Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-06-05
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
Two Young Men Instantly Killed.

Two Young Men Instantly Killed.
On Thursday morning last, about one
mile west of Lillys station. frighful
railroad accident occurred which resulted
in the instantaneous death Of two young
men named Henry Hudson and Chris
tian Douglass, residents of this city, the
former residing in snithtown. in the
Third ward, and the latter residing on
Ninth avenue. iu the Sixth ward. Hud-
con was employed as an engineer and
Douglass as fireman. running on en-
CINE No. 25S. on the Western division.
Early on the morning of Thursday. with
buoyant spirits and light hearts. they
left the city westward bound on their
engine attached to the Altoona freight
train. consisting of some forty two cars.
number Of which were heavily loaded
with railroad iron A down grade in
the vicinity of Lilly's station followed by
heavy up grade necessltates a rapid
rate of speed to make the up grade on
| schedule time. While descending the
western slope of the mountain a: the
usual speed the engineer discovered a
ballast train on the main track not very
far in advance and Immediately gave the
signal for down brakes" reversed his
engine aud opened the sand pipes COM
municating with the track in order to in
crease the adhesion of the drivers with
the rails. This was but the work of a
moment but alas it proved ineffective to
avert the terrible accident which follow
ed. Discovering that their engine would
come in collision with the engine of the
ballast train, which was backing at a
slow rate of speed. ;he unfortunate
young men made an effort to escape the
frigh,ful death awaiting them by desert
ing their engine and running back over
the train. They had succeeded in leav-
ing some four or FIVE cars between them
and the engine when, with fearful
crash the locomotives came in contact
and the souls OF the two young men were
ushered into eternity. When they met
their sad Fate they were on long truck
/ al. Ii
crushed to death oy the iron falling on
him. while the body of Douglass was
terribl, mangled, bar of railroad iron
entering his person near the hips. cut
ting him open up 10 the neck and com
pletely aevering his head in twain The
argument is advanced bv some that if
the young men had remained on their
engine they would in all probability.
have escaped death
A brakeman on the train who was also
running over the the cars toward the
rear of the train, was fortunate enough
to step off of the last car that was wreck
ed just at the time that the accident hap
pened. thereby escaping injury and prob
ably death. A number of the cars of
both trains we're wrecked ard the en-
gines precipitaied down steep embank
ment 1t required two hours hard labor
by the trainr,en and others attracted to
the scene of the accident before the bod
les of Hudson and Douglass could be
extricated from the debris.
When the sad news reached the city,
about noon ofthe came day. of the mag
niude of the accident. deep gloom
settled over the countenapccs Of a large
number of our people. for young Hudson
and Douglass were well known and
highly respected for their many redeem,
ing traits of character. The sympathies
of all were extended to the relatives of
the deceased young men, and in the
evening. about half past nine o'clock.
when their remains were brought to the
city on special train. large number of
citizens had assembled at the depot hop
ing to get last look at the mutilaied
forms of their young friends. The body
of Douglass was quietly removed to the
residence of his mother, in the Sixth
ward, while the body of Hudson was
conveyed to the residence of his parents.
in the Third ward, followed by a large
number of friends and acquaintance.
Both Hudson and Douglass were un-
married. Douglass was buried in Fair
view Cemetery, on Friday afternoon at
three o'clock. and Hudson was buried on
Saturday morning. at nine o'clock, in the
Catholic Cemetery. The funerals of
both were largely attended. Hudson
was member ofthe Good Will Fire
company. and delegations from the diff
ercnt fire companies In the city were in
at his funeral Altoona Tn
LNne.
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