The New York Herald Newspaper, February 9, 1871, Page 3

THE HUDSON HOLOCAUST. | GRAPPLING FOR THE Twenty-One Kuown Victims---Nine- teen Bodies Recovered. ALL THE BODIES FULLY IDENTIFIED. The Coroner's. Inquest Commenced—Very Conflicting Testimony. DEAD. Scenes and Incidents About the Drawbridge. The Speed of the Iil-Fated Train a Disputed Point. Harrowing Appearance of Sore of the Bodies. The mingled feelings of sadness and terror which the railroad accident near New Hamburg spread over this city have not yet subsided, A thousand conjec- tures as to the cause of the fatal occurrence are floating about, and every one seems doubtful as to whether he ought to censure the employ¢s con- mected with the Pacific express or those in charge of the oil freight. Many persons have come to the village of New Hamburg aud on here to discharge a duty which made many hearts, unprepared for suffering, shudder and become appalled BY THE SUDDEN AND AWFUL CHANGE which the tate of a single night bad wrought in the young and fair, inthe manly aud stalwart. lt was heartrending, inaeed, even to look on a son, father, brother or a bosom friend of soine of the dead seek- dng out the remains of the once familiar form ameng @ heap of grim, disfigured, burned and mangled corpses. To-day the surroundings of THE ILL-FATED DRAWBRIDGE AT NEW HAMBURG are even more indicative of the awful ruin than when your reporter, on the morning of the accident, looked upon the huge pile composed of torn tron fittings of railroad cars and the br@xen planks of the bridge ana fittings of the ratiway track. To-day the ice around the bridge 18 bestrewn with trunks, Valises, bedding and portions of garments, which are being gathered as soon as possible by the au- thoritles and sent on here, Those who are em- ployed “GROPING FOR THE BODIES” ait astride the long timbers broken from the briage and embedded in the débris around it. Scarcely a@minute passed during the day without one of the searchers for the bodies still believed to be under the Jee announcing that hig hook was burdened with something that may be @ body, and crowds at once gathered abont eager to behold the recovery of snofher victim to fire and water; but when the burden was raised to the surface of the water it was found to be a piece of umber, an overcoat, a obianket or a pillow upon which, a few short hours before, some weary head sank to rest, to think—perchance to dream—of home and the glad welcomes that awaited them—weicomes that, alas, were never to be rea- Uzed this side of eternity! As night fell upon whe workmen engagea in the search they turned away disappointed and disheartened, and the eager, gaping crowd sought their homes in the village to ‘wait the revelations of another day. THE REASON FOR TH PROLONGED SEARCH. The railway employés profess to believe that all the bodies of passengers have been recovered, and Mey take but very little interest in the search, which is chiefly conducted by the citizens, wno are convinced that under the icy blanket that envelops the river are six or eight more bodies. This delief geems to be strengthened by the evidence thai the car was filled with passengers; that it is capablo of holding over twenty-five, and that none escaped 60 Jar as are Known. THE VICTIMS. To-day I paid a hurried visit to the rooms where the bodies of the victims sull remaining here are located. The first place visited was the store of Jorouer Andreas, Wuere the bodies of Rev. Monnell Fowler, his wile and three little children were laid gut in elegantly mounted rosewood coffins, From their appearance it would seem that death was not characterized by severe pain, as the features pre- went Seaulity and repese, At the undertaking house of Mr. D. S. Mallory, No, 395 Main street, the other bodies were encased in burial caskets of the same costly character. An examination of the bodies of Mr. Cury, of Erie, and Mr. Lovell, of New York, explodes the theory that the occupants of the ill-fated car died suddenly and without expe- niencing much pain. The leit arm of the former, who was a portiy gentleman, is raised and bent and the hand closed, as though he died in exeruciatin; . ‘The leit leg of Mr. Lovell is drawn up au twisted into an unnatural position that clearly shows that his last moments must have been of the oe _peonizing character and the torture pro- longed, Ail the victims are now believed to have been iden- tified. Their names are:— 1. George A. Benedict, editor of the Cleveland Herald; body sent home. 2. H. J, Gillet, Buffalo; body sent home, 3. William F. Pease, Buffalo; body sent home. 4. Mrs. Pease, wife of above; Yody sent hom: 5. Roland Germain, 35 Park row, New York; body sent home. 6. Rev. Mr. Fowler, Buffalo; body here. 7. Mrs, Fowler; body here. 8, 9 and 10, Three chitdren of above; bodies here, i. W. H, Forbush, Buffalo; body sent home. 12, Dr. Nemrede, New York; body sent home. 13. Robert Vosburgh, Brooklyn (colored), porter of sleeping car; boay here. 14. Thomas Stafford, New York, flreman of Hud- son River Railroad; body here. 15. George H. Thompson, of 74 Wall street, New ier ashen! fel hogs! a a P, Vosburgh, conductor, of Buffalo, sleepin, ear; body still here. t Serabes 17, L. A. Root, Geneva, N. Y.; body still here. 18. William C. Curry, cashier of the Second Na- tional! Bank, Erie, Pa.; body sent home, 19, Captain R.’H. "Lovell, of the house of J. & J. Johnston & Co., 478 Broadway, New York, 20. Engineer D. Simmons; body not found. 21. Laurence Mooney, brakemén; body not found, THE INQUEST. Coroner Andrus, of Poughkeepsie, convened an in- quest in the Conrt House at noon. The names of tne jurors are John McCandee, dry goods merchant; W. 'W. Smith, tobacconist; John Flegler, farmer; Henry A. Southerland, shipper; Eli Sutchitfe, George HH. Battys, foreman, and Ben Van Lone, After the jury had been sworn Coroner Andrus put the following questions to Walter Stafford, of New York, brother of Junius Stafford, one of the vic- ums:— Q Did you see the bodies lying at the under- taker’s? A, Yes, Q. Are you related to James Stafford who was found? A. Yes. Q. Where did you see the body? taker's last night. Q. Dia you recognize it as your brother's? A, Yes, sir, Q. Were you there when it was exposed? A. I first recognized him taken out of the water. Q. When did you last see him alive? A. In New York, some days ago; he did not intend to come on the Pacitic express, Q. What was his occupation? A. He fired a dummy engine of the Hudson River Railroad Com- A. At the under- pany. Foreman to Coroner—Did you discover anything on the body of deceased that would lead to his identification? A. Nothing but a roll of money. Coroner to Witness—Where was your brother ing to? A, To attend a law suit ah albsny, and le came up as help to the baggage master in the baggage car. Wilam J, Thorne, ex-District Attorney of Dutchess county, s\vorn—I was a passenger on the express train, in rear car, which left New York at fis ood past eight Monday evening; we were a BEHIND TIME