New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-26

Both cars were filled with people as
the plunge was made. and in few mo-
ments the cars lay. mass of crumbled
wood. metal and glass, under which
hundred men. women and children, many
OF whom were killed instantly, were
buried. The most destruction occurred
IN the day coach No. 237. and dozen
persons were later taken dead from the
second day coach. which, having fol-
its rear coupling and thus saved the rest
Of the train from being dragged over.
This second day coach struck on the
bottom and stood up. the rear end pro-
jecting a few feet above the top of the
trestle. All Of the passengers in this
car we're piled in n tangled mass of
broken seats at the bc tom Of the car.
Railroad Men Rush 10 Give Aid.
Indescribable pandemonium followed
The Pullman car Emelyn, which re-
manned on the bridge with one end pro-
jecting over the gulch and several cars
behind it, derailed and in immediate
danger Of going over on the mass Of
wreckage below, were soon emptied OF
all their passengers. and these, aided by
gangs of railroad employees from the big
freight yards at Manchester, rushed to
give aid AS the groans Of the injured
and dying were heard below and all
possible speed was made, but il was
several minutes before anybody reached
the cars at the bottom to effect rescues.
The cars did not catch fire. Axes were
secured and body after body was re-
moved and carried by the rescusrs. knee
deep in the river bed. TO the bank on
the west side Of the trestle. There the
dead and injured were laid out on the
damp ground, while planks and timber
taken from buildings in course of con-
struction. were requisitioned and field
hospital was established.
II was more than an hour before many
Of the injured could be removed, and
special trains from both Geneva and
Rochester brought physicians. nurses
and medical supplies. Hundreds awaited
treatment. and the railroad station at
Manchester, a cider mill and an ice
house we're used to give temporary shell
ter and treatment TO the refugees.
Death Comes Quickly to Many.
II was necessary to chop through the
sides and bottom of the day coach at the
bottom. and the work of removing the
victims moved with painful slowness.
20
number Of the dead having had their
skulls crushed in when they were thrown
with terrific velocity against the car
seats and projections. The mortality
was high among the older passengers.
most OF whom were battle Scared vet
Grams Of the Civil War and their wives
The dead removed from the wreck and
taken TO the morgue Of J. NJ. Stoddard
at Shortsville, near here. tonight num-
bered twenty-three. Two other persons
died in Rochester from their injuries.
Several others with probably mortal in
1uries. are lying in the hospitals at Roch-
ester, Geneva and Clifton Springs.
owing to the fact that the derailed
dining car in going into the ditch east OF
the trestle had brought down several
telegraph poles with scores Of wires.
telegraph service was broken. and VIII
not be restored until tomorrow. Aid
had to be summoned by telephone.
Coroner D. A. Eisline, of Shortsville,
took charge of the wreck, and was as
sisted by Coroners A. w. Armstrong. of
Canandaigua, and George Flint, OF
Geneva Coroner Armstrong was as
signed particularly to investigate the
legal aspect of the disaster, and after
preliminary examination Of the scene he
said:
1T looks to me as though the track
was bad and there was probably a
broken rail. 1t looks as if the first truck
of the first car that was derailed left the
rails about sixty feet from the west end
OF the bridge. We will hold no inquest
until We identify all of the bodies"
Car Topples Over on Wreckase.
Late tonight while the wrecking crew
was trying to remove part Of the wreck
age the day coach which stood on end
fell into the gully, and added more
wreckage TO the pile at the bottom. under
which it is possible a few more bodies
may be concealed. Members Of the
wrecking crew had narrow escapes. and
the jar of the big car as it slid along the
trestle side before IT plunged down
frightened many who stood on the
structure.
4. narrowing aftermath of the wreck
IS the scantiness of means Of identifying
the victims. Rescuers. In their haste to
remove clothing and effects from the
persons of the victims. neglected to keep
the various articles with the proper
owners and many of the dead. on whom
at first sufficient means Of identification
was TO be found. were soon laid out at
the morgue, where careless visitors
mixed up garments and Identification
tags.
The breaking down of telegraph ser
vice added to the confusion, because of
the inability Of those who are safe TO
send advices TO anxious relatives. 1t will
probably be days before the full list Of
dead is secured, and the features of some
are so badly dis1gured that Identification
in any case will be difficult.
Pathetic Sight at Station.
A pathetic sight is seen IN the Man
chester station tonight, where the hats
IF the men in blue with their gold braid