I recently spent a day in the Central Queens Library in Jamaica trying to flesh out the details of Selina and William Hamilton’s deaths by train. All I had was a brief sentence in the New York times on Selina’s death in April, 1881 and an only slightly more substantial piece in the Brooklyn Eagle on William’s death in December, 1893. Newspapers in the immediate area of Winfield and Corona from that era are not yet available on genealogical websites. The only way to find articles was to wade through the microfiche in the basement of the library archives. And we were not disappointed…….
The articles we found are so short that I am presenting them transcribed word-for-word (misspellings & all!) here. Selina’s name was variously reported as “Mary” and “Eleanor” and the details in the earlier versions were wildly untrue. However, The Newtown Register, being the closest to the events, is believed to be the most accurate.
Selina Hamilton’s Death – April 18, 1881
The Flushing Times, Tuesday, April 19, 1881
As the 6:35 p.m. train yesterday from Hunter’s Point was approaching Newtown, the engineer saw a woman walking on the track ahead of the train who paid no attention to the whistles. He at once slackened speed and put on all brakes, but not soon enough to prevent the woman being knocked down by a buffer just as she was stepping off the track. Fortunately, the speed had been so reduced that the blow was not enough to injure her and she picked herself up and walked off.
The New York Times, Thursday, April 21, 1881 (the only report we’ve had for many years)
Mary Hamilton, a resident of Corona, was killed on Monday night, while walking on the track near Winfield station, by the 6:35 train on the Long Island Railroad from Hunter’s Point.
The Newtown Register, Thursday, April 21, 1881
Monday evening, Mrs. Eleanor Hamilton, who lived near Corona, was struck by the locomotive of the train of seven cars, which left Winfield at 6:48 just east of the Thomson Avenue crossing. The train was stopped, and the woman, in an unconscious condition was placed aboard and taken to the Corona depot, where she was given all possible attention. Dr. Wickham was summoned and after examining her wounds pronounced the presence of internal injuries which would prove fatal. The unfortunate woman died in the depot just twenty minutes after reaching Corona. Coroner Seibs was notified by telegraph and reached Corona in about 40 minutes after Mrs. Hamilton’s death. A jury was summoned who viewed the body and the inquest was postponed until next Monday evening. The deceased had been for some time despondent on account of domestic troubles and more than once had threatened to commit suicide. When she received her fatal injuries, she was walking on the track, returning from Winfield, where she had been to consult Justice McGowan[1] in reference to her family grievances. She was noticed by the engineer who blew his warning whistle in ample time for her to leave the track, but she appeared to take no notice of it. “Down breaks”[2] was blown, but before the heavy train could be stopped the fatality occurred. It is but charitable to presume that the warning whistle was not heard and that death came upon the poor woman unheralded and uninvited.
The Newtown Register, Thursday, April 28, 1881
–Coroner Seibs concluded the inquest in regard to the death of Mrs. Wm. Hamilton, who was killed on the rail road between Winfield and Newtown on the 16th inst., Monday evening. The conductor, engineer, and train men were called as witnesses, but their evidence threw but little additional light on the melancholy affair. The engineer stated that he saw the unfortunate woman on the track, just after rounding the curve east of the Winfield depot. He blew an alarm whistle, which appeared to attract her attention as she stepped from the center to the side of the track. He continued to blow the whistle, but no further notice was taken of it. He then reversed his engine, and applied the power brakes, but before the train could be stopped, the woman was struck by the bumper of the engine. When picked up she was still breathing, but was unconscious. Mr. Hamilton, husband of the deceased, stated that in 1869 his wife had been adjudged a lunatic, although she had not been an inmate of any asylum. She recovered, and of late years had shown nothing of her former malady.
The following verdict was rendered: “That Selina Hamilton met with her death by being struck by an engine of the F. & N.S. Rail Road, and that her death was caused by her own carelessness and neglect.”
[1] Thomas J. McGowan was elected Justice of the Peace of Newtown in 1876.
[2] When a train was in motion, a brakeman listened for two blasts of the whistle from the engine – the signal for “down brakes” – at which he’d jump into action, club in hand, and wrench the brakes down as quickly as he could” From Working on the Railroad by Brian Solomon 2006 page 40 (Google Books)
William Hamilton’s Death (December 29, 1893)
The Newtown Register, Thursday, January 4, 1893
Death on a Railroad Track
A Resident of Corona Instantly Killed – Remarkable Coincidence of FatalityWilliam Hamilton, a well-known resident and property owner of Corona, was struck and instantly killed last Friday evening, by the 7 o’clock express train from Long Island City. It seems that Mr. Hamilton had been to the railroad station at Corona to see some friends off to New York on the 7:15 train, and had started to walk down the track towards his home which is west of the station, but he had not gone beyond the station platform when the express train that leaves Long Island City at 7 o’clock came tearing along at a terrific rate of speed. His son, who is the ticket agent at the station, saw the danger and called to his father, but the old man became bewildered and before he could take in the situation he was struck and instantly killed, his body being horribly mangled. Coroner Brandon took charge of the case. Mr. Hamilton’s wife was killed on the track in almost the same manner and in very near the same place, about ten years ago. The funeral took place on Sunday at 2 p.m., Rev. Wm. Wackham conducting the services. His text was: “There is only a step between me and death.”
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Saturday, December 30, 1893
KILLED BY AN EXPRESS TRAIN
William Hamilton, Like His Wife, Meets Death on the TrackWilliam Hamilton, 65 years old, of Corona, in the town of Newtown, was struck by the engine of the Flushing express of the Long Island Railroad, while standing on the track in front of the depot last night. Hamilton was instantly killed, his body being thrown a great distance. He had been to see his son, who is the agent and operator of the road at the station and had just left him to return to his home. The son saw his father’s danger and cried out to him, but he did not appear to comprehend him.
Seven years ago, Hamilton’s wife, while returning from a Justice’s Court where she had been to secure a warrant for his arrest on the charge of cruelty, was struck by the engine of the same express and instantly killed. Hamilton was worth some property, was regarded as eccentric, and his family had lived away from him for years.