STARTING, fay five minutes; other passengers remarked that we were behind'time; I can’t say, however, that we were behind time on starting, bat only judge by my own watch; I wasin the rear car; when the first crash came I was asleep; there was much contusion; the tiret thing I recollect was losing my hat; I had a boy to flnd it; dread and consternation pervaded 3 EVERYEODY WAS GIVING ORDERS; there were few ladies there; there was an ut I den’t think any one among those rp Jeaving the cars; there light aboye the’ bridge; when 1 NEW YURK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEETr. the train Iran up the river side; all Naetiioe, ih od Pao aie Spey, might not have been 80 n awake train struck of the track; I could learn The of those in the cars; don’t know whether the freight engine ran past us, but some engine did; there were several ol tanks on board, but really 1 saw nothing but fire and oil, ‘which were ip every direction: I could see cars on the bridge before they fell into the water; I believe the engine struck the car which was off the track when the collision occurred; after the collision the oil flouted and ited; my first impression was ‘that the oil fo down cowards the west portion of the river; I first theugnt that the ice was on fire, but after reasoning I did not hold that idea; I think THR FLAMES ENVELOPED ALL PARTS OF THR BRIDGE; When they spoke of the tanks having been broken 1 for the first ume learned that some damage had been sustained; I was bewildered; there were many cars north of the fre—{ tuink ‘four in number; thought there was a necessity to place a slide under the wheel of the third car to prevent it moving briskly and forcing others, so 1 placed @ stone there; this occurred near the drawbridge; I Was under a misappretension as to the num of cars im the passenger wain; when [ got out I went back over the road; I Helteve there were three cars burned beside the one that went of the track: 1 was on the fourth car frow the rear, and cau'taccount for its being uu- coupled; 1 thlak if would be dimicuit for any one to give his definite impressions of what took place; after the fire | repaired to the tce;the FIRE WAS EXCERDINGLY INTENSE; I was of the impression that the flames rose 100 feet; when [ saw the glare oi the Names rising so bigh 1 Was mystified, and did not know the cause, but soon found it was the wreck im fiames; aid not see the engine leave the tracks but believe it and several cars leit it together; the engine, tender and baggage cars were off the track, I beheve, nearly & wiuute before the explosion; noticed streaks of black smoke arising irom the fire; could not tell whether there was a house or cars there; some of the exploded ot] cars were on the west side of the bridge, the oil igniting as rapidly as it flowed; the flames enveloped everything; they were so _ large and = vivid that) nobody could = distinguish the material that was feeding them; I think there was an axle broken by ' the tearing of the tes after the oil train got off the track; the train was uncoupled 80 as to prevent the tire spreading; my Wapressioa 1s the cars Were uu- oe ee near the last tank; Lam almost convinced thu THE AXUR WAS BROKEN by the tearing of the wheels through the sleepers; alter the down cars got off the track they kept bear- ing to the east ail the time; I believe the cars com- menced to run oif the ties at the depot; some say they went off the track far above thai, others say be- low, but the condugtor says that he noticed the jumping of some cars and signailed immediately for down brakes; Ldo aot know whether the up train was on the track or not; they say that it went on solid; | can’t tell whether it was the rear or tue front of the car which was struck by che up train; 1 gather from ail I have learned that it was eituer FRICTION OR ABSOLUTE CONTACT OF FIRE ‘with the ofl which caused the explosion. Mr. Thorn was here asked te explain what he be- lieved to be te course iu which the cars rau afier jumping the ties. He could only state what he had judi ed from nis Investigation yesterday of the ruts inade in the sleepers by the wileeis off the track. A copy of yesterday’s HERALD was here produced by the Coroner, and @ diagram explaining we scene of the accident was given to the witness. Being further examined, he said:—My impression on seeing the splintered sleepers was that the cars of the down train struck off the ties near the depot; A PIECE OW ONE RAIL WAS BROKEN; I believe that my own notions of every circumstance connected with the sad affair Were indistinct; but L think that those more accustomed te railroad travel- bag may hav» had clearer ideas of the matter. israel Bulson was next examined, and said, on oath:—Among the vodies I have taken charge of was that of James Stafford; 1 believe we got all the bodies of those who were killed, burned or drowned in tie baggage car, for [ have been informed trom autbentic sources that the only man in that car was James Stafford; that was his body which the jary examined which you saw this morning. Here’ Mr. Trisirain Coffin, the District Attorney of Dutchess county, appeared fox tie people and examined the next witness, CHARLES CO8sUM, - conductor of the express traiu, sworn, says:—We left New York at six minutes past eight o'clock Monday evening: we should have leit, at eignt P. M. Here Tristram Coffin, District Attorney, appeared for the people ana conducted the proceed Witness coutinuing—I was sitting in the rear end of the second sleeping car with Mr. Scott, the con- ductor; he heard the first whistle that was blown; passed Fishkill fifteen minutes past ten; the whistie Was probavly biow" at twenty-six minutes past ten; was seventeen mmutes behind at Fishkill (our ume there 18 two munutes before Bes heard the second whistle, and went out ou the platiorm and commenced putting on the brakes; Mr. Scott Sollowed me out and put on the brake on the other cut; as I gob my brake on and turned to take hold of the other I feit the engineer reverse his engine; 1n & short time, two or three seconds, | felt a shock, and the car then went on fifteen or twenty tect and then came to a dead stand; there were but two sen- sations; Lsaw a glare of light, and, looking out, saw @ mags of flames; | was on the river side; ie a the train stoppod the light Mashed like gunpow there was no /re til the engine struck; the oul vom the oft car then entered the fire box of the engine and became ignited; tae une of fire sprang up like a wall of ame; the fore part of my car Was then in the fire: I heard no explosion; I suppose the Of! tanks Werg burst by the engine running into them; you coulu see nothing because of the fire; Mr. Scott aud myself then fot all the passengers out of the car; the car was then all on fire; it was the second sleeping car; there ‘vas only one in front of it; the tram consisted of the locomotive, express car, baggage car, five sleeping cars and one coach; when we went out of the second car I thought the flames would