The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, December 11, 1885

Disaster on Brooklyn Bridge  12/11/1885

Collision of two crowded cable trains.  Startling scene of terror.  Several
persons badly injured.

Two trains on the bridge railroad ran into each other at a quarter before
nine o'clock, last Saturday morning, and in the smashup six persons were
badly injured.  The failure of the grip to work on the cable, is supposed
to have been the cause of the accident.  It happened at the hour when the
cars are most crowded by the stream setting toward New York.  The rain
increased the crush at the Brooklyn entrance, and when a tow (two) car
train started out from the Brooklyn terminus it was loaded to its utmost
capacity.  The platforms of both cars packed.

The train had gone to within 150 yards of the Brooklyn tower when the grip
on the cable gave out, and it came to a stop.  It then began, despite the
efforts of the brakemen to stay it, to back down the steep incline, first
slowly, then with increased speed, until it swept round the curve near the
Brooklyn end with the swiftness of a deer.  Another train had just left the
Brooklyn platform and caught on to the cable, when the preceding train was
seen to display danger signals.  it stopped promptly and began to back
toward the station.  But it was too late.

The passengers on both trains saw the danger and rose to their feet in
alarm.  A scene of terror ensued.  Escape was impossible.  In an instant
the second train was overtaken and the two crashed together in a common
wreck.  Shrieks of pain and horror arose from the surging mass of
struggling and bleeding men and women, while the police and train men, with
the passengers waiting on the platform, ran to the rescue.  Ambulances and
police were summoned and responded promptly.  The platforms of the cars
were smashed and the ends of two of them more or less damaged.

Conductor MEYERS, who was standing on the rear platform of the second
train, was jammed in between the broken ends of the cars, and had to be cut
out of the wreck. Victor SCHAUMBURG, a young clerk, was similarly
imprisoned, and was extricated with much difficulty.  When all who needed
help were attended to, the police presented the following list of
casualties:

F. E. MEYERS, conductor, breast crushed and severe internal injuries and
general bruises.
John DWYER, shoemaker, Brooklyn, back sprained, ribs broken and breast
badly bruised.
Victor SCHAUMBURG, clerk, Brooklyn, leg broken, foot nearly cut off, severe
internal injuries.
F. BAKER, silversmith, Brooklyn, ankle broken, chest crushed, general bruises.
Charles R. M. BRISTOW, nose broken.

A passenger, who refused police attendance and would not give his name, was
badly bruised and rode home in a coach.

A number of others sustained minor bruises, but hurried to New York or
their homes by way of the ferry.  The wreck was soon cleared away, and
travel on the bridge was resumed with half an hour.

Transcribed by Ruth Barton
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Ruth Barton
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Dummerston, VT

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