DEADLY WORK OF FIENDS

D. L. & W. Locomotive No. 6 "Sam Sloan." (See photo of Sam Sloan mounted on front of locomotive boiler.)

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, December 2, 1895.

DEADLY WORK OF FIENDS.

FAST NIGHT EXPRESS WRECKED AT PREBLE.

Switch Opened—Engineer and Fireman Killed—Passengers [Safe], and Freight House Burned.

   The New York and Philadelphia night express on the D., L. & W. R. R., which is due in Cortland at 11:20 o'clock, was last night wrecked at Preble by parties unknown. A switch was opened and the train was derailed and all but one car was burned up. The engineer and fireman were killed. No one else received any serious injuries, although all were violently shaken up.

   The train, which was one of the best equipped on the road, consisted of a baggage car, an express car, a smoker, a day coach and a Pullman sleeper, arranged in that order. It was in charge of Conductor Henry Darling. It was drawn by the splendid engine which bears the name of the president of the road, "Sam Sloan." It was No. 6, and was often spoken of by the railroad men as "Big Six," as it was the largest and handsomest passenger engine on this division. The engineer last night was George Young of Syracuse, familiarly called "Dicky" Young by his fellows; and the fireman was Webster Rofe of Syracuse. Both of these men have been in the employ of the road for a long time and were among the most trusted of the employees.

   When Tully was passed last night the train was four minutes late. From a point a half mile south of Tully the road is perfectly straight and down grade nearly to Homer. Southbound trains always make very fast time over this stretch of road. Last night Engineer Young was trying to make up his four minutes and when he reached Preble the speed was believed to be very close to sixty miles an hour. No stop is made at this station.

   About fifteen rods north of the depot a switch leaves the main track and runs behind the station. The connection with this track is an automatic ball switch, which left to itself is always set for the main track. The only way to open this is to unlock it, raise the lever with the heavy iron ball at the end of it and hold it up while the train passes in or out. Released, the ball at once drops to the ground, closing the switch and opening the main track.

   Last night some fiends in human form broke the lock to this switch, raised the lever and propped it up with an iron bar and with a piece of fence board. It was fastened open so securely that the jar of the wreck which resulted did not release it, and train hands and passengers all saw clearly how it was placed. A few rods north of the switch is a water tank which from its position conceals all view of the switch from the engineer on the southbound track until the tank is reached.

   Last night seven empty boxcars stood on the switch with brakes unset. The train came rushing south with the speed of a whirlwind. The water tank was reached. The engineer discovered the open switch. There was but an instant of time before the smash, but in that instant the plucky engineer set the air brakes which caught the wheels with a vise-like grip causing the whole train to shiver from end to end. The brakes were distinctly felt by all the passengers who knew that something had happened and clutched their seats. There was but the smallest fraction of a second before the crash came. The engine struck the first freight car knocking it to pieces. Two others were badly shattered into kindling wood and the others sent spinning down the track. The engine and first four cars were derailed. The engine bounded along for a rod or two, struck the corner of a freight storehouse, turned short to the left, dug a hole five feet deep in the ground with its nose and turned over on its left side.

   The forward end of the baggage car landed on top of the tender, the express car shot off to the right. The smoker and coach were off the track, but remained right side up. The Pullman sleeper did not leave the rails. It was all done quicker than a flash, but in that time a magnificent railroad train, splendidly equipped was transferred into a mass of useless wreckage.

   Conductor Darling was in the smoker when the crash came but, with the brakemen, was unhurt. Baggageman James Dalton was badly shaken up, but was not seriously injured. There was no express messenger on the train, as this business is light on Sunday nights and almost the only contents of the express car was the scenery of the show troop.

   That all the passengers escaped unhurt is almost miraculous. Some of the passengers assign two reasons for this—first, the fact that the box cars were empty and yielded some when the smash occurred prevented the cars from telescoping, and second, that the accident happening so quickly after the warning given by the setting of the air brakes prevented any one from getting out into the aisles or from even standing up to be thrown down by the force of the concussion.

   Every one got out of the coaches with all speed. Nearly all the berths in the sleeper were [occupied], and the passengers from that car dressed and appeared on the scene with very little delay.

   Scarcely had the people got out upon the ground when flames broke out of the baggage car. There was no water supply and nothing with which to extinguish the flames. It was evident that the pile of wreckage was doomed. Willing hands quickly saved all the baggage and mail from the forward car, and a large share of the scenery from the express car was gotten out. The sleeping car, which was on the rails, was cut loose and was pushed back from the wreck by hand, so that it was saved.

   Meanwhile search had been made for the bodies of the engineer and fireman. The latter was the first one found. He was pinned down by some heavy timbers under the baggage car, but these were removed and he was taken out before the fire got there. He was breathing, but was dreadfully hurt. His skull was badly crushed. He was taken into the station and made as comfortable as possible, under care of Dr. Hunt and Dr. McDonald of Preble until a train arrived to bring him to the Cortland hospital. He died as they were putting him on board the train. The remains were brought to Cortland and were taken to Beard & Peck's undertaking rooms. They were taken to Syracuse on the 10 o'clock train.

   The body of the engineer could not be found for many hours, although careful search was made. Not until the wreck was pulled over by derricks were his remains found at 5:30 o'clock and then there was nothing about them to identify them as ever having belonged to a human being. The body lay close to the door of the firepot. Everything had then been burned up that could burn. The head was gone; both arms, the feet and only the trunk remained. [The trunk of the body] was roasting and water had to be applied to it before it was cool enough to remove.

