FATAL ACCIDENT ON E. C. & N. RAILROAD



Map courtesy of DeWitt Historical Society, Ithaca, N. Y.

 

The Cortland News, Friday, October 30, 1885.

FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE E. C. & N.

An Engineer and Brakeman Killed and a Fireman Fatally Injured.

   About 4 o'clock last Saturday afternoon a terrible accident occurred on the E. C. & N. road, near Swartwood, by which engineer Brown and brakeman Charles Judd lost their lives, fireman Roe received probably fatal injuries, and Conductor Rogers sustained a fracture of one of his legs besides receiving painful internal injuries.

   A coal train consisting of twenty-eight loaded flat cars in charge of Conductor Rogers with Lew Knight engineer and Charles Judd, brakeman left Horseheads Saturday afternoon for the east. Another engine with William Brown, of this place, as engineer, and Robert Roe, fireman, was detailed to help the loaded train up the hill to Park Station where they were to take a side track and let the evening passenger [train] for the east pass them.

   After reaching the top of the hill the empty engine started down on the side of the hill toward Swartwood and stopped with the vacuum brakes on to allow the coal train to back in upon the siding. In the hurry to get into the switch engineer

   Knight let his train get a little too far down the grade and his engine was unable to hold the train. He sounded down brakes but the train could not be checked and it came rushing down upon the empty engine at a rate of about sixty miles an hour. Engineer Knight's engine sent forth shriek after shriek to warn the advance engine t o get out of the way but for some reason or other neither Brown nor his fireman heard the warning. The engine on the coal train struck the tender of the other with terrible force telescoping it.

   Brown was thrown out of one side of the cab and the fireman on the other. The train of coal cars was piled up in a great heap and brakeman Judd buried in the mass. Engineer Brown was found soon after on the side of the track dead with his [neck] broken, and the fireman, Roe, had his skull crushed and it is doubtful if he can recover.

   Wreckers were at once put to work on the mass of coal and wood that but a few minutes before constituted the train but it was not until Monday morning that brakeman Judd's body was found, and then it bore hardly a resemblance to a human person.

   Conductor Rogers suffered a broken leg and painful internal injuries. Engineer Knight and his fireman escaped injury with the exception of a severe shaking up.

   The body of Brown was brought to his home in this village Sunday morning, and the funeral was held with Odd Fellows ceremonies from his late residence at 8 a. m., Tuesday morning the body being taken to Varna for interment. He leaves a wife and one child. All the engines on the E. C. & N. are draped in mourning for his untimely death.

 

 

HIS PRETENSES EXPOSED.

Has the Superintendent of the Poor Lessened Expenses?

THE STORY TOLD IN FIGURES.

   The following table, compiled from the Supervisors’ Journals of the comparative expenses, shows that the drum and trumpet cry that a great reduction in the expenses of the County House has been made is mere humbug.

   Although provisions were lower during the last four years than during the administration of Mr. Blanchard, yet notwithstanding, the average cost of supporting a pauper per week, for a period of four years, is $1.17 under Mr. Murray, and $1.04 under Mr. Blanchard. See how the keeper's bills have jumped up.

 

 

   From $942.00 in the first year of Blanchard's administration, these bills have climbed up to $1,562.00 in 1882, $1,500.00 in 1883, and $1,499.00 in 1884. Verily, Hillsinger hath a "snap."

   Observe the political chicane the figures disclose. In 1882 Mr. Murray was running for the office and the expense account must be forced down and accordingly accounts are kept back and carried over to the next year, and the cost of keeping a pauper leaps up from $1.09 in 1882 to $1.49 in 1883. 1884 is just before election and the cost is forced down to $0.96 as claptrap for voters. How many accounts has the Superintendent kept back? Judging from the political jugglery of the past it will cost $2.00 per week to keep a pauper after election.
 

 

“QUIET ON THE POTOMAC.”

General McClellan Expires Thursday Morning.

   NEWARK. Oct. 29.—Gen. Geo. B. McClellan died soon after midnight of neuralgia of the heart. He came home about six weeks ago from a trip in the West with his family and had been under a physician's care about two weeks. Nothing serious was expected until he was taken worse yesterday and died surrounded by the members of his family. Invitations had been issued for a reception at the General's residence this evening. He died at St. Cloud, Orange Mountain, where he had lived for twenty years.

 

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   Frank Gillett, a farmer living about two miles south of Cortland, was taken to the Middletown Asylum on Monday. His insanity was caused by brooding over financial troubles.

   Truxton comes to the front with the boss big pumpkin. Solomon Bemis, of that place, has raised several this season that weighed over 50 pounds and one monster tipped the beam at 74 pounds.

   Next Monday evening at the Cortland Opera House will be presented the grand spectacular production, "Streets of New York," the most thrilling American play ever written. The admission has been placed at 25, 35 and 50 cents.

   If you receive a circular from New York city stating that an organ will be sent to you to introduce it to your neighborhood, but that you must send $4 to pay freight, don't you do it. It is a new swindle and only a ten cent mouth organ.

   The Fort Opera company has been engaged by Manager Rood to present Sullivan's Japanese Opera "The Mikado" at the Opera House next Tuesday evening. This piece is now having a successful run in New York, and will be presented here with elegant costumes and scenery. The Fort Opera Company ranks high among similar organizations and has excellent artists and good support. Reserved seats on sale at Bushby's. Election returns will be announced from the stage between the acts.

   The Buffalo Courier in speaking of the "Streets of New York" which will be presented at the Opera House next Monday evening says:—"The melodrama is calculated to please and interest a popular audience, and it is no wonder that each performance was witnessed and appended by as many people as the house could well hold. George C. Boniface, an old favorite, gives an effective rendition of the reckless but kind hearted Badger, and the numerous other characters are satisfactorily cared for. The mounting of the play is excellent and the Union Square and fire scenes are specially deserving of praise." Reserved seats 50 cents now on sale at Bushby's.

   A special car was run over the street railroad last Tuesday afternoon bearing the trustees of the villages of Homer and Cortland, the directors of the road and others invited by Mr. Garrison to inspect the road, car barns, etc. The road was found in excellent working order and the completeness of the barns was acknowledged by all. The car barn is commodious and is provided with a truck on a level with the floor for shitting the cars from one track to another. The horse barns are provided with wide stalls, water and conveniences for ventilation. All were well pleased with the excellent manner in which the work has been done. It is believed that the fares on the road will soon be arranged more in accordance with the wishes of the public.—Homer Republican.

   The penalty for selling a cigarette to a boy or girl under 16 years, in New Hampshire, has been made $20 for each offense. The same law should be in effect in this State.—Cortland Democrat.
   It would be but for the veto of a Democratic governor [Cortland News].

 

Reference:

A History of Railroads in Tompkins County by Hardy Campbell Lee, Revised and Expanded, Third Edition, 2008, DeWitt Historical Society. http://ecommons.library.cornell.edu/bitstream/1813/11518/6/A%20History%20of%20Railroads%20in%20Tompkins%20County.pdf