The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-08-20
BLOCKED TN
THE TUNNEL
Narrow Escape Of the Passen-
ger-Laden Dover Local in
Lackawanna Tunnel.
TRAVEL DELAYED FOR HOURS

Thousands of persons we're keptfrom
their homes on Tuesday night from one
to five hours by what might have been
one Of the most serious railroad accl-
dents near New York in years. The
rear cars of a coal train were flung slant
wise across the westward bound tracks
of the Delaware, Lackawanna y Vest
ern tunnel outside of Hoboken, MISS
ing only by a matter of inches Wrecklng
a Boonton local train and killing and
wounding hundreds Of passengers
bomeward bound. AS it was only the
engine-driver of the local train was
hurt. and he not seriously, but the
manic which resulted and the difficulty
experienced in getting the wrecklng
crew to work indicated what horror
might have resulted.
The train known as the " Dover 10
cal'' on the Boonton division lett the
Hoboken terminal at 5.55 p. M. 1t en-
tered the tunnel as train OF twenty
two heavy coal-laden gondolas entered
at the western end. AS the coal train
pulled into the tunnel, the last three
ears broke loose and fell behind the
main string. Their loss was discovered
in few minutes, and brakes set on the
freight. AS the train slowed up the
three stray cars, still moving rapidly,
crashed into the train and were hung
slantwise across the tunnel ana onto
the westbound tracks. AS they swung
over. the locomotive of the passenger
train crashed into them. The tram
was barely moving, and the impact OF
the stray cars as they were whipped
against the locomotive did most OF the
damage. The engine-driyer, Dore Mil
Ter, was TANNED between his locomo-
tive and the wall of the tunnel. lie
was squeezed a bit and painfully
bruised, but not seriously hurt.
The wreckage filled the tunnel, the
cars piling up onto the passenger loco
motive until there WASH I room enough
for cat to wriggle through at top or
sides.
In the crowded passenger train there
was alarm for a few minutes. That
there was not serious panic was due
TO the conductor, Amos Sellers, and
MS Train crew. A locomotive was sent
in from the east end of the tunnel to
pail out the train.
Traffic both ways was blocked for
hours. The working crew could not
gat the big derrick into the tunnel to
right the cars, and the work OF clear
ing away the wreckage had to be done
by hand. There was no room at the
side of the tracks in which to place the
stuff, and all the wreckage had to be
piled on cars ard carried out OF the
tunnel that way.
Eight trains were stopped at Newark
going east and not one of them was
sent back up the line till about half
past nine. Meanwhile persons desir-
ing to get home had to wait and could
not learn what was the cause OF the
delay or when traffic would be resumed.
Trains were again held up on wed
nesday morning when the tender Of
the locomotive of the Chatham accom-
mediation jumped the track near the
bridge over the Passaic at Stanley.
The tender bumped over the ties for
some distance. No one was injured
but the water pipe from the tank to
4 l. Il
to be drawn. The Morristown express
not far behind was held for three
quarters OF an hour until orders could
be secured to use the west bound
track to Summit. OF course this de-
lay held other trains as well but for
shorter periods except the west bound
Easton mail which ran fifty minutes
late.