Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1907-02-21
OXFORD. MISS THURSDAY FEBRUARY
SCORE Of LIVES LOST
BROKEN FLANGE THROWS MO-
TOR TRAIN DOWN EN-
BANKMENT.
Wreckaee Takes Fire, But is Soon
Extinguishsd- Bodies strewn 100
Yards-Heartrending Scenes
Are Witnessed.

EN-A-t1s WtAG ~
death this evening and more than
hundred injured when one Of the new
electric trains on the Harlem river
division of the New York Central rail-
road left the rails on a curve ut Two
Hundred and Fifth street and were
dragged along FOR 200 feet. A broken
fiange on one of the wheels Is believed
to have caused the disaster.
The wrecked train consisted Of two
motor eogines. one commission smck.
ing and baggage car, one regular smok-
ing car and three day coaches. Every
seat in all of these cars we're filed
when the train left the Grand Central
station. Indeed, it is said, that some
were standing in the aisles, for IL was
the first day Of the new suburban cleo
trio service installed by the New York
Central.
Long Red Blur.
As the train drew northward Motor
man James Stansfeld increased the
power, and thus on either side OF the
cars the view began to take on the ap-
2earanee Of a long red blur.
The speed grew alarming, the surviv-
ors Of the wreck declare. Many Of
them say it was fully sixty miles an
hour. Others said the speed was over
seventy miles an hour.
Several women are said TO have
grown hysterical over the headlong
flight Of the train.
The motors drawing the train had
rushed under the bridge at Webster
avenue and were some 100 feet north Of
1t and on the very sharpest point OF the
curve when a sudden crash was heard.
The rear trucks OF the combination
smoker and baggage car left the track.
The second car followed it in turn and
all four cars left the track with quick
ness that left no one time for even .
thought OF what had happened.
In fash the four derailed passenger
cars had struck the third rail and be-
fore the passengers could make n move
or even shrek the four cars went over
on their sides on track No. 70 be
dragged along for a distance OF from
80 to 30 feet with their living bur
dens inside.
Wreckage Takes Fire.
The passengers on the left side of the
train were flung headlong on top of
those on the right side and these hap
less ones slammed against the windows
that were now being torn 10 splinters
with the broken and twisted iron and
woodwork as the cars were dragged
over the ties, were given over in a
twinkling to fate from which there
was no appeal. Death gripped some Of
them quickly and mercifully Others
had their limbs torn of and others
with fractured skulls were stunned into
unconsciousness of further injury.
And when the motor ears, with air
brakes set, finally came to a stop the
shattered ears remained on their sides
with their passengers piled on top OF
one another, the dead and injured
mi q together with seats and splin-
tert ron woodwork piled upon them.
From the combination car the passen-
gers poured to aid in getting out the in
jured. TIE first form they saw that
Of Fireman Robert Jackson, who had
climbed through one of the shattered
windows of the last car.
Flames were curling around this car
and the one next to il. From its inte-
rior came chorus Of shrieks and
groans of the injured passengers.
From the other cars came other cries.
The third rail in a short circuit had set
these cars on fire, and to the wreck was
added the menace OF holocaust. From
the shattered windows passengers who
were able crzwled like human ants.
jackson saw the danger. He ges-
ticulated to the passengers from the
combination car violently. His mouth
opened, but no sound came. His face
was bleeding from a cash over the eye.
At last his voice came: THE snow, the
snow; cover them with snow" he
shouted.
Fire L. Extinguished
Less than two minutes later came the
fire engines. The firemen made quick
work OF the fire. The flames in both
cars were put out in less than five min
u.es after their arrival. Then the fire.
men turned life savers and dragged
men, women and children through the
car windows and from the shattered
doorways of the wrecked cars.
Many OF the injured were quickly ex-
tricated from the wreckage, while 9TH
ers were so pinioued they could not be
taken out for some time. Those most
seriously injured were hurried to hos
pitals, while coroners took charge Of
the dead as fast as the bodies we're re-
covered.