Year: 1868

Locomotive Preclpitated into tho River


The Engineer and Fireman Killed.


The precision with which those most faithful min
listers OF King Death-the railroads-perform their
task is likely to pass into proverb. whether the
CONFLICT which Ia being waged for the possession
Of the Erie Railway has driven superintendents
onicials and employees generally on the rampage,
or that we are approaching that Sabbath with
out end which men excepting, Of course, the Latter
Day Saints call the millennium everybody VIII agree
that 'the time is out of jontn In spite of all the
dicta Of moral philosophy familiarity with Of
horror begets indifference which cannot recognize
any great calamity in the destruction of human
being. Time was in the recollection Of even the
rising generation when o public execution, viewed
by the community In the light OF all the conse-
quences that attend a violent separation
9f soul n aro% m BODY, summoned @ wall, wail Of sorrow @
cent or guilty. But we had not then an Angola
horror, or Carr's Rock or nitro gycerne, or Mis-
the aid Of modern science, to sweep men out OF ex-
istence by refined meth0dical and unerrng agencies
man has only to ask himself the question how it Is
that the announcement of any terrible casualty
adays awakens but a transient sensation, why 1t Is
tnat the headlong rush Of emgrans from TINS world
and by mere trife-and he will be hurried into Just
such reflections as the foregoing.


upon US as the dawn OF season OF blood on the
Erie Railway. Yesterday forenoon, about ten
O'clOck, SNdln OF I'VE ldueu WIFI COTI, WERE
being backed towards the river at the Long Dock
depot, In order to discharge the corn into canal
boat at the end OF the trestewOrk over which the
cars were passing. Each Of the five cars-one
after anOther-passed over safely; but when
the engine arrived at q certain point the
trestle work gave way and the locomotive was
plunged into the water sinking to q depth Of eight
feet The car Immediately in front tumbled back
wards, and striking its end absolutely blocked up
the mouth or opening of the cab and In consequence
OF this mishap the engineer, Thomas McCOuit, and
the fireman, William Cahart, both young men, per-
ished. Whether they were drowned or scalded is
yet uncertain-m0st probably the latter as the sud-
den collision between the cold water and the
red hot fire box generated scalding Jets OF
steam. Be this as 1t may, workmen armed with
the shed-a work which unfortunately consumed too
many minutes for the struggling beings beneath to
have even chance Of escape. The bodies, when
taken out, were not removed from the depot till
Coroner Warren was notified. McCoult, who was
twenty-five years Of age Is supposed to have belonged
to Weathers6eld, Conn.,, but he boarded In Provost
street. Jersey city, near the line of the Erie Railroad
Cahart, who was twentyone years Of age, resided In
Grove street. Jersey Oty. Both were unmarried.
The locomotive had not been drawn out last even
ing. The loss to the company will be trftng, the
engine being but slightly damaged. The car which
tIm6leG over ths engine Xas ladsn With tobacco
NAMED on the track. Orders had been frequently
given Is stated by the superiptendept to engineers
not to drive any locomotive beyond certain point
ON the treste work. and Is claimed that the present
disaster resulted from violation Of this order. The
treste work at this place. though able to sustain any
loaded car Is entirely too rickety for locomotive to
venture on 1t with safety.