Dykemans Station, NY Train Wreck, Aug 1893

FOUR WERE KILLED OUTRIGHT

In a Head to Head Collision on the Harlem Road.

SEVERAL PASSENGERS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
The Pittsfield Express Was Running at a High Rate of Speed When It Collided With a Local. The Blame Has Not Been Definitely Located Yet, but It Is Thought Signals Were Disregarded – Ambulances Summoned to the Grand Central Depot in New York to Meet the Train Bearing the Wounded.

BREWSERTS, N. Y., August 26 – A terrible accident occurred this noon on the Harlem railroad near Dykeman's station just north of here, which cost four lives and possibly more. It was the result of a head on collision between the north bound train and No. 13, which left Forty-second street station at 10:39 A. M., and the Pawling accommodation train No. 20, which left that place at 12:30 this afternoon. The express, northbound, was in charge of Conductor GUS ACKERT and drawn by engine No. 1,008, in charge of Engineer DANIEL PONETIERE and Fireman WILLIAM GIBNEY.
The southbound train left Pawling at 12:30 and was drawn by engine No. 1,103, in charge of Engineer WILLIAM ELLIOTT and Fireman WILLIAM BEST.
For some reason that will never be known the accommodation did not await the coming of the express on a side track near Dykeman's station, the Harlem road having but one track above White Plains.
The express dashed on at a speed of fifty miles an hour. When the accommodation train was sighted “down brakes!” was whistled, but too late. The two locomotives came together with terrific force, completely wrecking them both. The shock also wrecked the first passenger car on the southbound train.
The killed are:
DANIEL PONETIERE, engineman of train No. 13.
WILLIAM ELLIOTT, engineman of train No. 20.
WILLIAM BEST, fireman of train No. 20.
NELLIE REID, aged 19, of this place.
All were badly mangled. MISS REID is a daughter of Judge J. H. REID of this place and was considered the belle of the village.
The injured are:
J. A. BANKS, trainman, scalded.
DeWITT HERMANCE, salesman Poughkeepsie, scalp wound and prostration.
JAMES FINEGAN, baggage master, badly bruised.
Traffic north is completely blocked, and hundreds have visited the scene of the disaster. The two enginemen live in Mott Haven, the residence of the fireman is in New York.

Brooklyn Eagle New York 1893-08-27
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!