1857 Carmel NY Harlem Railroad Accident

From the NEW YORK TRIBUNE dated February 6th 1857. This took place somewhere around Carmel, NY.

SERIOUS RAILROAD ACCIDENT ON THE HARLEM RAILROAD - The Albany Express Train which left this city at l pm, on Saturday, met with a serious accident near Towner’s station, about 80 miles from the city. The train was composed of locomotive, tender, baggage oar, and three passenger car, under the charge of Mr. Hills, Conductor. A broken rail which had been fractured by the frost on the passage of a previous train was the cause of the accident. The engine and lander passed over the injured rail in safety, but the baggage car and first passenger oar were thrown off the track; the second passenger car was thrown on its aide, and the third turned completely upside down. There were at the time about one hundred and twenty-five passengers on board. The scene for a time was one of the wildest confusion, the air being rent with the cries and groans of the injured. Conductor Hills, though considerably injured, barring sustained severe contusions on his left side, arm and back, broke through one of the windows and dispatched signal lights on the road about a mile distant from each end of the disabled train, in order to prevent the occurrence of further accident. The male passengers in the first car having escaped uninjured, forthwith set about relieving those in the other cars, and after considerable delay all were got out, when it was found that several had recieved serious if not fatal injuries. A lady about 45 or 50 years of age had her left arm badly fractured, beside being otherwise injured. A gentlemen about 40 years of age was found to be insensible and badly out and bruised. The injuries sustained by these two passengers are of such a nature that their recovery is considered doubtful. Two gentlemen were taken from the wreck, each with a broken leg. Four more were next taken out suffering severely from cuts and contusions about the head end body. The remaining passengers in the car thrown on its side, and the car turned upside down were more or less injured about the head and body. Cushions were taken from the cars and beds made, on which the injured were placed and made as comfortable as possible. The uninjured passengers were unremitting in attention to their less fortunate travelers. The conductor having done all is his power for the temporary comfort of his passengers, got aboard the engine and proceeded to Paterson Village, several miles distant, where he procured a car and returned to the scene of the accident. The disabled and injured were taken to Pawlings and comfortably provided for. Here they received medical and such other attendance as the necessity of their cases required.