follow back; ail the passengers wero then out of the third car, and that pari of the train was uncoupled and shoved back; part of the oil train had broken loose and gone south, and the other part was furtner back; when [ got to the third car the for- ward platiorm was on fire; that was the car Mr. Scott nad put the brake on, and then found we had saved ail we could, that the three sleepers had gone , and then went forward to see what was the matter; I could see nothing all the way up to the bridge for the fumes, which seemed to rise solidly twenty-five or thirty feet} I knew nothing more avout the acct- dent except I did the necessary iclegraphing; I have no absolute knowledge as to the frst car yoiug off the track, only conjecture; the first and second sleepers were on the bridge and the flames were burnimg under the bridge on the ice; 1 heard no sound of anything but the roar of the flames; Peter Vosburgh was conductor of the first sleeping car; I douwt kuow whether the patent brakes were used; I am certain no lines were be- bind the first sleeping car; ifthe ropes bad been pulled my brake would not have been affected after I had putiton; the engine was reversed aiter we hed rup about ten rods; we were not trying to make up tume; in cold weather our orders are not to make up time; the engineer was considered a good man; there 18 a flagman at the draw; the engineer said he told him to put out a red light 'as he passed; the first sigual we got was forty yards trom the bridge; the engineer of the oll train had jumped of to give a signal; I think that the cars on the oli train which ran off were rather back of the centre of the train; asa rule we are on time; if we had not been behind time the accident would not have occurred; the night was pertectly clear; the curve south of the bridge would preve: trom seeiig a car off the track on the bridge; 1 had taken up all the tickets in the sleeping car; yon could put thirty passengers in the sleeping car, but twelve could occupy the whole; there were two state- rooms ip the first sleeping car, but oniy one Was occupied; I should Juage there were sixteen or seventeen in the first sleeping car; 1 made the statement which appeared in "the Poughkeepsie Eagle relative to having sixty-five sleeping car tickets; | found one or two more persons Who said they were in the first sleeper, but when | came to siftthem down they could not tell; [had in my car forty-seven passengers who told me they were inthe sleeper; there were three persons who went to bed at New [amburg—that made thirteen missing; there was one child some- where in the sleoping car that I got a haif ucket from, [got no tickets from two small childre! found no one to respond to a haif ticket; there we! three brakemen on the train, Here the witness described the patent brakes, but | could not say whether they were applied; they might Nave been and he not Know it; trains run at full speed over all the bridges, bs ig juest was then adjourned until half-past wo P. M. James 1). Scott, conductor of South Shore sleeping car, sworn—I first heard a whistle; I was in the last seat of the second sleeping car, talking to Conductor Cossmdr; heard the signal jor “brakes down” a second time, about twenty seconds after the first; at the second tue we Juinped to the brakes, I crossing over and taking stand on the next car; after tightening them as much as possible t ‘passed over to my car, when the crash came, aud got my passengers off; it being Hnposstble to gel of the bridge they went through the next; got | ont the passengers of the next ear, uncoupled the fourth car and then got out blankets; I reit there was a collision lo come when I heard “brakes down;” the train was not going at a very fast rate of speed; there was merely ashight jar; from the first “brakes down” signal until the train stopped about five minutes elapsed; we were not run- ning as fast as forty miles an hour; the passen- gersof my car were put into the fourth sleeper; there were only four of them who had retired; never timed any train in stopping; got out without stockings, shoes and pants; three ladies were in the car, one of whom nad retired; she left without her dress; the frst, second and third sleepers were consumed; when 1 looked at the fireT could see notiing vat the flames; I shouid judge : Sym RAN A MILK APYRR PIR PrRsT WHISTLE before we struck the wreck of the oil train; Ldon't know how quick an engineer oan stop a train; all my passengers were comfortably cared for; the lady who was undressed came on up here; there were five in the car who had retired and nine sitting up: heard no cries of distress from the front car; did not hear a sound of any kind except the roar of the fire; the Buffale car takes passengers for Buffalo and Rochester, and as a general thing is usually n there were patent brakes, but they were not used on my car; from the time I heard the tirst whistle until 1 applied the brakes about thirty seconds japsed and about & minute beforejI got tne brakes on; the patent brakes may have been applied, and I baeiis ina mere matter ‘opine by the aoe ot nt this 6 a ion; rier 0 car was in about its centre, Naa lammond V. Grant, sworn—I sm conductor of the North Shore, or last sleeping car on the train; we ‘Were five or six qunutes leaving New York, | think; we reached the bridge about nalf-past ten; we were running about {IRTY MILES PER HOUR, I should judge; we were not making up time lost; I was sitting in the car; heard brakes blown three umes very quick, in succession; twice is the number of whistles for danger, but the engineer blew three whisties; heard sone men _ halloo, and directly we streck; I felt the speed of the train slackened; Wy car brakeman at his post; think” there were but three brakemen on the train; the rule is that one brakeman manages two cars; about five minutes passed trom the time the engineer whistled “down brakes”? uatil we struck; if properly man- aged, when running at thirty miles per hour, the train should be brought to a stand while running its own lengwb; I think the trai did not run two miles before 11 was stopped, I hardly felt the concussion; on going to the platform I saw the front sleeping car on its side, inclining to the east; I discon- nected my car apd pushed {tt away from the burning cars; have no idea as to the cause of the cellision; 1t was between the water tank and the bridge I heard the men halloo; when I saw the car turned over on its sid on the ice it was all in flames; the second car was on the track; the Buffalo car settled down gradually through the ice. J. D, Scott, on petng. recalled, said that there was @ patent coupler between his car and the ill-fated one, which becomes easily detached. ‘The inquest was adjourned until two o'clock to- Morrow, when the conductor of the freight wain and others will be examined. THE STORY OF A PASSENGER. One of the Narrowest Escapes on Record. Agentleman pamed Walter A. Lyon, who resides in Cincinnau, and who has been stopping in this