The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-12-13

e
articulaTs OF a terrible accident rear BIif-
fin from Saturdays issue of tie Harris
burg Patriot:
Owing to the immense travel on the Penn
sylvania railroad the Ciucinli2ti express
east has 70 he divided into two fectiors the
one running about ten miles behind theoth-
err On Thursday night the first section
started from Altoona thirty-seven minutes
late and the second, one hour and sixteen
minutes, which placed the former about
twenty miles ahead of the latter. Between
Altoona and Lewistown the seeord section
made up thirty-four minutes lost time, W hile
Inc nrSt lost three minutes. At BlNler' s sta
ton, two miles east OF LewistC WI, both took
water, and before leaving the tiagman of the
leading train placed the precautionary per
cussion caps on the track as warning to
the one following. The eEElnet OF the lat
ter respected the signal, but seeing no train
before him and suppoSing il many miles in
advance he resumed his speed AS the first
section approached NJ film it slackened from
schedule speed 20 about fifteen miles an
hour. just west of the town is Lauber's
curve, and while passing through il the
engineer of the second section OF the eX-
press noticed that the first section was but
$50 feet ahead. The patent air brake was
Immediately applied and the engine reversed
and had it not been for an unavoidable acCi-
dent TO the coupling which helG together the
express car and the one following the train
could have been stopped in time to avert
ling broke, and the locomotive. tender and
express car were detached from the other
cars (the air brake being operative on the
latter and ran into the rear end of a Pull
man palace car, in which two gentlemen,
two ladies and two children We're sleeping
The engine struck with much violence and
sent the car whiZZing through about one
third of the sleeper directly ahead, telcscop-
ing the two. The consequence was the
berths in the rear end of the latter were
badly demolished and five of the occupants
tightly wedged in and il is supposed instant
ly, Willie three sustained slight injuries OF
the fatal cases, w. w. Dantz, wife and
beautiful little child occupied one berth and
Matthew Knowles and j. Willard Bacon of
Chicago separate berths. The names of the
wounded are Thomas NJ. Sayre and wife, of
Elizabeth, New Jersey, ard G. II. Repy, of
Indianapolis. None of the inmates of the
rear car were hurt. hut Mr.. Gillingham, the
conductor, thrown considerable dis
tance. The porter, a young colOred man,
was sleeping in the rear end at the time the
engine struck, and the conclusion did no
more II a arouse him from his sleep. \
gentleman and lady occupying 4 berth at
the other end were surrounded with broken
rimbers fragments of the wreck }, but they
were not injured in the least.
The persons killed in the second hind car
were extricated with considerable difficulty,
a few hours elapsing before the debris could
be removed from its entrenched positio n and
the dead reached. Mrs DantZs body was
liite( tlsll any Dl tllc rest ISIOhCn
bones were numerous in all the cOrpses.
Mrs. Sayre, one of the wounded, was
obliged to endure some pain and much suS-
pense before she could be removed from
very trying position. 1t appears she was
preparing TO retire when the run in took
place and while sittiugor standing the floor
WAS torn up and her leg was caught between
the wood. From the time her situation was
discovered until her rescue over an hour
elapsed and in order TO get out the limb the
hal laa III vii
Those who as steG in freeing her We're agree
ably surprised TO hear her say that her lnJu-
rieE were immaterial and then walk off as if
scarcely anything happened her
Mr.. Sayre was slightly cut in the head and
had one of his hands bruised, while Dir.
Remy was hurt in the foot and sustained
several bruises.
The bodies of Matthew Knowles and j.
Willard Bacon were sent TO Chicago last
evening, and Mr.. Blaine, speaker OF the ma
tiOnal house of representatives, has tele-
gra phed the Pennsylvania railroad company
that he will give instructions as TO what
disposition shall be made for the remains OF
the Dantz family. Mr.. Dantzis eithera con-
gressman elect or United States revenue
officer.
An inquest was held over the bodies yes
ter}ay in JuniSta county, which resulted In
n verdict Of censure On the tlaGman of the
first section of the Cincinnati express.
The loss by the wreck of the two Pullman
palace cars will probably reach $40, ,O0o -
The engine attached to the second section
had her pilot broken and was slightly dam
aged otherwise. About three hours after
the accident it started with the train for
Harrisburg.
The reason the first section ran behind
schedule speed was because the requisite
quantity OF steam could not be generated
with the inferior coal used. 1t is said that
good fuel could not be produced because of
the obstacles thrown in the way by the horse
disease.
THE CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHE.
An examination has been commenced At
Harrisburg to ascertain the causes which led
to the dreadful accident detailed above
From the journal we learn that Mr.. Fi:zger-
aid, the fagman of the first tram, set forth
that few minutes before the collision, and
when the train had passed about tvo-thlrds
over two-mile piece of track west of Mlfhln
he observed the second train coming, and
swung red light az warning signal, which
he felt sure was observed by the engineer,
as the speed of the second train appeared TO
slacl<en. The first train broke coupling
inst before the accident.
The engineer of the second train, Mr.. John
Fritchey, stated that when lac reaahed the
two miles OF straight track west of NJ film,
he watched for the rear of the first train.
just as he struck the straight stretch the
headlight Of an approaching freight train on
the left hand track reflected in such man
ner that he saw no red light at all ahead.
When he had passed the third curve be-
beyond. he saw the rear end OF the first train,
Immediately shut of steam, applied the air
brake and reversed the engine, but the no
mentum was such that when the coupling
broke between the tender and the first car
of his train, he could not stop the onward
course of his locomotive In time to prevent
the accident. He had rot the slightest idea
that the first train had lost time since leav-
ing the last station, until his locomotive was
about 10 strike ii.
Mr.. Fritchey is one of the oldest, and is
considered one of the most cautious engi-
neers on the road.
AN ELEGANT TCATAIOGUE-We have re-