Upstate New York, Part 16: Historic Events, the Angola Horror Train Wreck in Angola New York

Upstate New York, Part 16: Historic Events, the Angola Horror Train Wreck in Angola New York

Angola is a village in Erie Country, New York with a minuet population of around 2400 people. The Village name Angola was believed to be chosen because at the time the population mostly Quakers were supporting missionary efforts in the Portuguese colony of Angola in Africa.

“On December 18, 1876 The Buffalo bound New York Express of the Lake shore and Michigan Southern derails its last coach, and plunges off a truss bridge just outside the small town of Angola. The attaching car was also pulled over the embankment, stoves aboard were said to have set the coaches on fire burning to death fifty people.”  http://www.historynet.com/the-angola-train-wreck.htm

This particular historic event to take place in the upstate New York in its complete was tragic for many but for one lucky.

On this particular morning John D. Rockefeller was just climbing out of his bed in his Cleveland home his mind on business and getting ready to catch the New York Express back east to New York City for some last minute business before the Christmas holidays.

Not particular like Rockefeller his morning was headed off to a late start probably due to last minute packing. Once all was in order Rockefeller quickly kissed his wife of three years and one year old daughter with some last minute good bye's and flew out the door in hopes of catching his train. Rockefeller up until this day December 18,1876 had never been late nor missed a train; the New York into Buffalo and then into New York City arriving by 6 am was his kind of business. Not today John D. Rockefeller missed the New York Express to Buffalo by mere seconds; and by doing so Rockefeller escaped being killed on one of the worst train wrecks in the 19^th century America.

Dubbed the “Angola Horror” because at the time of the trains derailment it had just passed through Angola, New York at around 3:00 in the afternoon, while passing over a high railroad bridge the last two cars of the New York Express jumped the track plummeting some 50 feet to the icy and deadly gorge below. At which point both cars burst into flames due to what is being thought that stoves for cooking caught fire, subsequently trapping all aboard inside, ultimately killing all fifty passengers.

It is also said that the very same day having purchased another round trip train ticket after missing his original, Rockefeller passed the scene of the Angola Horror on his train trip back home. Upon arriving back home Rockefeller heard the news about the horrific event and is said to have immediately telegraphed home to his wife. The message read:

“Thank god I am unharmed” in went on “The six forty train I missed had a bad accident.”