Two Cars on D. & H. Sleeper 

Burn; Mail Lost 

Half a carload of Christmas mail, a baggage car and a smoking coach on the Binghamton express were destroyed by fire near East Worcester early Saturday morning. Damage is estimated at $35,000, of which $10,000 was lost in mail. The express, which is known as “The Sleeper,” D. & H. train No. 302, leaves Albany at 11:30 p.m. 

The two cars were destroyed despite frantic efforts of the train crew and a three mile race by the train to a water station. Passengers in another coach and the Chicago sleeper were unaware of any fire until the flames broke through the first car and were fanned back along the second by the wind. A lone baggageman vainly sought to check the flames before the train stopped. 

The express left Albany at 11:30 p.m. on the Delaware and Hudson lines. The fire started about 1:45 a.m., near Dante, a station near East Worcester. The train halted at Summit on the railroad line beyond Dante, where the cars were abandoned. 

The fire is thought to have started when an oil lamp in the baggage car exploded, throwing its contents over the Christmas mail. Charles Miles of Binghamton, baggageman, told officials he noticed a strange glow in the car before it burst into flames. 

His first thought was of the mail, officials said, much of which was insured. He opened the side door and threw sacks into the roadbed, but the air rushing in fanned the fire and drove him back. 

Meanwhile Warren Murray, engineman, had seen the fire, which had spread to the roof. He saw it was beyond control and that outside aid would be necessary.
It was two miles to Summit, the nearest water point. With throttle wide open the train raced toward the village, the whistle shrieking a call for help. Murray brought his express to a jarring stop at Summit. 

With Miles, Joseph Quigley, conductor, and R. McLaughlin, brakeman, working frantically, the two flamingo cars were unoccupied and shunted to a side track. Murray went to Binghamton with the rest of the coach and sleeper. The East Worcester fire department was called but could not save the cars or the mail. — Cobleskill Index. 

BUYS DRUG STORE
AT SCHOHARIE
J. L. Harrington, proprietor of the Altamont Pharmacy, has purchased the store building and stock of the Parrott Drug and Hardware store on Main street at Schoharie. This does not mean a change in Altamont Pharmacy, for Mr. Harrington will operate both stores, with Allen Bishop as manager of the local pharmacy here. 

During the winter Mr. Harrington expects to spend most of his time looking after improvements to his new purchase and building up the business similar to his successful business in Altamont, having in mind moving to Schoharie next spring. 

NEW GILBOA RISING NEAR SITE
OF OLD TOWN
The village of Gilboa is no more. Fire was set November 23rd to the buildings remaining after the big conflagration of October 17th, which wiped out the business section of the village and a number of residences. 

The report has long been current that the board of water supply of New York City has sold the motion picture rights for the scene when the buildings in Gilboa were burned. The destruction of the remaining buildings last week was announced and was witnessed by comparative few.