Fatal Train Crash on the O.&W. - 1888

Fatal Smashup on the O.&W.

Chenango Union, May 17, 1888

About 11:30 o'clock, Thursday, while a heavy train of loaded coal cars in charge of Conductor Beckwith, drawn by engine No. 87, Engineer Hadcock and Fireman U. Grant Neish, was moving from Guilford Summit towards Norwich--the engine backing down-- and when near the long trestle beyond the Oxford station, the tender collided with a hand car loaded with steel rails standing upon the track, and the engine and ten gondolas were thrown down an embankment about ten feet high, the engine being turned completely around in its descent.  At the point where the accident occurred there is a steep grade, and although Engineer Hadcock saw the danger and whistled for brakes, the heavy train could not be checked in time to prevent a collision.

 

Conductor Beckwith and Engineer Hadcock both jumped from the train, sustaining slight injuries.  Fireman Neish, who had also prepared to jump, was in some manner caught and carried down the embankment with the engine, and became fastened between the tender and boiler, with his breast but a few inches from the latter.  He was so confined that he could move but one arm, although he retained consciousness, and with remarkable coolness gave directions to those around him, as to what should be done to relieve him from his distressing situation.

 

Upon receipt of a telegram here announcing the disaster, a wrecking train was sent to the scene, and upon its arrival, the wrecked engine was jacked up by degrees until Neish was extricated, after an imprisonment of nearly three hours.  He was taken to the Oxford station, where Dr. Avery made an examination, who found that no bones were broken, although the unfortunate man was severely burned.  He was brought to Norwich, and although he received every attention, he sank rapidly, and died at 9:30 Thursday evening.

 

Neish was about twenty-one years of age, and unmarried.  His parents reside at Hamden, Delaware county, to which place the remains were taken for interment.  Coroner Ormsby held an inquest Friday evening, which was adjourned from time to time until Tuesday evening, when the jury rendered the following verdict:  "That Ulysses G. Neish came to his death by injuries received in a collision between extra engine No. 87 and a grampus car loaded with railroad iron, standing upon the track of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway Company; and said collision occurred through and was caused by the culpable negligence of the New York, Ontario & Western Railway Company and its officers, in neglecting and failing to employ competent and suitable flagmen, and from the fact that on the occasion in question they had in their employ and used as a flagmen an incompetent and improper person for such service."

 

The scene at the wreck was mixed.  Besides the ten gondolas of coal that went over the embankment with the engine, those above were thrown from the track, rails torn up and twisted in all shapes, ties torn up and some two hundred tons of coal scattered in all directions.  It is said that the accident was caused by the flag not being sent far enough back to enable the train to stop.  New steel rails were being laid in that vicinity.