   The engineer's watch was found near his body and it had stopped at 11:05. The train was due there at 11:01 and the watch showed that he had not made up the five minutes lost time which was noted at Tully.

   The four cars were burned up clean and the passengers stood about and saw them go. The storehouse belonging to the railroad was also burned, containing 400 barrels of apples owned by W. W. Wright. The ladies got into the sleeping car and were kept comfortable.

   Immediately after the wreck word was sent to Syracuse and to Cortland for wrecking trains and all the section hands that could be reached along the line of the road were notified to be on hand to join the trains going to the wreck. The work of clearing was immediately begun.

   Coroner W. J. Moore was notified and went up on the wrecking train. He summoned the following jury: Messrs. Morris Spoore, foreman; Lorenzo Allen, A. A. Knapp, Philander Manchester, Duane Van Denberg, John Ackles, Edwin Wilbur, John H. Gay, Seth Hobart, A. Harter, C. Z. Shepard, A. H. Vosburg. The jury viewed the remains and they adjourned until Thursday at 10 o'clock at Preble.

   Detective Sevenoaks of the railroad and the local officers are looking up everything which may be a clue to the parties who wrecked the train. It is to be hoped that they may be successful in securing the guilty parties. It hardly seems as though there were a punishment severe enough for the ones who would do such a thing.

   Among Cortland people who were on the train were Mrs. R. B. Fletcher, Miss Fannie M. Galusba, Miss Margaret L. Townsend, Miss J. V. Sheeley, Messrs. Horace J. Woodmansee, Harry Greenman and Maurice O'Connell. They reached Cortland after 4 o'clock on a special train from Syracuse that was made up to take the passengers, mail and baggage to Binghamton and which left Preble at 3:45 A. M.

   Engineer Young was 35 years old and unmarried. Fireman Rofe leaves a wife and four children. He was about 40 years of age.

COUNTY COURT.

Decisions in Excise Cases Affirmed by Judge Eggleston.

   The December term of county court and court of sessions convened at the courthouse this morning, Judge J. E. Eggleston presiding.

   Judge Eggleston handed down his decision in two excise cases which had been appealed to county court. The cases were just alike and were those of Charles B. Warren and John H. Howard. Action had been brought in police court by the Village of Cortland in each case to recover a fine of $100 for violation of a village ordinance. The cases had been proved, no defence was put in, but an appeal was taken to county court. The decision of the police court was affirmed in each case with costs. I. H. Palmer appeared for the village in each case. N. L. Miller and Dorr C. Smith appeared for Defendant Warren and N. L. Miller for Defendant Howard.

   Decision was also handed down in the case of Sarah L. McFall, respondent, vs. John Miller, appellant. This was an appeal from a judgment of the court of $181. The judgment was reversed with costs, E. E. Mellon for respondent, N. L. Miller for appellant.

   The case of John Grant vs. Orville Pickert was settled,

   The case of F. Eugene Williams, respondent, vs. Charles L. Brown, appellant, is on trial. This is an action to recover a judgment of $471. The debt is admitted, but it is claimed that there is a counter charge which should be taken into consideration. E. W. Hyatt for respondent, Edwin Duffey for appellant.

A Pioneer Resident of the County Passes Away.

   Chester Babcock, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Cortland county, died at fifteen minutes past 6 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 55 Elm-st. Mr. Babcock was born in the town of Solon 76 years ago and has always been a resident of the county. He afterwards lived in McGrawville and in 1866 removed to Cortland where he has since resided. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Mexico academy.

   In 1839 he was married to Miss Laberne Merrill and their golden wedding was celebrated six years ago. While a resident of McGrawville Mr. Babcock interested himself in the manufacture of stone pumps and was also instrumental in securing pensions for many survivors of the Revolution and the war of 1812. Of late years his health has been feeble and four months ago today he suffered a [stroke] shock from which he never fully recovered. He was a man respected and honored by all who knew him and his death removes one of the few men of his age who have been instrumental in and have watched the development of the county almost from its beginning.

   Mrs. Babcock survives him. He leaves one brother, George Babcock of Syracuse, a daughter, Mrs. John D. Benton of Fargo, N. D., and a son, John A. Babcock of Minneapolis, Minn. Mrs. Benton and Mr. Babcock arrived this morning from the West to attend the funeral which will be held from the family residence at 1:30 o'clock P. M. to-morrow. The funeral services will be in charge of Rev. H. W. Carr, pastor of the Universalist church, and interment will be made in Cortland Rural cemetery.

BREVITIES.

   —The case of The People against Michael McSweeney charged with violation of the excise laws was adjourned to Dec 10.

   —The regular monthly meeting of the Christian work committee will be held in the Y. M. C. A. parlors this evening at 7:30.

   —New advertisements today are—McKinney Doubleday, page 6; Warner Rood, page 8; Bennett & Hartwell, Page7.

   —The regular mother's meeting (central) will be held at the home of A. B. White, 12 East Main-st. Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 4, at 3 o'clock.

   —There will be a full rehearsal of the ''Mikado" chorus at 7:30 o'clock sharp to-morrow night. The members will note the change from Monday to Tuesday night.

   —Grove Stevens on Saturday afternoon pleaded guilty to the charge of selling liquor without a license and sentence in his case was suspended during good behavior.

   —The adjusters for the Lloyd's fire insurance companies in which Cooper Bros. are insured were in town Saturday and to-day and are making good progress towards settling the loss, which they promise the assured will be promptly and fairly paid.

   —The dancing school meets in Empire hall to-morrow night at 7:30 o'clock.