city for a few days, bought a ticket on Monday for Buffalo, and atthe same time secured a berth in the Nl-fated sleeping car. Upon reaching the depot the train was about ready to start, pretty much all the passengers having arrived ahead of him, and were quietly sitting in their seats or preparing to retire to their severa) berths in the sleeping cars. Wending his way through the crowd of dersons who had as- sembled on the platform to take leave of thelr friends—many of them, alas! for the last fime on Earth—he reached the Builalo sleeping car and pre- sented his ticket to Mr. Vosburg, the conductor, for berth No, 10 in that car. Mr. Vosburg told him that owing to his having arrived so late some one had gone to bed in that berth, but he could give him berth eight im the next car behind, which was quite as good as the Buffalo car. Mr. Lyons assented to this arrangement, and in a few moments had laid off his clothes and gone to bed, The train moved ot out of the depot in a few mmuetes and very soon he fell asleep, lite dreamig of the rude Waking he was so soon to receive. ‘the first intimation he had of the disaster was two rather se- vere shocks which the car received and which threw him ail ina heap at the head of his berth, Ail im the car, said he, as he was relating the story to a HERALD reporter yesterday, at once deserted their berth and rushed pell-mell toward the door at the rear end ol thecar. He, supposing the car had only run oif the track and would soon be replaced, determined to lie still rather than get out in tue cold alr, Settling himseit dowu In bed again he was about: to turn over for another nap when some one rushed in and seizing him by the arm, cried, ‘Save your- seli; the car 1s on fire.” He looked up and saw th check rope which ran through the top of the car on fire and began then to think 1¢ was about time for ulm to “get out of that.?” At the same time talck volumes of biack smoke rushed in through the far end of the car from him, He jumped up in bis shurt and pauts, seized a coat and one shoe and rushed from the car. On his way he managed to pick up Dis other shoe, and dressed himself on the track outside, All his other clothes and luggage were destroyed. Not a momeut, he Says, could bave elapsed between the collision and the bursting forth of the Names. The gentleman Who occupied the berth’ which he bought, and for which he showed our reporter a ticket which he calls his deavh warrant, was burned to death, Had he been a second or two later he himself must have perished, as the flames seized his car aimost in- stanuy, OS! ANGTHER HORROR. A Lovontotive Thrown Across the Track—Nar- row Es ape of Another Fast Train. At Youkers, Westchester county, yesterday morn ing, an accident occurred on the Hudson River Rail- road which almost culminated in another frighiful disaster, and which, for a few moments, occasioned great consternation among a crowd of passengers | who were waiting around the dilapidated depot in order to be conveyed to the city. It seems that about a quarter-past nine o'clock a locomotive | atiachea to the paymaster’s car, while making what is known as “a running switch,” jumped the track, blocking the passage of all down trains. At / Uus moment tt occurred to the — station master that the Pougikeepsie turough ex- fe was already due, and that without | ing signaled at the drawbridge, some 300 Is above,.a catastrophe would be imevitanle. The us intensified to an ineffable degree on hearing the hoarse whistle of the express train, which was then rusting round a sharp curve ataspeed of turty miles an hour, and within, per- naps, 800 yards of certain destruction. ‘Che station masier had meanwhile own, ashit were, to the signal and reversed the indicator, when in an instant the wary engineer applied the patent brakes and checked his traia, Which one minute laier must ve been annihilated. The accident caused an interrup- tion of travel ior nearly two hours, ILL ANOTRER CALAMITY AVERTED, in view of the deplorable accident which occurred on the Hudson River Railroad last Monday, the trite adage “misfortunes never come singly” narrowly | escaped a shocking verification on the same road yesterday morning. {t has transpired teat the Yonkers special train, which left te city at a quacter past ten A. M., on approaching the drawbridge over Spuyten Duyvil creek, found the signal displaying “all right” In its usual place, aud, as a consequence, speed Was not slackened. On nearme the bridge however, the engineer discovered that ihe draw Wa actually Wide open, and by an istantancous appu- cation of the pateut biakes stopped his train wien aiew feet of the chasim, thus preventing a whole- sale destruction of human life, including tus own. ‘Those in charge of the above bridge ought to be re- constructed; for, as a brakeman remarked to a HERALD reporter yesterday, “they are wholly untit for the place.” RAWLROAD ACCIDEN Why Trains Jump the Track and Break the Rails—A Remedy Suggested. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:—~ Any person conversant with our railroad system must see, if he will look, that the cause of the ter- rible accidents that occur from trains leaping the tack or the breaking: of rails is entirely owing to the fauity running gear in use, and is susceptible of remedy. American cars are supported on trucks, which are free to swivel or turn, ‘hese trucks re usually two pairs of wheels, each pair being secured to the same axle. These wheels have flanges and are slightly beveiled on the face, giving the wheel a larger diameter near the flange Cian at a distance from it, With this arrangement when the wheels on the one sie of any truck are rolling on their larger circumference then those on the opposite side of the same truck are rolling on their smaller cireumiereuce, betng connected to the same axle. The frst menwoned roll further in a revolution than the jatter, which causes the truck to turn from the direct line of the rails, and it Crosses over until the funge strikes the | rail, which causes the truck Co straighien again for & moment, or until Cie same cause produces & simi- lar result. Any observant person travelling by rail | can feel how frequently these blows are given, and it is easy to understand that a trifling abrasion or arity ef the rail where the flange strikes may ' to jump the track or break the rail, y , perhaps, the destruction of the train. This being the cause, 1b suggests the folowing simple and certain remedy. Let each wheel be keyed to asmall, separate, independent steel axle, secured to the truck so that each whee! has its own und outside bearing: Beside this, tongue, projecting from It under and towal centre Oo! tue car, the end of the tongue to be precisely in the centre of the track by the wheel hing diagonally against the tnside of eac Tits tongue would always have the effect to steady and steer the truck, preventing at all tmes its turning so far that the flanges could strike the ratis, If vadroad gentiemen would