Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA - Genealogy

Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA

Where is Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA? 

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1872 - WONDERFUL ESCAPE FROM DEATH.   POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., June 28, 1872. One of the most wonderful escapes from death ever recorded in the history of railroads occurred near the ill-fated New Hamburg drawbridge, on the Hudson River Railroad, at twenty minutes past ten o'clock last night. Just before that hour James Carter, who works for Mr. Faulkner in the brick yards near New Hamburg, was walking up the track toward that station, and about a mile south of it. Upon his back he carried an empty trunk. Looking ahead he suddenly discovered a train coming south on the same track on which he was walking north. It was close upon him, and he had to hurry to get out of the way. In doing so, and not thinking of any other danger, he jumped aside to the east track, just as the second Pacific express came along bound north. The latter train was five or ten minutes behind time and was running like lightning. The locomotive was the same one which ran into the draw on the memorable 6th of February. The engineer saw the man, and whistled for brakes and shut off steam at the same time, but without success. The engine struck Carter with full force and hurled him and his trunk at least twenty feet into the air and just a trifle ahead of the locomotive, so that when he alighted he fell upon the pilot and the trunk fell upon the platform under the headlight, knocking off the brass signal light. The fireman of the engine crawled out of the window of the cab, and, hurrying along the railing to the front end of the locomotive, found the trunk as stated, and, looking over it and down upon the pilot discovered the man jolting along on the iron bars, head downwards, near the track, but not touching it, and with feet hanging over the heavy beam to which the pilot is attached. His coat had caught in the draw bar, and he was held as securely as if in a vise. To make things doubly sure the fireman seized him and held on with a death grip till the train stopped at New Hamburg station, and the fireman and engineer removed him. He was entirely unconscious, and when the express left the engineer and fireman supposed he was dying. The station folks, as soon as the train departed, hurried to Dr. Downing's residence, a long distance off, who did not arrive till two A. M. Upon examining the body not a bone was found broken nor were any cuts visible. Upon the mustache were spots of blood, but they must have come from the nose, as no abrasions of the skin were found anywhere. As the examination was proceeding Carter suddenly returned to consciousness, and with a half idiotic stare wanted to know how far he was from Hughsonville, his destination. He could not remember anything about being struck by the train, and complained of bruises and pains in his left leg, but no hurts were found there. He was conveyed to the place he wished to go to, Dr. Downing deeming him entirely out of danger. This morning his condition was much improved, but he is very sore. It was certainly a remarkable affair, and the details cannot be exaggerated. All the surroundings were of a fearful character. His clothes were torn in many places, and his hat and one shoe were found by the side of the signal light south of the drawbridge. New York Herald, New York, NY 29 Jun 1872

1874 - SHOCKING FERRY-BOAT ACCIDENT.   A WAGON AND ITS OCCUPANTS BACKED OVERBOARD - A PROMISING YOUTH. Special Dispatch to the New York Times. Poughkeepsie, N. Y., March 29. - A terrible accident occurred on the ferry boat at this place this afternoon. MARTIN McCUE and his wife MARY, with her baby, eight months old, drove on board in a wagon; when the boat started the horse commenced backing, and did not stop till all went overboard. MRS. McCUE was undoubtedly struck by the horse, as she did not live three minutes, nor did her body sink; the babe was drowned, and its body has not yet been recovered. MR. McCUE was rescued with great difficulty. Upon examination three of his ribs were found broken, which, together with his other injuries, makes his recovery doubtful. The horse was drowned. But one witness on the Coroner's inquest, thus far, has testified that the guard-chain was up, and he was the boy whose duty it was to put it up. His deportment before the Coroner's jury was of a brazen character, and he was shamefully impudent. MARTIN McCUE, the injured man, states positively that the chain was not up. The inquest will be resumed to-morrow morning. The New York Times New York 1874-03-30

1911 - TRAIN KILLS CHAUFFEUR.   Motor Failed and Car Stuck on Railway Crossing. POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., July 5 - When a West Shore Railroad train rolled into Hihgland{sic} Station tonight the top of an automobile was found on the pilt. Investigation showed that the train had struck an automobile at a crossing half a mile away and instantly killed a chaufefur{sic} named Frank Walters, aged 30, of New York. Walter's motor had failed just as the car got on the crossing and it was not seen by the engineer, bystanders alleged. The New York Times, New York, NY 6 Jul 1911

1935 - Swift Fire Kills 5 in Poughkeepsie Building; 3 Boys Confess Setting It While Playing   POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., May 3 — Five persons were trapped and burned to death this afternoon in a fire which destroyed a three-story building at 411 Main Street. Starting in a rear stairway from kerosene or gasoline ignited by children at play, the flames swept through the structure with such rapidity that the victims could not be reached by firemen and could not escape to the street. The dead are C. Edward Seifts, 34; his wife, Mary Decker Seifts, about 30; their two children, Rosemary, 1, and Joanna, 3, and Shirley Elmore, 7, daughter of another tenant in the building. The bodies were found on the third floor of the building in the apartment occupied by the Seifts family. Doctors said the five had been overcome by smoke before they had a chance to escape from the burning rooms. Seifts was not at home when the fire started, but reached there a few minutes after the alarm had been turned in by a passer-by. He ran into the building and attempted to aid his wife and children to the street, but succumbed with them. Three children of Clifford Elmore were rescued from the second floor rear by George Way and Fred Hadley, the first firemen to reach the building. Their mother, Mrs. Elmore, was able to reach the street by a fire-escape. Fireman Way later was overcome by smoke. Two other tenants were injured in escaping. Mrs. Edward Mahoney was overcome by smoke in the hall and dragged to safety by firemen. George Sherow was burned about the face and hands as he made his way to the street. Several other firemen were treated for minor injuries. District Attorney John R. Schwartz began an immediate investigation. The building had been listed as a fire trap by the Emergency Relief Bureau of the city, and families had been advised against moving into apartments in the building. The Associated Press. POUGHKEEPSIE, May 3.— Captain Joseph V. Shelley of the Poughkeepsie police said late tonight three small boys had confessed setting the fire which swept through an apartment house this afternoon. He refused to reveal the names of the boys, saying they were from 5 to 7 years old. They admitted, he said, starting the blaze while playing near the staircase of the apartment. The New York Times, New York May 4, 1935

Ancestors Who Were Born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA

Ross

Mattie A Ross (abt. 1867,Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA-22 Jan 1939,Bradenton, Manatee, Florida, USA)

Ancestors Who Died in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA

Greiner

Robert R Greiner (10 Aug 1919,Connecticut-02 Sep 2000,Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA)

Hodgson

Thomas Hodgson (Aug 1864,Auburn, Cayuga, New York, USA-11 Nov 1943,Poughkeepsie, Dutchess, New York, USA)

Cemeteries

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