Graceland, NJ Train Wreck, Jan 1903

TWENTY-FOUR KILLED.

DISASTER OCCURS ON NEW JERSEY CENTRAL AT GRACELAND.

Accommodation Was Just Leaving After Stop When Fast Royal Blue Flyer Crashed Into Commuter's Train.

NEW YORK, Jan. 28. -- At 1:40 o'clock this (Wednesday) morning it is known there are twenty-four dead in the railroad wreck at Graceland, N. J. Sixteen charred bodies have been taken out. Eight dead were either recovered before the fire or died after being taken out of the wreck.

NEW YORK, Jan. 27. -- One of the most appalling railroad wrecks that has occurred in the vicinity of New York for many years, the estimated loss of life ranging from 12 to 30 persons, occurred to-night at Graceland, on the Central Railroad of New Jersey, near Westfield, N.J., when the Royal Blue Line express ploughed[sic] at top speed into the rear of an accommodation train.
Immediately after the crash, three of the shattered cars of the accommodation took fire rendering impossible the rescue of many of the wounded who were pinned fast in the wreck. Many bodies are believed to have been consumed.
On board the flyer all the passengers, although badly shaken up, escaped uninjured, save for trifling bruises.
Few of Victims Identified.
The dead taken to the morgue at Plainfield are: EDGAR WILLIAMS, lawyer, of New York; C. P. THAYER, Plainfield, N. J., secretary to United States Senator T. C. Platt; HARRY G. HAND of New York city; HARRY PATERSON of Dunellen, N. J.; GEORGE E. REED of Scotch Plains, N. J.; THOMAS CUMMING; ROWLAND R. CHANDLER;l EDWARD FLYNN, all of Plainfield.
In addition to this list there are many charred bodies yet at the scene of the wreck.

Lowville Journal and Republican New York 1903-01-29

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MANY PERISH IN COLLISION

A Terrible Wreck on the Jersey Central at Graceland, N. J.

THE TRAPPED VICTIMS BURNED.

Fire Broke Out Almost Immediately After the Crash and a Number of Those Who Were Pinned Down Died in Great Agony – The Royal Blue Express Smashed Into a Local Train.

Westfield, N.J. -- One of the most appalling railroad wrecks that has occurred in the vicinity of New York City for many years, the estimated loss of life ranging from twenty to thirty persons, took place at Graceland, on the Central Railway of New Jersey, near here, when the Royal Blue Line express plowed at top speed into the rear of a local train.
Immediately after the crash three of the shattered cars of the local train took fire, rendering impossible the rescue of many of the wounded who were pinned fast in the wreck. Many bodies are believed to have been consumed.
On board the flyer all the passengers, although badly shaken up, escaped uninjured except for triffling bruises. The identified dead are:
HARVEY PATTERSON, twenty-three, of Dunelien, N. J., leg cut off, died at Muhlenberg Hospital, Plainfield; ROWLAND GRANDER, seventeen, Plainfield, N.J.; THOMAS CUMMING, thirty, Putnam avenue, Plainfield, leg cut off; EDGAR W. WILLIAMS, lawyer, East Sixth street, New York; C. T. THAYER, Plainfield, N. J., Secretary in Senator Platt's office, 40 Broadway, New York; HUGHES FAWCETT, Rockview avenue, Plainfield, N. J.; RALPH PHILLIPS, nineteen, Madison avenue, Plainfield, N. J.; JAMES BECKMAN, twenty, Plainfield, N. J.
This list does not include a number of charred bodies which were sent to Plainfield.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1903-01-30
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!