condemn, as they should do, the existing faulty system, and go back to the road wagon and adopt Irom it the indepen- dent wheel and ihe tongue, We wouid hear no more necessity for costly steel rails, and no more of cars leaving the track with such dire results. ‘rains being relieved of the great noidback in the friction of clumsy axles aud connected wheels, and the friction caused by striking damaging blows to the rails, a much higher rate of speed could be attained with entire safety, or a much longer train moved at the usual speed with tie power now required to move a shorter one. ‘This subject is worthy of attention; railroad men have in it a gift of no ordinary character, and the public a boon of inestimaole value. dB. O Another Opinion on the Subj To TH® Eprror or THE HERALD: — Years ago I addressed you in regard tu what I thought would be a prevention of raliroad calamities to a certain extent. Now will you please, for the sake of humanity, call the attention, through your Journal, pf the Legislatures ol our different States, to enact a law tothe efect that every train of cars, passe! @, according to Rumoer’of care Gomposing the’ train, a semeiene Bumber of competent brakemen. said brakeman or . brakemen to be im communication with the en- gineer -by a small rope or such other con- trivance “attached to the train, so that he could instantly signal the engineer in case of a car being off the track, and that in making up & train of cars laden with ini mmable or combusti- ble materiais extraordinary care shall be exercised ag tothe manner and quantity meee . Now, my opinion ts, that the late horrible catastrophe on the adson River Railroad would not have happened if the ofl train, which caused all the trouble, had been provided with suiticient brakemen, for the simple Teason that the brakeman would have seen that the car was oif the track and he could have signalled the engineer to stop the train. Also in hope | around a deep curve the speed should be lowe! and due caution used; and furtner, all passenger cars should be provided with lanterns and axes and * two doors opening on each side of the car. VANDERBILT'S VERSION. t the Vice President Thinks and Says About the Occurrence. ~ The public mind is at present so deeply absorbed with the dreadful collision and conflagration upon the Hudson River Ratlroad on Monday night that any additional light that may be thrown upon It will doubtless be most welcome to the readers of the HERALD. A HERALD reporter called yesterday evening on Mr. Wildam H, Vanderbilt, the Vice President of the Toad, and upon whom at present devolves its manngement. This gentleman readily complied with hia wish for further tuiormation. Mr. Vander- bit gave @ frank and very straightforward account of the whole affair as he knew it, and dia not attempt to evade any of the reporter's questions, It appears from his statement that the engine coming in collision with the oi car, was knocked off the track, and consequently ran off the side of the bridge. The baggage car followed immediately after, resting on the top of the engine, and draw- ing the passenger car along with it. Thus the space below was filled up, and only part of the paseenger car was submerged in the water, The coupling between the first and secomt passenger car broke, which left the other cars on the track. The two passenger cars became enveloped m flames and were burnt. ‘The remain- jug cars were saved by the exertions of the passen- gers, Who uncoupied them and pushed th down the track, out of the way of the fire. of an axle CAN HARDLY Bi PREVENTED in winter time, when tron is so excessively brittle, by any ordinary exercion of care or foresight. The bridge was not an old structure, and the statements of several pape sto the contrary are enurely un- founded; neither did it break down until the timber was weakened by the flames, All the bridges are tested from tine to time, and as soon as the manage- ment think that the wooden bridges are not sufti- ciently strong to bear the strain ef the traftic they are replacea by tron structures of the best manufac- ture. Within the last year several iron bridges have thus been built, and others are 1n the course of con- struction, The rails along the entire length of the road, with the exception of about fifteen miles on the upper division, ure made of steel. The axies of the trucks are inade of Wrought iron, und are subjected to two or three hammerings. It is not improbable that the oil car with the broken axle, which caused the ac- client, belonged to 80ME OTHER RAILROAD which connected with the Hudson River Ratiroad. One of the officials stated to the HERALD reperter that nearly all the ordinary accidents on this road resulting from broken axies or broken wheels hap- pened on the cars of other companies, On all those piaces where fagmen were formerly stationed at intervals along the tine it was for the purpose of opening and closing craws, but at the present time there Was no occasion for thelr ser- vices. There was probably NO FLAGMAN NEAR THE BRIDGE, but even if he was there he could not have averted the accident, as the engineer of tne oil train, who was nearest to the express train, guve the signal, but without avail, Mr, Vanderbilt stated that ali cars on the road have the brake which Is the best in use; atrain going: av the rate of forty iniles an hour can be stopped in going 500 feet. According tothe following list, made out by Mr Chambers. auditor ofthe company, the number of the victims Is twenty-one, and itis beileved that no more have perished. A sleeping car, says, has accommodation for twenty-nve passengers, bub generaliy it does not carry more than ‘fourteen or fliteen. Twenty-one passengers are considered » large nuber for one sleeping ¢ THE LOSS TO THE COMPANY, Mr. Vanderbilt says, will prooably amount to 200,000, A bridge over the channel was compieted last night, and trains will run to-day as heretofore. Parties have been to te scene of disaster and have removed most of the bodies to their homes. ‘The remainder will be brought to the city this morn ing for futerment. Every gare, he says, has been ren- dered by the oficers of the company to facilitate the identification of the kilied and to the wants of the other passengers. He also states that the stories re- carding the depredations of marauders have no fuw dation, The baggage is either under water or burned, MORE RAILROAD SLAUGHTERS, Three More Haman Beings Done To Death nm the New Jersey Raiiroad. About five o'clock yesterday afternoon a shocking accident occurred on the New Jersey Railroad, at East Brunswick, this siae the Raritan river, by which two men were killed. The milistone freight, it appears, backed down on them unawares, killing thei aimast mstantly. One of the mea was Joan clan, a switchinan, and the other bis friend, Both ide in the neighborhood afd leave families. 