Rochester, Monroe, NY
Union & Advertiser
Wed Feb 12, 1896
FRIGHTFUL FREIGHT WRECK
Fast Trains Collide on the Central at Macedon
Three Men Killed and Three Injured - A terrible Collision
Cars Piled Up in a Mass and All Four Tracks Blocked for Hours
Three men killed and three injured is the record of the horrible
wreck that occurred on the New York Central at an early hour this morning near
Wayneport Station opposite the Garbage Reduction Works. The dead:
Fred HOSFORD of 34 Pennsylvania avenue, Rochester.
Thomas WELCH of South Greece
Charles WOOD of Dewitt.
The Injured:
D. C. WILSON, Wilbur L. PHILLIPS and William GOLDENSCHUH, all of
Rochester.
The collision was between an eastbound stock train of twenty-three
cars, drawn by engine 552, Thomas WELCH of South Greece engineer, and Charles
WOOD of Dewitt, fireman, a westbound train of seventeen cars, drawn by engine
508, W. L. PHILLIPS of 83 Concord avenue, engineer, and Fred HOSFORD, of 64
Pennsylvania avenue, fireman.
The eastbound train, made up of cattle cars, left Rochester shortly
after 12 o'clock. It ran on track No. 4 until Fairport was reached, when the
train switched on No. 3 on account of an open switch. The train ran along on
track 3 for four miles, until it met the westbound train at the Macedon Swamp.
The snow was falling and, scattered by the high wind formed a dense cloud,
obscuring the glare of the headlights from the eyes of the engineers.
With a crash that was heard in farm houses half mile distant, the
great freight engines collided. A second later the cars were piled on each other
like dominoes with the loads of live sheep and horses, scattered over an area of
300 feet. The rear cars of each train were not damaged. The seven cars of the
westbound train that were in front were smashed to pieces. Engineer WELCH and
Fireman Charles WOOD of the eastbound train were killed instantly, as was
Fireman Fred HOSFORD of the westbound train.
James PARTIN, who is in charge of the Garbage Reduction Works, was
asleep in the building not 200 feet from the scene of the accident. A sound as
of thunder awoke him, and he dressed hastily and ran out. The night was pitch
dark and the headlights of both locomotives had been extinguished. By the light
of his lantern Mr. PURTIN saw a horrible sight. Jammed between the boiler of the
west-bound engine and the side of the caboose lay the lifeless body of Fred
HOSFORD, being slowly consumed by the live coals from the furnace. A charred
hand lay out of the window, extended as if in mute appeal for help that could
not be furnished.
From beneath the piled up wreck of demolished cars came anguished
groans which ceased shortly as the brave railroad men gave up the struggle for
life. Scattered over the fields lay scores of dead and dying sheep and horses,
and the driven snow was covered with the stain of blood.
Word was at once sent to Rochester, and a special train bearing
Drs. Oliver TAIT and WOLF and a wrecking crew of seventy-five men, was
dispatched immediately to the scene of the accident. The farmers who hurried to
the scene started at once on the search for the victims.
Engineer PHILLIPS of the westbound train was found lying in a field
100 feet away. He was insensible, but soon regained consciousness and was
removed to a neighboring farm house.
D. C. WILSON, a brakeman on the westbound train, was the most
seriously injured of the victims. When found an hour after the accident by Dr.
TAIT a large beer barrel lay across his chest, pinning him between portions of
two cars. The barrel had broken open and the beer had frozen upon the
unfortunate's body.
When a Union reporter arrived at the scene of the accident at 9:30
o'clock this morning none of the debris had been removed. The great freight
engines that are used in this work had just arrived. Superintendent GOOLD was on
the spot, directing operations, and found time to chat for a few minutes with
the reporter.
"This is one of the worst wrecks I have ever seen," he
said. "Of course I have not inquired into cause of the occurrence.
Certainly the east-bound train was on the wrong track, and why this was not
discovered by the crew I do not know. I see that a morning paper states that a
nephew of mine was in the wreck. That is not so. I have no nephew on the
line."
Dr. T. Oliver TAIT, who was one of the first to reach the wreck,
said to the reporter: "Certainly this is the worst wreck I ever saw, and I
have seen a good many. It is wonderful that more were not injured. That was a
horrible death of poor HOSFORD. I am waiting now until the other two bodies are
recovered before returning to the city. When I found WILSON," continued the
doctor," he was covered with dead sheep that had been thrown out of the
cars. PHILLIPS sustained a dislocation of the left elbow and a deep cut over the
right eye. WILSON I consider the most seriously injured of the three, and his
recovery doubtful. He may have a fracture of the skull."
At 7 o'clock a special train bearing the wounded was dispatched to
the city with Dr. WOLF on board.
A pathetic scene this morning were the wounded and dying sheep,
whose moans filled the air. The farmers who drove to the place from ten miles
around, bargained for the purchase of the sheep, brought $1 a head. A Macedon
butcher purchased a car load of 100 at this rate. A dozen dead horses were
auctioned off at low prices. Among the horses were a number of fine Percher
stallions, which escaped unhurt, they were on their way to New York city. The
loss to the New York Central will be heavy, as the owners of the dead and
injured animals will demand compensation. Both locomotives are, of course,
totally wrecked and a dozen of the cars.
