The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-01
SPE NCER R TRA5K
KILLED IN WRECK
Famous Banker Is Crushed tc
Death in Railway Col
lision.
ACCIDENT AT cRoToN, N. Y
lie Was Head OF Banking House
and One OF Country's Lead
ing Financiers.

NEW YORK; December 3l.-Sp encer
Trask one OF the country's leading H.
nancters and head OF the banking house
bearing his name. was killed to-day
when freight train ran into the rear
of the New York Contral passenger
ing room section at the rear end OF
the last car.
The accident occurred near Croton.
y. Y. One other passenger was so Sc
riously injured that he could not give
his name, and the negro porter of the
sleeping car also was killed.
ar. Track. VINO was coming into the
city from his homo at Saratoga, was
dressing in his compartment when the
freight train plowed into the heavy
passenger trtLtn, which is known as
the Montreal express. When his torn
body was removed from the wreekage
II was found that he had but partly
dressed himself.
g1press Was Standing sim.
Tic express had been stoppec by a
block signal, and why the freigRt be-
hind 1t was not stopped has not been
explained The freight struck with
such force that 1t demolished the rear
end of the last sleeper and teiescoped
the front end OF it with the sleeper
ahead.
Many Of the occupants of the nve
sleepers had not fully dressed, and
they were hurled. half clad. into sno,,
banks with the temperature far below
the freezing point.
Wrecking and relief trains Were dis
patched from the Harlem yards OF the
New York Central, and officials of the
company hurried to the scene. Mr.
Trask's body was removed to the Cro-
ton morgue, and the injured passenger
and porter were cared for by the local
doctors.
slccpern Hurled Acros. Track.
The last two sleepers had been
hurled across the tracks, with the
freight engine, in such manner that
traffic was delayed for more than two
hours.
Passengers on the Montreal express
/ declared that the rear brakeman had
not gone back to display danger sig
nal when the passenger train came to a
stop. The weather was clear and tho
block signals Were working accurately,
the company reports.
yice-President DAILY. of the New
York Central, later issued the follow
Ing official statement regarding the
wreck:
''At o'clock this morning. at Gro.
ton, n, y. southbound New York
freight train ran into the rear of train
No G2, known as the Montreal express,
coming over the Delaware and Hudson
River Railroad. The train consisted of
one baggage car, two coaches and five
sleeping cars. 1t was standing still.
The rear sleeper was telescoped and
the car ahead derailed.
Spencer Trask, who had drawing
room in the end sleeper. was killed.
and the porter of that sleeper also.
The porter's name is as yet unknown.
1t is possible that one or two other
| people were killed. AS far as known.
the crew of the freight train did not
| suffer injury.
Say Signals Were Set.
The officials of the railroad are un.
| able to,eXplain the accident. The line
was completely signaled and the track
at Croton practically straight The
| air was clear.
The news of the bankers death had
| no effect on the Stock Exchange, where
prices were slightly above the close
| Of last night.
Spencer Trask was one of New
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