
New York tonight. A sheet OF electric
flame that signalled the disaster en-
veloped the rear car and for "A momCn.
threatened to roast victims pinioned ia
the debris. The flames did not, aJw-
ever, spread and the horror OF a hoo
caust was averted. AS the cars fell
they smashed the third rail, breaking
the current and ending the danger
from this source.
The train, No %. left the Grand
Central station at Glib D. III. drawn
by two heavy electric motors loaded
with a matinee crowd and commuters
| on their way home from business in
! this city. 1t was made up of one com
| bination smoking and baggage car ahd
| five passenger coaches. After stopping
at 125th street, the train was scheduled
to run express to White Plaina. At
Woodlawn the four tracks run through
rocky cut and take a sharp curve.
When the train reached the curve IL
was. according to the passengers. Iun-
ming at very high speed, estimated oy
| some at 60 miles an hour. Both motors
and the smoking car swung safely
around the curve, but the ears follsw-
ing left the rails and plunging over on
their sides with a terrific crash, tsre
up the tracks and after sliding q hum
dred yards collapsed in one mass
OF those instantly killed the gr AAter
number were women. \ Many scLe
mangled beyond recognition. Ambu-
lances and surgeons from every hoe-
pital in Bronx borough and from Belle
vue in Manhattan responded TO hurry
calls as did two fire engine compaEIc.
and the police reserves from many sta
tons. Many Of the injured we're quieE
ly extricated from the wreckage while
others were so pinioned they could
not be taken out for some time
Fire started in the overturnes ears
but the flames were quickly extinguisc-
ed and the fremen lent their aid 10 the
injured Special trains carried man. uf
the injured to White Plains and Noun
hospitals in this city.
| At 10 80 p. m. the police estimated
the dead at between 20 and 80.
Z The cause of the wreck was not Of
fcially determined tonight.
! Miles Bronson. superintendent uf the
Harlem division. who was in charge
! of the clearing OF the wreckage AMI
= who personally superintended the Sc
moving Of the derailed cars. said that
he was unable TO determine the cause
, OF the wreck. The tracks, he sd,d,
, were badly torn up and there had rct
r been time TO investigate.
Leonard B. Green, Of White Plains,
, who occupied a seat I'm the sn"k'r,
directly behind the second motor told
/, the story of the trains approach TO the
Woodlawn road curve. II was travel
; ing at a terrific speed, accordink 4
= Mr.. Green. II remarked on the specd'
. said Mr.. Green. when we hit ha
: curve. Instinctively we stopped play
J. ing a game of cards and looked oa' <
e Suddenly the car lurched and in ND
m ment we seemed to have broken lOo-.
q from the rest Of the train. We coat
/. see the other cars turning over"
IS Dismembered bodies were streV,
o along for distance OF 100 yards On'
r woman was impaled on huge splsn,s'
from railroad tie. Although the secn'
of the wreck was In the heart cf
y thickly populated section IL was som
y tine before nearby residents reaches
~