Yorkville, NY Train Wreck
February 1, 1860
Feb 1, 1860
SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN A RAILROAD-TUNNEL.-SEVERAL
PERSONS INJURED.-This day a serious accident
occurred in the Yorkville tunnel, on the Harlem
& New Haven Railroad. It appears that the early
train from White Plains, and the Stamford train,
bound to New York, are generally crowded with
merchants doing business in the city but living
out of town. They follow close together; but
unfortunately the White Plains train suddenly
stopped in the tunnel, when the other, owing to
the darkness, ran into it.
The collision was as sudden as it was
unexpected. An immediate panic followed. Male
passengers darted wildly for the doors and
windows. The ladies screamed. The darkness of
the tunnel, from the dense smoke filing it,
intensified the excitement and consternation. A
variety of conjectures followed the collision.
The leading belief was that a terrible accident
had occurred and that many had been killed. As
quickly as possible the extent of the damage was
ascertained. The two trains were got out of the
tunnel into daylight. The foremost and fortunate
discovery was that no one had been killed. Over
fifty were found to be bruised, however, the
injuries of some being serious. Those injured
received their bruises mainly by being thrown
violently from their seats and in the
rough-and-tumble scramble to get out of the
cars.
MR. WILLIAM PALMER,
of White Plains, was picked up
insensible. He soon rallied under proper
treatment, and was sent to his home on the
return-train. His injuries are mainly internal.
MRS. ELIJAH BRADFORD,
also of White Plains, had three of
her ribs broken and was otherwise injured. The
collision threw her from her seat into the
middle aisle when several stepped upon her.
MR. JAMES FOX, of the Manhattan
Gas-Works, was also thrown into the aisle, and
narrowly escaped the fate of
MRS. BRADFORD.
The engine of the New Haven train was
disabled by the accident. Only the platform of
the rear car of the Harlem train was demolished.
Vincent's Semi-annual United States
Register, Jan-Jun 1860 pages 79-80
Transcribed by Linda
Houston. Thanks, Linda!
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