1b ts also reported that a man was Killed just this side of the Bergen cut, tirough being struck by the locomottye, The unfertunate man’s back Was broken m two, His name and identity have not yetybeen as- certained. Pair of florses Killed and Driver Fatally In- jured. ALBA! N. Y., Feb. 8 1871. Isaac Watt, of Stephentown, Rensselaer county, while on his way to this city with a load of charcoal, in crossing the railroad track across the river was Tun agaist by a train of cars and fatally injured. His horses were instantly killed. WEST SIDE ASSDCIAT.OV. The Great Rapid Trassitists in Their Regular Convention. A largely attended meeting of the West Side As- sociation was held last evening at the Harvard Rooms, Sixth avenue, corner of Forty-second street. Mr. W. R. Martin presided over and addressed the meeting on What 1s at present the pet project of the gasociation—rapid transit be- tween the business and dwelling porttons of te city. After speaking some time on the subject of a Broadway railroad, underground or otherwise, both of which are opposed by the property owners on that thoroughfare, he said the plan of a central railway ts rudimentary; there snonid be a system of railways diverging from a common centre. Then, recurring to Broadway and the kind of raliway best suited 10 it, he said rapid transit 1s desired, and any good plan tor a rati- way should be accepted; to decide as to the plan @ concentration of public opinion ts needed. The gentleman who teads the opposition to an un- dergroand ratiroaa on Broad admits th Ne, and ts in favor of the construction of one in any street In which it will not, as he says, injure ms property. Mr. Wiliam B, Ogden, having an in- tense and unconcealed disgust at the promise of | the arrangements for ‘commerce in this ety, sketched the history of what be hopes will be the Central Underground Raslway, and stated the probable cost of the project at $10,000,000; then, to give an illustration of the need of rapid transit, he ‘said 100,000 of the travelling public of this city lose an hour each day owing to the poorness of our means. This in the aggregat 109,000 hours, and averaging ten hours each, 0,000-working days, Which at two doliars a day oS a8 the amount of nmroney lost tn time $20,000 and in a working year of 400 days This, With the ‘amount of money lost in other sways, would more ihan pay for the construction of the under- ground railroad. He then referred to the many im- provements made in other cities while this city has been idting. ie Wound up by saying that our metropolitan position was retained because of the concentrauon of finance here and the good situation of our city, aud not by any enterprise of our people. $6,000,000, in ume AID FOR THE FRENCH. ‘The Meeting To-day at the Produce Ex- change—Contributions for the Sufferers. A meeting, under the auspices of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce having in charge we contributions for the relief of the sufferers by the war in France, will be held this afternoon at the Produce Exchange. Addresses will ve made by the President of the Chamber, William E, Dodge, Dr. lows and others. The following contributions | have already been received by the committee of the Neer of Commerce haviug charge of the collec- tion: Winslow, Lainer & Co.$1,000 ‘shall Charles H. M: fy Phelps, Dodge & Co. Mra, Catharine L, Spen 500 50 iH + 500 250 250 250 250, " 250 The proprietors of elevators in the city Rave offered to place all the grain that may be contri- buted dn snipboard free of charge, and the Western Union Telegraph Com} have offered to transmit Tree al) measages Cy ‘The breaking } i THE STATE CAPITAL. Joy of the Democratic Majority Over the Return of Jacobs. Honors to That Too Convivial Companion. Scenes at the Election for Regents. A Blow at Legislative Railroad Deadheads. ALBANY, Feb. 8, 1871. The Legislature has entirely recovered from the terrible excitement. into which it was thrown yes- terday by the disaster on the Hudson River Rall- road, by which it was supposed that at least one ofthe majority had been sent, much against his own sweet will, to that bourne where the “ways and means” of this life are of no avall, Jacobs 18 him- self again! He vook possession of his seat bright andearly this morning, and was, as a matter of course, the ‘observed of all observers.” There was & good deal of HEARTY HAND-SHAKING when he came in and a good deal of hard drinking when he went out. But as a severe snow storm was prevailing at the time it 1s charitable to believe that the latter would have been postponed on account of the weather had the day not been a stormy one, Serigusly, the relief of the majority when they dis- covered by ocular demonstration that they were not to be short-handed for all the coming session was perceptible in every movement they made. They laughed more heartily every tine Tom Fields made an attempt to get off a joko and didn’t sue- ceed; talked more glibly about everything and any- thing that came into their heads, good or bad; stirred themselves about more actively in the lobe bies, and allowed themselves to be buttonholed by the railroad agents with less show of opposition than they have done on any one day since the first of the year, “REGENTS, MY LORD |’? The formality of choosing twe regents of the University was gone through with in the Assembly Chamber to-day according to all the stilted usages which were made necessary long ago,.no doubt, by technical rascalities that, when lawyers were smarter than ordinary people, were wont to bungle matters of state importance in a serious way. It is a very comfortable thing for @ man when he does get appointed to a lucra- tive position to feel that some rascally devotee of Kent and Blackstone may oust him high and dry, on the ground that the appointment was made void by the omission of a word here er the putting in of a wrong sentence there by the authority that gave -him the comfort when he wrote ft, or anuounced tt, or told it, or in what ever way he aig it. Certainiy the two gentlemen who were made regents to-day can have no fear of any such dreadful result, for the very words were PRONOUNCED WITH DELIBERATION, Sentences read as one would read a funeral sermon, and whole paragraphs repeated over and over again ‘would of itself scare out of his wits any man who would dare to think that a “break” in the appoint- ment might be discovere if one searched long enough, hard enough and maiiciously enough, Of course the caucuses of both parties had fixed upon the candidates the night before, and tt only re- | mained for the two houses to put their heads to- gether to-day and try to make the occasion one that Would give the gallery pecple the most solemn idea | r lives of what a thing it | they ever had in the her of the Legislature! When, this and Lewis were ofliciaily declarea the resurrected Jacobs and that butt of everybody, Big- nall, were told to go as acommittee and teil the honorable folks wp stairs What the other folks down stairs had accomplished. They did this in dowbie quick time, and, on his return, the Resurrected told, in the usual