Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1895 — MANY INJURED IN A WRECK. [ARTICLE]

MANY INJURED IN A WRECK.

Engine Dashes Into a Crowded Train on the Seabeach Road. An appaljing railroad accident occurred near Woodlawn station, New York, on the Seabeach Railroad, in which fifty people were injured. While train No. 3, drawing seventeen curs, which were crowded almost to suffocation with excursionists, was standing at the Woodlawn station a wildcat engine came thundering along the tracks, telescoping it. The car was full of passengers, most of whom came from New York. Many people saw the engine tearing along and jumped from the train and thus saved their lives. Most of the injured were taken to the hospitals and several will die. A colored porter yelled to the passengers to jump. The runaway engine dashed into the rear car, smashing it into kindling wood and burying men, women and children beneath it. There was a mad rush of humanity from the train. Scarcely half a dozen people kept their heads or were able to render assistance to the injured. Patrolman Kelly, who was on duty at the station, turned in several ambulance calls and five ambulances from the surrounding hospitals promptly responded. In the meantime the woodwork of the wrecked carriage caught fire and was soon in a blaze. Four cars were destroyed before the train hands were able to uncouple them and four cars were telescoped by the collision. The police, who have Engineer Frank Jason and Fireman Arthur Ross of the runaway engine under arrest, say that engine No. 6, the wildcat, while shunting on the track, was in danger, while going backwards, of colliding with another engine. The engineer, thinking it impossible to- avoid this collision, reversed the lever and jumped from the engine, followed by his fireman. The engine, however, jumped forward almost immediately and started down the tracks at a terrific rate of speed, resulting in the disaster.