Evening journal., 1909-12-31
DEAD in
TRAIN WRECK
Spencer TraSk Killed in Rear
End Collision on New
York Central
FREIGHT TRAIN PLOWS
INTO FAST EXPRESS

BY United Press Leased Special Wire
NEW YORK. Dec. s1.-Three persons.
including Spencer Trask, New York banks
or. were killed IN rear-end collision be-
tween a southbound freight train on the
New York Central and train No. 81, the
Montreal express. which occurred IN the
station at Croton, N. Y. thirty-four miles
from New York. at o'clock to-day.
Mr. Trask occupied the drawing-room
on the rear sleeper OF the Montreal OK
press. into which tho heavy freight en-i
gine plowed. He was Instantly killed.
Ofcials OF the road are making thor
ough investigation, bue are inclined to
blame the crew OF The freight train.
which struck the express while tho lat
ter was standing still.
The Montreal express consisted Of one
baggage car. two day coaches and i've
sleepers. Il runs over the Delaware q
Hudson line TO Troy and from that city
TO New York runs over the tracks of
the New York Central.
The train was stopped at Croton, which
is not n stopping place, by the block sig
nal which warned II that there was a
train IN the block ahead.
Freight Hits Express Train.
The southbound freight. In charge %
Engineer Flanagan and Conductor shu-
felt. was following the express. For
some unknown reason. the freight failed
to SEQ tho block signals. and struck thu
last car in the express with terinic
force
The heavy engine piowed its way over
and through tho last Of the Pullmans.
Trask. who was returning TO Now York
from his country place at Saratoga. wax
d.. Of
tho Pullman The heavy engine made
klndllng wood OF the drawing-roor' and
Mr.. Trasls. horribly mangled. was i'm
stantly killed. A porter on the sleeping
car. name as yet Unknown. WAS killed,
and the officials OF the New York Ccn-
trail declare one other person was killed.
though it has been impossible as yet 10
learn who n was.
Two cars IN the express train were
damaged. Wrecking trains we're sent
out from New York and Osslning and
from tho latter place several doctors be-
ing sent to take care OF tho Injured An
officer Of the New York Central declares
that tho road has Installed IN that part
OF the line the finest automatic block
signal obtainabie and added that white
the cause nf the wreck he'd. not been
nNod. be does not see how the freight
got in tho block with the express there.
intimating that tho Signals had J .en is-
nored. Traffic was not long dnlawed. tho
wrecking crew getting the two damaged
cars on the track in "A short time ana
other passengers on the express were hur-
riod into New York.
Noted New York Financicr.
Word OF rrasks death was telephoned
TO his office here by the New York Gem
tral officials. who stated that tho body
would be cared for until Il was decided
where 20 take II.
Spencer Trask was born in New York.
September rs. 1874. graduated from Prince
ton and Immediately entered the banking
business in Wall Street. Tie was Inter-
ested in tho Edison electrical enterprises
and his firm has been very prominent in
the street for several years. He was a
director and president Of tho Broadway
Realty Company and president and d.
rector OF the Lake George Real Estate
Company besides being heavily interested
IN many other corporations. Mr.. TrasiS
was member OF the Metropolitan. Union
League, City, Reform, National Arts and
Lawyers Clubs.
It was stated at the Grand Central
station at noon that the officials had
received word finally that but one
person, Trask. was killed In the wreck.
The porter o fthe car was seriously
hurt and It is said that two other per-
sons were also badly hurt but their
names have not been learned. The in
jured have been taken to the hospital
at Croton.