stereotyped way, what the com- mittee had done. Now, it was just here where THE SOLEMNITY OF THE OCCASION was to begin. Tho Senate committee | from their owa room had returned” to its Sky_— parlor; the Senate, in a body, were on thetr’ way down stairs; the yellow cane-bottom chairs were ranged in front of the first row ot Asi ready to receive them, and the Speak ‘y to put ona very solemn face. Bui To: elds had to put in his oar after Jacobs had made nis report of their visit to the regions above the ievel of te as try ine Assembiymen, and did so by exclaiming, “I'd like Mr, Bignall’s opinion on that subject.” This pat an end to solemnity, and a toud roar of laughter was the first thing that greeted the ears of “the honorabie the Senaie” when the doors were flung open. An eflort was made by every member to look serious, though, as he stood up and the Senators marched in two by two and took thelr places. Mike Nerton, m his harry to get down stairs, forgot thathe had his hatin his hand, aud had as muck as he could do, while the two clerks were reading the proceedings in relation to the vote, to hide it from the public gaze, because It was black and shiny and the only one visible. Tweed sat next to Mike and looked as INNOCENT AS A CHILD with its eye teeth uncut, while Bradley, having got euchred by Harry Genet out of a middle chair,had to run beforejtne spea! chair with his head respect- fully bowed down, to get hold of an end one, which the rural Kennedy was also making a dead set for. When Harpending had succeeded in getting two legs of his chair out of two iroublesome Knot holes, aud Lord had discovered, after careful inspection, that has son was in his seat, leoking as solemn as a Quaker meeting house, Lieutenant Governor Beach got up beside Hitchman, hemmed three times: put 48 leit hand m his pantaloons pocket so as to leave its delicate thumb exposed to view, aud went on with his part of the technicalities. It was then the Senate clerk’s turn to perform his part, and, he did nis very best to read weil, know! that the As- sembly clerk was to follow him, aad might do a great deal better than he if he didn’t mind nis p's and q's, Ms cominas, his full steps, and likewise lus pronunciauon. He «id well, very well, and he Jooked quite pleased witit himself when he had doue, and stared up at the galleries, as much as to say, “You fellows couldn't have done it, better.” The Assembly clerk had the advantage of knowing the compass of his rival beforeiand, so he cleared his throat when the proper time came for his reading, and Went at it with a will, There was evideutiy a word mis-spellea after the name of THE TWO DEAD REGENTS, Jn whose illustrious slippers the two new nominees are destined to strut about and be happy, for he yelled it out ‘diseascd,” voicing it so emphatically on the first syllable that one would almost have been led to believe, if one didn’t know any better, that the word had a “z in it. The Senate, however, seemed to have been told pelorehand that the two defunct re ad some kind of a disease at the time they died a natural death, and so were uot surprised that they were “diseased” instead of de- ceas The Clerk's reading over Mr. Beach again put his left hand gracetully into his po leaning on the Speaker's desk wjth his righ clared Lewis and Warner the nominees. “I deciare tits joint sitting dissolved,” said ne, looking solemn. “THANK YOU,” exclaimed Harry Genet. Th WAS a loud laugh. nd tbe serious Senators rose to take their ieav They started to go out as they had come, by pairs, and would no doubt have been satisfied with the funereal aspect of the occaston that had calle hot a voice in the ga pried ont as they were marching stowly 4 * 'fuis Was too much | for good nature, and the Senate bustied out, the | galleries Uttered, the Speaker harmmered with lis | | i gavel and the Sergeant-at-Arms went in search of the musically-inciined Galitrian. Thus ended rhe ceremony of the election of the regents, DEADHEADING FOR CONSCIBNCE SAKE. Governor Alvord beileves that there are some people high in power who have souls smail enough | to be bought up by @raiiroad pass, and, having a luxing for people in power, he wants to remove from them the temptation of selting themselves cheaply, With that view he intends, to-morrow, to introduce @ bilt enttled, mre inde- pendent action ou the eral depart- Inents of the government of this State, and to pr vent undue influence by corporations.” It is as follows:— SKOTION 1. Tt shall be the duty of the Secretary of State of this State to issue a cortiticate under the seal of bia depart- ment to each of the members of the Assembly and State Sen- e ea, justices or State of New York, as tol- the Coart of Appenis, the Com. e Commission of Appeals, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judges ot the Court ‘of Common Pleas of the city of New York; the Judges or Justices of the Supe- rior Court of the city of New York; or of the Recorae r ne Judges or Justices of an: Recorder's Court of any of the cities of thi of the respective counties of this State; and the City Tuyges of the city of New York, and to exch of the State officers of this State for the time being, showiug the oflice held xnd the tine when his oficial term Will expire, and such certificate of the said Secretary of State shail entitle the erson named therein to ton all railroad steam! venieles for the transportation of _ pe fons owned by any raliroad company, ‘transportation company or corporation in this State, in the same manver ‘and with the same rights as tickets for of said companies or corporations during and all issued by ary ia said term of office. Sko. 2. Any such company or ‘tion, or any lessees of tts franchi Violating tae, provisions if this re- ogvire such Ceritcatcn as Wkets ae hersin pro. to be recovered by Onecvelt of auch Fecorery hall Ge paid. into the treasury of the county where the same may be recovered. for the nae of the poor of anid connt aid to the party wiv Bro. & This et aba NEW YORK LEGISLATURE ALBANY, N. Y., Feb, 8, 1871, BILLS INTRODUCED, By Mr. TWRED—Amending the act appointing coramise sioners of fisheries, by protibiting persons from setting o drawing nets for taking fish between Saturday evening and Monday morning; owners of wears, ponds, &c., shall keep the same open during the same period under a penalty of 400, ‘The aum of $10,000 {a appropriated for the expenses of or the year IMEI. ANKS~-Providing that {t sh: I not be good cans ne {0 ivi) or criminal trial of examination that he haa formed or expressed an opinion fn the case if it be made to satisfactorily appear that such opinion no longer exists, By Mr. HARDRNUURGH—Amending the resolution relative to “minors; authorizing inveatment of minors in'certain cases, Al ding the jurisdiction of surrogates’ courta which makes on for the disposition of surpius alter nales of te to satisfy debts of deceaned persons; also ainend- Ing the Revised Statutes making provision in regard to the sale, mortgage or lense