Greenburgh, New York, USA (Tarrytown) (Hartsdale)
1860 - COLLISION ON THE HUDSON RIVER RAILROAD - ONE PASSENGER KILLED AND TEN OR FIFTEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED.
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A serious collision - the result, apparently, of carelessness - occurred about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the Hudson River Railroad, some two miles north of Tarrytown. The Albany Express train was run into by the Sing Sing way-train, the rear car completely demolished, and the one next to it badly broken.
It appears from a statement made by a passenger, who was in the last car but one at the time of the accident, that the Albany Express train was standing still when the collision occurred, having stopped for the purpose of making repairs to the engine. It is also worthy of note that this was the third stoppage made for the same purpose after the train left Albany.
What the nature of the difficulty with the engine was our reporter could not ascertain. Unfortunately the last stoppage was made immediately after turning a sharp curve, which entirely shut the disabled train from the sight of any train that might follow it.
The Sing Sing way-train came down at the usual time and speed, from twenty to twenty-five miles per hour, without any warning of the approaching danger, until after passing the curve, when the engineer beheld a signal then displayed, and immediately reversed the engine. The train was under such headway, however, that it was impossible to stop it, and in a moment the engine ran into and completely through the rear car of the express train, and about one-third through the car next to the rear. Fortunately a large portion of the male passengers in the rear car had got out to ascertain the reason for the stoppage of their train, and were standing on the ground at the time the accident occurred. Others seeing the approaching destruction, leaped from the windows and so escaped injury. It is thought that there were from fifteen to twenty persons remaining in the car when the collision occurred, nearly all of whom were more or less injured. The fireman of the Sing Sing train, as soon as he saw the danger, jumped from the train and broke both of his legs. The engineer, however, stuck to his post and escaped unhurt.
The following are the names of the injured passengers, as far as we were able to obtain them last evening:
MRS. THOMAS W. FIELD, was horribly mutilated and was left at the Revere House, Yonkers, where she soon after died. This lady, with her husband, got on board the train at Rondout. She was married at 10 o'clock yesterday morning, and was on her way to Williamsburgh. Her husband, MR. THOMAS W. FIELD, escaped with slight injury.
Bishop McCLOSKY sustained serious internal injuries, and left the train at Tarrytown. He was taken to the residence of the resident Catholic clergyman of that village.
Some eight or nine others, whose names we could not ascertain, were left at Tarrytown and Yonkers, more or less injured.
Among the injured passengers who came on to this City were the following:
MRS. JOHN THOMPSON, the lady of the well known broker and publisher of the Bank-Note List, had both her legs broken, and was otherwise seriously injured. She was taken to the St. Nicholas Hotel.
MRS. SCHISMER of No. 64 Willett Street, was badly cut in the head. She left the train at Thirty-first Street, and was taken to her residence.
MR. D. M. IRWIN, of Fulton, N.Y., badly injured. Left the cars at Christopher Street, to be taken to No. 71 Horatio Street.
MRS. IRWIN, wife of the above, was slightly injured.
Another gentleman and lady, who declined giving their names, were slightly injured, and left the cars at Thirty First Street.
Besides these, there were several other passengers, who were more or less scratched or bruised. Two or three of whom are stopping at the Girard House.
The New York Times
New York, New York
January 19, 1860
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