The locomotive of the west-bound train telescoped into the end of
the other for one-third of its length. The smokestack of the east-bound engine
was uninjured. A large number of horses, probably forty, escaped and, running
over to the tracks of the West Shore, were killed by trains.
A cattleman named DONOHUE was in the caboose in the rear when the
collision occurred. "I had fallen asleep about midnight, after leaving
Rochester," he said, "and was lying in the leather covered seat at the
side of the cab. I did not wake up when we got to Fairport. Suddenly there was a
dreadful 'shock and I was thrown off onto the floor with a bump on the head that
awakened me in a minute. The caboose tipped, and I thought it was going over,
but it did not. After the first shock there seemed to be another, and I ran out
of the door and up the track. I hadn't far to go when I saw those big engines
and the cars piled up like a mountain in the darkness. I pretty nearly fainted.
Some of the other men who had escaped came running up then and we started to
hunt for the fellows we knew must be in the wreck. We could hear some groans, so
we knew there was somebody alive under there. As we had no tools aside from an
axe or two we could do nothing practically. Somebody telegraphed to the city, I
guess, for it wasn't a great while though it seemed hours, before some people
arrived and helped.
"How long was it before those men were pulled out of the
wreck?"
"I don't know exactly, but it must have been a good
while."
The conductors of both trains escaped uninjured. Both were riding
in the caboose at the time. About 7 o'clock the conductors left for their homes.
MURPHY, of the west-bound train, lives in Palmyra, and George PFEIFFER of the
east-bound train, in De Witt. He formerly lived in Rochester. Dr. TAIT seemed
especially anxious to recover the bodies of the two men still in the wreck.
Thomas WELCH and Charles WOOD. Dr. TAIT directed the operations and a force of
twenty-five men were at work at this point. After vigorous efforts, however, the
bodies were taken out at noon.
It is very evident that some one is to blame, and badly to blame
for the accident, but until a thorough investigation can be made the
responsibility for to-day's tragedy will not be fixed on any one.
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AT THE HOSPITAL
Men Injured in the Wreck Brought to This City
Three of the men injured in the wreck were taken to the City
Hospital at 10 o'clock this morning. The names of the men are: Wilbur L.
PHILLIPS, engineer; William T. GOLDENSCHUH, a brakeman, and Daniel WILSON,
brakeman.
The men after being taken to the wards were immediately put under
the influence of anaesthetias and their injuries examined. It was found, that
PHILLIPS left shoulder was dislocated and that he had received many severe
bruises. He was unable to say anything regarding the accident and the doctors
thought that it would be better not to question him as he was very weak from his
injuries and exposure. He is a married man and has two children. He lives at 83
Concord avenue. GOLDENSCHUH's injuries are quite severe, though the extent of
them are not yet known. A cursory examination disclosed many severe bruises and
some ugly cuts, and also a scalp wound. He was put into a condition of
anaesthesia and taken to the operating room where a thorough examination could
be made, it is feared that his injuries are serious. GOLDENSCHUH is a married
man and lives at 75 Davis street.
Daniel WILSON, one of the brakemen of the train, a young unmarried
man, 25 years of age, was surviving from a severe scalp wound. He was badly
bruised about the face and body. He was taken to the operating room and put
under the influence of anaesthetics and his wound cleansed and sewed up. It is
not known as yet whether he has any internal injuries or not. WILSON lives at De
Witt, N. Y.
After the injured then arrived at the hospital ward was sent to
their families, and shortly after the wives of PHILLIPS and GOLDENSCHUH arrived
at the hospital. They were in a state of intense excitement, as they did not
know how seriously their husbands were injured. They were told, however, that
they were not fatally hurt. The wives of the two men were not allowed to see the
patients, as they were under the influence of anaesthetics, and it was thought
best that they should wait until this afternoon, when they would be in a
condition to talk. It is thought that their injuries will not prove fatal.
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PERSONAL
--John M. IVES, manager of Warner's Safe Cure, leaves town to-night for the
Leeward and Windward Island, continuing his journey south as far as Trinidad.
--The Misses KEYS of New York city and formerly of Rochester, who are to appear
at the Polyhymnian concert in the Immaculate Conception hall Thursday evening,
are in the city, the guests of friends at No. 9 Pearl street.
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DEATHS AND FUNERALS
--Mrs. Margaret DUNN died last night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary
DONOVAN, No. 235 South St. Paul street, aged 65(?) years.
--Nicholas GROH died this morning at his residence, No. 385 North Clinton
street, aged 81 years. He is survived by two sons, John and Joseph GROH of
Baltimore, two daughters, Mrs. Joseph EMERICH and Mrs. C. REICHERT of this city,
one brother and two sisters. The funeral will be held Saturday morning at 8:30
from the house and at 9 o'clock from St. Joseph's Church.
--The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. BEHUK of Rush, N. Y., died last night at
the family home. Funeral will be held from the house on Thursday afternoon.
--The funeral of Charlotte _LIPHAL SMITH, wife of L. Boardman SMITH, who died at
Saranac Lake on Sunday last, was held from the residence of her parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Martin W. COOKE, of No. 12 Portsmouth terrace, at 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon. Rev. Dr. MILLARD conducted the services. The following gentlemen
acted as bearers: Messrs. Gurney T. CURTIS, Francis S. MACOMBER, William SLOAN,
Archie DUPUY, Edward G. MINER and Beekman C. LITTLE.
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