Year: 1871

cipitated into the water. and with few exceptions
all on board with them. | am almost certain
that none escaped from the buffalo sleeper"
not even the brakemen. The three other Sleep
ing-cars we're not injured, as the coupling broke
and left them on the ground with very frightened
but uninjured passengers.


don't know how far we were from the oil
train when we perceived it; but when we
observed the danger signals we tried to stop.
did not hear that any one was killed on the
oil train. After the accident the uninjured
cars were moved from the scene of danger and
the passengers clustered in them for shelter,
and remained all night The bridge was built
about year ago. The telegraph wire
under the BRIDGE and when the bridge was burn
ing could not be used, so that communication
was kept open to Fishkih by means of an
engine.


ANOTHER ACCoUNT-ToUcHING INCIDENTS.


AS coon as the intelligence of the desaster
reached New Hamburg two fire engines were
fastened to the scene, aud by their aid the
flames were soon subdued, and search was begun
for the bodies of the inmates of the Buffalo car.
Horrible indeed was the spectacle one after
another the charred and manged bodies was
brought forth.


By 10 o'clock all the bodies had been found
except that of Simmons the engineer. They
were placed in q baggage car, aud a fire was
built to thaw the frozen clothing. 1t was almost
impossible to identify them, as in many cases
the faces were so burned that scarcely feature
remained. The conductor of the sleeping-car
could only be identified by the diagram contain
ing the names of his passengers. When, among
the rest, the body of woman with a child
gTaeped closely in each arm was drawn ont, a
gentleman who had been walking frantically to
and fro since the disaster at once recognized
them as his wife and children.


He said that just before the collision he left
his family to go to the smoking-car, and had
hardly stepped into the adjoining car when the
shock came and separated them from him for
ever One OF the children was wrapped closely
in a shawl and was not burned at all, though it
had been drowned. The other, as we'll as the
mother, was very badly burned about the face
and breast.


At 12 o'clock the bodies which had been found,
nineteen in number, were conveyed to Pough-
keepsie, and there placed in collins to await
identification. Throughout the afternoon
there was large throng of persons congregated
about the wrecks, and search was continued for
the body of Engineer Simmons. At one time it
was rumored that O car containing forty pas
sepgers had been noticed in front of the last
sleeping car as it passed New Hamburg, and
that this, with its living freight, under the
ice. This for time created a new panic in the
already excited village, but it was soon dis
covered to be unfounded


Many and sad were the stories related by
those who had escaped. One gentleman said
that he had started for the West with his wife.
and all of his property consisting of $4,000,
intending to settle there. Wishing to speak
with friend in a rear car, he left his wife for
moment, but before he could return the collision
came, and he did not see her again till her man
gled and disfgured body was taken from the
ruins. A lady said she was on her way to Buff
falo with two sisters, and wishing to make some
arrangements with friends in the rear ear, went
back, and had barely escaped from the car when
the explosion took place.


STATEMENT OF MR.. HUNT, OF ALBANY.
John G. Hunt who was a passenger on board
of the train. says-"It appears that one of the
cars attached to the oil train, the second one
| from the engine, had wheel broken and the
| engineer was endeavorng to stop on approach
| ing the bridge, but was unable to do so, and,
| ia consequence, on arriving at the bridge the
| nN,ntr aA GKnf nHs s..V~ A..
! leaving the second car stretched across the
| track on which the Pacific express passenger
| train, bound north was running.


No signal or anything was shown to warn the
express, which, in few moments, came along
at iull speed, running into the oil car, the force
of the collision exploding and setting on fire
| the oil, and preciptating the engine and bag
gage car from the bridge through the ice into
the creek below. The sleeping car, folio wing
| the baggage car. was dragged about half way
off the bridge. The fire from the burning oil,
which was strewed around on the ice in every
direction, speedily communicated to aud totally
| consumed the baggage and sleeping car, with
| every soul on hoard spreading from thence TO
the second seeping-car, which still remained
| on the track, tie passengers fortunately escap-
| ing in time, some losing their clothes in the
| hasty departure.


The passengers and employees, in the remain
der of the train, Immediately on feeling the
| shock, ran out, and the scene which met their
eyes was of the most terrible description. The
ice was completely covered with sheet of
flame and in it's midst almost entirely euve-
loped lay the baggage and sleeping cars. The
blazing oil, too, had hoated along the ice, and


where the ice was broken on the surface of the
water, to where several sloops and fishing boats
lay frozen in, and set fire to them. but the in


habitants of the vicinity extinguished the
flames.


The excitement usually attendant upon such


scenes was not witnessed on this occasion, for


every one seemed cool and collected. One body,


supposed to be that of VOsburgh, the conductor,


was pulled from the sleeping car, and presented


a sickeDing appearance, one leg being con-


sumed, and the rest of the body so blackened


and eharTed as to be unrecogniZable. The fire.


man of the express train, on seeing the impossi-


bilty of avoiding collision Jumped off, having


previously advised the engineer to do the same;


but the latter refused, saying he would 90 on


through with his engine. He must have been


burned to death, as he was precipitated in the


midst of the burning OIL


The bridge is draw, and the distance from


IL to the ice below was scarcely six feet. As


soon possible the remaining sleeping cars and


passenger-cOaches were detached and taken oul


of danger. One instance of remarkable cool


ness is related. gentleman occupying berth


in the centre of the second sleeping car, or


being aroused, waited until he had completely


dressed himself, in every particular, even hunt


ing up his overshoes and putting them on, be


fore leaving. by which time the forward end o
the car was in ilames.


RecOEnIziDE Tho Dead-BrutaIIty of the BY
stahders-RObbInR the slain.
PoUGHKEEPsIE-M -Midnight.-All the bodie
recovered up TO this time have been brought Il
this place, and all but two identified. The city


is full of the friends of the Victims and thu


scenes at the undertaker's when the bodies arr
brought in are truly heartrending as the mourn
ers answer and identify the loved ones by tn,
: articles found on them, for in most cases othe


recognition is impossible, so much are they mu
, tilated. Rough pine boxes have bean made