The index to the NY Times for July-December, 1891 cites the following, under "Railroad Accidents":
"Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain; Collision with Sunday School Excursion Train near Champlain" August 6, page 1, col. 6
and
"West Shore and Buffalo, Collision at Montezuma, nine Killed", August 7, page 1, col. 5.

And others, at inapproriate dates.  Presumaboy hte August 7 story is the wreck in question.

In addition to the Times, there was published in New York at that time the Sun, the World, the Herald, and the Tribune, all of which are on microfilm and available thorugh interlibrary loan.  The Bobst Library at NYU has all except the Herald.  There would no doubt have been local newspapers, too.

GAT

George A. Thompson
Author of A Documentary History of "The African Theatre", Northwestern Univ. Pr., 1998.

----- Original Message -----
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Monday, August 12, 2002 4:34 pm
Subject: FW: 1891 HISTORICAL INQUIRY

> We received this query today in Ontario County.  Can anyone help Ms.
> Moosbrugger find details of the 1891 train wreck?
>
>
> Dear Sirs or Mam's:
>
> I have been working on a historical biography for the last 7 years
> that will
>
> contain correspondence from the late 1800's and early 1900's.
> One of these
>
> is a fascinating letter written by a survivor of a terrible train
> wreck.The train came from Boston and was going to Chicago and the
> wreck occurred 5
>
> &1/2 half hours west of Rotterdam Junction, NY at about 2:40 AM,
> on (or
> about) Aug 6, 1891.   I have been trying to find a historical
> society, a
> newspaper, (or people who could direct me to where to look,) for a
> historical
> account of the details of this train wreck.
>
> If you can help me I would be most grateful.
>
> Julia Moosbrugger  [log in to unmask]
> 1418 Oak St.
> Santa Monica, Ca
>