A Terrible Railroad Accident.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 97, 11 April 1885, Page 5

A Terrible Railroad Accident.

New Brunswick (N. J.)> February 7.— At 3 o'clock this morning an extra freight train from Philadelphia, owing to a broken truck, stopped upon the bridge over Raritan River for repairs. While waiting, the through Southern freight, which left Philadelphia at 10.30 p.m., came dashing along through the city, and not until within 500 feet of the caboose of the extra did the engineer see it. Brakes were applied to no purpose, and the engine of the freight train struck the caboose of the extra, telescoping it, and struck the oil tanks, of which there were four in the train. An explosion followed immediately, and the burning oil and the wrecked cars were thrown over and down from the high bridge into the streets below. The burning oil ran through the gutters and down the streets into the Rari* tan Canal. This being covered with ice, the oil ran over the surface and down the canal to the wallpaper manufacturing establishment of Janey & Co. This was soon totally destroyed, as were seven dwellings opposite. In the immediate vicinity of the collision, and just under the long railroad bridge, was a building used as a box factory by the Consolidated Fruit Jar Company. This was destroyed, and the flames then spread to the main factory of the company, which was burned to the ground. The fire was under control at 6 o'clock. It is thought two brakemen on the oil train were burned to death. The loss is estimated at between 800,000 and 1,000,000 dollars. The loss on the dwelling-houses is 10,000 dollars.