New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-25
TRAIN HITS TWO AUTOS
One Killed, Three Injured IN
Double Crash on Long Island.
MRS. JOHN J. GILR0Y HURT
Her Companion, Mrs. G. H. God
dard, Badly Crushed-One OF
the Chauffeurs Dead.

one man was killed and another injured
two women were injured, one Of them seri-
ously. and two automobiles were wrecked
at Winfield Long Island. yesterday when
an electric train travelling forty miles an
hour on its way 80 the PENNSYLVANIA sta
ton IN Manhattan. crashed into the ma
chimes at the Thomson avenue crossing OF
the Long Island Railroad.
one Of the demolished automobiles be-
longcd To Charles n. Goddard, of White
stone. president of the American Drug
Syndicate. with a factory in Long Island
| City. In this automobile were Mrs. God
dard and Mrs. John Gilroy, wife Of Major
John Gilroy. an attorney Of Manhattan,
son OF former Mayor Thomas +. Gilroy'
Of New York city The machine was be-
ing driven by Charles Wasley. chauffeur.
The second automobile belonged To Will
lam S. Mccormick, of Port Washington
and the only occupant was Peter Horn
a chauffeur. who was killed.
The crossing where the accident occurred
is the second west of the Winfield station
and owing to the great amount Of traffic
and the frequency of trains two men guard
the crossing. II. J. VALLEY. the fagman
and John McKeon. traffic man.
An electrical bell system is installed by
the railroad by which gatemen at cross
ings at either side of Thomson avenue ring
bell i'm the shanty of the fagman AZ
Thomson avenue whenever a train passes
their crossing. The Waterman at Thorn
son avenue is then expected, when he
hears the electrical bell, TO lower the gates
at his crossing and keep them lowered until
the train passes. The traffic man rs eN-
pected 10 keep a watch up and down the
track and also warn the gateman ana
direct the traffic in crossing.
Immediately after the accident the OFF,
Gals Of the Long Island Railroad made an
investigation. and their statement was that
VALLEY had got signal to lower the gates
for a freight train that was coming. lie
did so. and the train passed. While the
gates were down the Goddard and McCor-
nick automobiles came to ore side Of the
crossing. that furthest from New York.
while another came to that side nearest
To New York. The freight having passed,
VALLEY declares. and having heard no
other bell, he raised the gates.
The hagman at the Shell Road crossing
a mile To the east and the direction from
W
clares as that train passed his crossing he
rang the hell that was to warn VALLEY at
Thomson avenue.
Raises Gates and Turns Away.
VALLEY declares he did not hear it, and
the theory Of the railroad officials is that
the bell rang, but the passing freight train
made 90 much noise that VALLEY did not
an. not
hear it either. and just at the moment
VALLEY raised the gates he left the cross
ing to get a drink Of water nifty feet away.
As the gates went up the three automo-
hiles started to cross. They had hardly
started when VALLEY declares he saw the
electric train coming. and he shouted a
warning The automobile that was on It's
way from New York was nearest the track
on which the train was approaching, and
therefore II got clear. But the two other
automobiles were coming almost abreast.
the Mccormick automobile a little in the
lead and on the side nearest the train.
In an instant the Mccormick automobile
was hit and was crushed under the pilot
Of the motor engine. So great was the
momentum of tho train that this automo-
bile was carried for 400 feet along the
track before the motorman could bring II
to stop Horn. the chauffeur, was
pinned within the debris of his car and
crushed 10 death.
The Goddard car was flung a distance
Of about fifty feet 10 the side Of the track
and into ditch Mrs Giroy was thrown
clear of the car and landed on an embank-
ment She was not seriously hurt, being
only severely bruised Mrs. Goddard.
however. was pinned beneath the car.
while Waslev, the chauffeur. was hit by
pieces ~ inc car and was badly hurt. As
the Goddard car fell into the ditch IL caught
fire Wasey saw Mrs Goddard pinned
under the car and the flames coming tow
ard her. and although nearly disabled him
self he managed 10 got her from beneath.
But not before h"r right leg, arm and side
were badly burned Her shoulder was also
dislocated.
Surrogate Daniel Noble. OF Queens. came
along with his car at this time, and he,
with others assisted the two women into
his car and made a record run to St Johns
Hospital. in Long Island city Wasey was
taken 10 the hospital in an ambulance.
As soon as word was sent To the offices
of the Long Island Railroad in Long
Island CITY. an engine was sent 10 Winfield.
II was fastened to the back Of the electric
train and pulled it from the wreck Of the
Mccormick car The body of Horn had
been taken out in the meantime.
Fears for Mrs. Goddard