Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1885 — RAILROAD HORROR. [ARTICLE]

RAILROAD HORROR.

Collision Between Southern and Western Trains Near . Jersey City. Six People Instantly Killed and a Large Number Seriously - Wounded.

[Jersey City (N. J.) dispatch.] When the fast express on the Pennsylvania Railroad, leaving Jersey City at 8:15 to-night rounded the curve near the Meadow coal bridge, about five miles out the engineer saw through the thick fog the outlines of a car on the track only a few hundred feet ahehd. The express was running at the rate of forty-five miles an hour. The engineer applied the air-brakes as quickly as he could and whistled the danger signal, but his attempt was in vain. The engine struck the car with terrific force, telescoping it and throwing the fragments in every directiour — The panting engine had scarcely stopped when the train bound east, leaving Newark on the Lehigh Valley Road at 8:10, dashed into the forward end of the immigrant. Engineer Owen Hall, peeping through the fog, saw the wreck. He did everything in his power to stop his train on its deathbearing course, but it was too late. With an awful crash the Newark train rushed upon the overturned car and was thrown down the embankment. Over and over rolled the cars of human freight, and upon the night air rose the horrible shrieks of the dying. Dark outlines of the train lying wrecked in the valley, and the cars rolling one on top of the other, presented a ghastly picture. When the shock had passed the dazed passengers left the trains as best they could and huddled together, too startled to'speak. The first to recover was the engineer of the Jersey City train. He gathered the frightened people together and ordered them to render all possible assistance to the injured. All this time the erics of those wholly dr partially covered by the wreck made the uninjured turn pale with terror. The engineer and his willing assistants were powerless to aid some of the poor creatures, while their united efforts were sufficient to drag some of the bruised from under the wreck. When the first wounded man was taken from the debris everybody cried for a physician, but in the 'whole crowd of willing workers not one physician could be found. At 9:3ff o’clock a' relief train was sent to the Wreck from Jersey City, loaded with doctors, reporters, beds, food, etc. As the relief train neared the scene of the disaster crowds of men and women could be seen through the heavy nrst returning on foot to the city. When the medical staff reached the wreck the scene was indeed heartrending. Mixed in a huge mass lay the two trains, while for hundreds of feet around was piled timber of all shapes. Beside the track lay the Jersey City train. The engine was tipped over the right embankment, and in a long, grotesque line behind it lay the derai ed cars. To the left of this train, reduced to a mass of splinters, were the remains of what appeared to be an immigrant caboose. The car was shivered to atoms and underneath lay some of the mangled bodies of the dead and dying. Stretchers were immediately furnished by the relief train, and the injured and dead were carried into the baggage car. It was a horrible sight. The first body to be removed was the headless trunk of a woman. The feet and limbs, with the clothing torn completely from them, protruded from the splinters of the caboose. Strong hands soon cleared the debris from above the mangled form, and it was taken to the car. The next was the form of a man with his head torn completely from his body. Then t ollowed two or three men who were buried completely out of sight under the dead bodies of their companions. They were bruised and broken, and completely saturated with blood. They were moaning pitifully, but subsequently recovered sufficiently to give their history. During all this time the passengers who had escaped kept up their search for the bodies of their friends. It soon appeared that the only ones injured were from the emigrant caboose, which lay splintered between the engine of the Jersey City train and the last cars of the Lehigh Valley. All attention, therefore, was being bestowed on the emigrants, when low moans were heard coming from under the engine of the Lehigh train. The eager rescuers rushed quickly down the embankment, and there lay the insensible form of Owen Hail, the engineer of the. wrecked train. His legs were held down by the heavy framework of the massive engine. Willing hands soon relieved the poor fellow, and his injuries were attended to. In a few moments groans were heard from the Lehigh wreck again, and the bleeding face of Fireman Stewart Bowers could be seen through the long meadow grass in which lay the engine truck. His skull was fractured, and the blood trickled down his upturned face. With difficulty he was dragged to the relief car, and it was found that he had sustained internal injuries. The poor fellow exhibited wonderful energy and pluck. He sat up during the examination, groaning terribly, but thoroughly conscious of his surroundings. The people known to be dead are described as follows: An unknown man about forty years of age. His hea'i was completely torn from his body, and both his arms were broken. Unknown woman about twenty-five years of age. Her Lead wis severed from her neck, and her body was covered with bruises. Unknown bov about tw Ive yews of ago. Roth bis legs were broken and his skull was fractured. Unknown girl about eighteen years old. Her skull was fractured. UlCna Arene-is, 35 years of ace; on her way to her father at Madison, Wis. Both her lees were broken and her skull was fractured. She was brought to the depot alive, but d:ed five minutes after reaching St Francis Hospital. The wounded are: Marinus Klinger, head and bodv bruised. Ch.istian Wyagbretsen, of Hofdwtadt. E. V. L’rbero.h. conductor of the emigrant train, -arm broken. Stewart A Bowers, fireman of the Lehigh Valley train. South asten. Pa., scalp wound. Owen Hall, engineer of th? Lehich Valley train, Easton, Pa., 35 years, fracture of <he foot ana bruises. Three men were taken to St. Francis Hospital unconscious. Ralph Curry, 29. internal injuries. Christian G. Bolsted, bound for Minneapolis, Minn. • Laura Redesen, intending to join her husband at Norwood. Iowa; will die. It is impossib e now to obtain a full list of the wounded.