Belvedere, NJ Train Accident In Tunnel, Jan 1900

THREE KILLED IN A TUNNEL.

LACKAWANNA ENGINE GOING SOUTH ON THE NORTH-BOUND TRACK RUNS INTO A SECTION GANG.

Belvedere, N. J., Jan. 17 -- Three men were killed and six injured in a railroad accident in the Oxford tunnel on the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad this morning. One of the injued men will probably die. The men, who were track workers, were run down by a locomotive which was bound south on the north-bound track. The dead are ANDREW KILPATRICK, LEWIS DAHLBERG, and a Hungarian known as JOHN SMITH.
A coal train, bound north, broke in two at the south end of the tunnel. Fearing the rear part migh[sic] run him down, Engineer WILCOX put on steam and hauled the forward part of the train to Washington, where he put the cars he had with him on a switch. Knowing that the rear section would block the track, he then ran back on the same track for the remainder of the cars.
The men at work in the tunnel heard the approaching locomotive, but thinking it on the south-bound track, as it was coming from the north, stepped on the north-bound track. They were standing on the track in a group, and did not realize their danger until the tender of the engine was upon them. They were knocked down and hurled in every direction.
KILPATRICK and DAHLBERG were thrown under the wheels and horribly mangled. SMITH was also badly cut up. He lived a short time after being taken out. FREDERICK BURNS was the most seriously hurt of those surviving, one of his legs having been cut off.
The engineer said he did not see the men at work when he passed through with the first part of his train, and did not see them on his return until his engine was close to them. Before he could give warning he was upon them. He came to a stop within a few lengths, but the damage had been done.

The New York Times New York 1900-01-18
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!