of land, and the disposition of moneys 2 from them. rE Mr. Caramen—Providing for copying mutilated records in the New York County Clerk's oilics. PILLe REPORTED, Incorporating the East River and Bushwick Underground Railroad Company, to constrdet an underground ralirond from the East river at South Seventh street, in the direction of Jamaica, Amending the act to protect persona travelling on the Fourth avenue, Now York. To prohibit the throwing of carton, &e., 1m the East river, New York Bay or Raritan Bay. BILLS PASSED. Relative to the Long Island Club; amending the charter of the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Kai road; incorporat- ing the Westchester County Trust Company; asending the charter of the Loaners’ Truat Company of New York. THE LOWER GA)IFORNIA COMPANY, Mr. Genwr Introduced a bill amending the charter of the Lower California Company, allowing the directors, by a ma~ Jority voto, to increase the capital stock by the Iadue oc not more than five million dollars of new stock, to be a preferred stock, ing seven per cent interest, to be paid befora any dividend 1# declared on the common stock. The com- pany may issue and dispone of said stock iz payment of any debt of the company, or for cash at par value or under, for the purpone of promoting the objects of the company, pa especially for the purpose of sending emigrants to the pro- erty of the company. Pee CREAMER, from the Printing Committee, repofted im favor of supplying ¢ member of the Senate with ten coples of the Code of Procedure, Adopted, by 15 to 18, PAVEMENT JOUR, Mr. GENET gave notice of a bill to grade, 125th street, New York, from the East river to Manhattan street, and through Manhattan strect to 130th street, and through 10th atreet to the Husson. RECKAS VOR WASUIRGTON'S BIRTHDAY, Mr, TWEED called up the joint resolution for the adjourn. ment of the Legislature from’ Saturday, the Isth, to the 27th, in the evening. Mr, CREAM? m moved to make it from the 17th to the 27th, Carried, by 18 to 12, as follows:. YRAS—Measra, Binks, Brat Genet, Graham, Hubbard, Li Cauldwell, Creamer, Frost, . Morgan,'C. F, Norton, M. Norwn, Pierce, Thayer, Tweed, Winslow and Wood— Nays—Morars. Bowen, Brand, Chapman, Edwards, Har- denburgh, Harpending, Keunedy, Lord, Mincier, Murphy, Sanford, Wood ‘Adjourned, Assembly. ALBANY, Feb. & 1871, BILLS PASSED, Extending the provisions of the Railroad Town Bondin’ act to certain towne in Erie county ; amending the charter the Troy and Cohoes Railroad Company; amending tee charter of the Farmers and Mechanics’ Bauk of Lockport; amending the charter of the Mutual Savings Bank of Trogs incorporating the Troy Security and Trust Company ; autho rizing the construction of @ railroad from Vincent square to Woif street, In Syracuse, VOTING FOR THE REGENTS, Both houses, at twelve o'clock, noon, met in joint eonven- tion and ele ted two Regents of the University, ‘The vote for John L. Lewis. and. Horatio. Warner wns 19. ‘The vote for Horace aD. W. Bristol was 73. In the Senate the vote stood 18 to U3, and in. the House #8 io 60, on each of the two seta of candidates respectively. Mesure. Lewis and Waraer were declared duly elected, Adjourned. ~ ENGLAND. Severe Industrial Loses by Fire. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. LonpoN, Fe 8, 1871. I regret to have to report a heavy industrial loss by fire, whieh will be followed by severe suffering among the working hands. Messrs, Owens’ extens! chester, have been di nine hundred operatives @ e thread mills, at Man- by conflagration, and > thrown ont of employ- The Reorganized Cabinet—Minisierial Confidence and an Enlarged Programme. TELEGRAY TO THE NEW YORK HERALD, Vienna, Fe The Oftelal Gazette of to-day says: Austrian Mimstry is thorougitly anited and possesses the confidence of the sovereign, If will give tar play to all legitimate provinctalism; but there will be no more compromise with separatisia at the ex- pense of unity. It will uphold the constitution, bus will propose to Parliament tie en ion of laws partially extending the legislative and admintstra- tive autonomy of the empire, and will introduce a bill providing for direct elections and enlarging the rights of electors, The Ministry wili offer @ decided opposition to all obstacles in the way of its sue 9 Imperial Amnesty. Vienna, Feb, 8, 1871. ‘The Emperor Francis Joseph has py an autograph decree granted full amnesty for all political ana press offences committed to the 7th inst. ITALY AND THE BEY. Cabinet Report of the Relations with Tunis. TELECRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. FLORENCE, Feb. 8, 1871. Gre aspect of the foreign relations of the kingdom still engages the anxious consideration of the gov- ernment, During the session of the Legislative Chambers to- day the announcement was made by the @overn- ment that negotiations were’ still pending witn ‘Tunis, Italy insists upon the satisfaction of her jast demands as well a3 guarantees for the future against the depredations of the pirates of the Kut. GREECE. Turkish Diplomacy in Athens. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Lonbon, Feb, 8, 1871. The appointment of his Excellency Blacque Bey, lately Turkish Mintster in Washington, as Ambas- sador of the Sublime Porte to the Court of Greece, Is said to produce a “painful sensation” in Atheus, in view of the present aspect of the Roamanian and Eastern questtons generally. Porsonal Intelligence. Mr. J. J. Gleason, member of the Legisiatare of Pennsylvania, has arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel. General Burnside has returned to the Fitth Avenue Hotel General John 8. Kavanagh, of St. Louis, is staying atthe Metropolitan Hotel. Ben Field, of alvion, N. Y., is at the Pifth Aveuuce Hotel. Congressman ©. W. Kendall, of Nevada, arrived | | yesterday at the St. Nicholas Hotel. General N. B. Forrest is sojourning at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Commodore Stemble, United States Navy, iS among the late arrivals at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Governor James English, of Counecticat, is a guest at the St. Nichoias Hotel. Galusha A, Grow, ex-Congres:man, of Pennsyl- vanla, has arrived at the Astor House. Rev. Dr. McLeod and Albert, Keep are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Captains Frank Ernst, of Ohio, and Eli Beach, of Pennsylvania, are at the Astor House. Colonel J. M. Williams, of Salem, N. Y.; Re Be Buckle, of Engiand; Thomas H. Canfield, of Ver- mons; John J. Knox, of Washington, and George iH. Creamer, are amoug the guests at (he Fifth Avenue. Miss C. S. Lester, of Saratoga, is at the Metropo- litan Hotel. ie CHARLOTTE BiONTE=-LECTURE IN BROOKLYN. Laura C. Holloway, who achieved such a success: in her début lecturess last winter, will deliver her lecture on the subject of “Charlotte Rronte”” i ith street Reformed becwoou ortn sod" 9 nth avenues, this tens, Miss Holloway isa pleasant talker her leosare 18 very entertaunins. ee es ——— eee wien ies