The New York herald., 1874-08-16
ANOTHER RAILROAD SLAUGHTER
An Excursion to Death-A Misplaced
Switch Again Causes Dreadful Siaugh-
ter-Threc Men Killed Outright and
Ten Others WOunded.

Ten Others Wounded.
An accident occurred early yesterday morning
at Cornwell's, a small station on the Kensngton
branch OF the Pennsylvania Railroad, sixteen
miles south Of Trenton which has resulted
in the death OF three persons ana the
wounding OF ten others. The origin Is at
trib1ted TO q misplaced switch. Shortly after
the unfortunate occurrence q rumor prevailed
in Trenton that q horrible slaughter OF about
dozen people had taken place. HERALD re-
porter Immediately started for the scene and sue
ceeded in gathering the tuu particulars OF the
calamity.
An excursion train. consisting OF thirteen cars,
containing party Of about $50 OF the members
families and friends Of the Order OF American
Mechanics Of Norristown, Pa, lett Germantown
Junction, bound for Long Branch, at eighteen
minutes past SIX O'Clock in the morning.
and had proceeded as far "a Cornwel's sta
ton without any mishap. The train sped by this
place at the rate OF thirty miles an hour on the
north-bound track, without any apparent danger
ahead, until 1t arrived at the switch which lies
about 100 yards from the station, when suddenly
its course changed to the other track, on
which lay heavily laden coal train Of thirty-1ve
cars.
A TERRIFIC CRASH.
fearful Jam and frightful collision was then
the result In a few seconds appalling spectacle
presented ITSELF Two passenger cars and three coal
cars were shivered 10 atoms, and strewn among
the wreck were to be seen men, women and chill
dren struggling to extrlcate themselves. Wedged
between the debris .ay three stalwart men in the
agOnles OF death, who a few moments before were
iull OF health anu vlgor. The widest excitement
reigned Tor the time being. Crowds nOcked to the
scene OF horror and DEATH and efforts were made
to rescue the lll-fated victims. The leless bodies
OF the three unfortunates already alluded to were
after much trouble sXtrlcated. The w wounded a,a
IN the meantime, who were all men, were
conveyed TO the station to await medical treat
ment, which mad been teegraphed Tor: The
escape OF the women and cal dren Is considered
MIRACULOUS.
Not one OF them hurt. The locomotive OF the ex
curslon train was but slightly damaged and, beyond
the wrecking OF the cars already described and
the obstruction 10 the track Or about eight hours,
no further damage was done to the property OF the
company.
The conductor OF the coal train, George Mount,
made the following statement: :-''When we
arrived at COrnwen's stopped TO take on five
empty cars. told the engineer oeiore we arrived
not TO blow for the switches as freight trains were
late the day before and did not know whether
they had all gone up or not. " hen we stopped the
switches were ali right to go across lhe loco
motive then went across to the side track, leaving
the train behind. The operator then came and
told me that an excursion train was coming
from Homesourg. He and then went and looked
at the switches aud halooed TO the switch tender
to set them all right. Apparently the switch tender
did 50. shortly afterwards the trains struck."
THE SWITCH TENDERS STORY.
Charles Thorn, man OF about sixty ummers,
tones He sad:-'i came down and turned the
switch to let the engine 90 IN alter some empty
cars had the switches set 10 MAKE a "nying
drip after the engine to ruu over the
north bound track. was to throw the 'warding"
switch over on to the main track, so AZ the
empty cars could 90 GU to tue down track.
! The conductor OF the coal train came running out
and SAID there was an extra coming up. l shited
the single rail track all right, and IN the excite
ment shifted that instead OF letting 1t alone. Ii
had let it remain as It Was the train would have
gone by ali right have been in the employment
OF the company eighteen years in charge OF this
depot ana switches, and never had an accident
before. had no knowledge OF the extra tram
coming till the conductor OF the coal train hallooed
co me. Wnen he did SO the tram was within a
quarter OF mile OF the switch. think would
have had time to reset the switch after knew
the tram was coming if had known 1t was wrong.
The excitement bewldered me-"
Several OF the wounded men made statements
I also, descriptive OF what they saw Immediately
before the collision, and the effect 1t mad on
them.
Coroner j. W. Clossen, OF Bristol, empanened a
jury, and, alter viewing the bodies ana making a
preliminary examination OF some OF the principal
witnesses, adjourned the inquest to tomorrow
morning, at eleven O'Clock.
1ne following B LIST or the killed and
Alexander Schall, aged iorty years, NorristowD,
hedley Cox. aged twenty-five years, Norris
Sidney Nage, aged twenty-eght years, Ply
mouth Pa.
WOUNDED.
Charles Detterer, Norristown, right leg injured.
William Grubb, Collegeviie, Montgomery ounty,
Pa, confusion on right side OF head and hurt on
lett leg and shoulder.
William carr. Plymouth, left wrist broken, left
leg and Knee bruised, and gashes head and fore
| head.
Harvey Godschak, Greatesiord, Montgomery
county, ne ad and lace injured.
Abraham Meyer, Greatesord. slightly hurt.
West Boyer John Bile, Joseph Fitzgerald, George
Wilson, engineer OF the excursion Tram, and Frank
Haryeston, fireman OF the same, were all slightly y
/ injured
one OF the wounded men, Charles Detterer said
that but for the prompt application OF the brakes
in stopping the excursion tram the slaughter
| would nave been greater.
The excursion train proceeded on its way to
! Long Branch as soon as another engine was pro-
vided.
The inference 10 be drawn from the statements
given Is that the switchman had the switches
turned all right Vnen the engine OF the frel2 hit
train passed IN on the side track, and that while
state OF absent mndedness he again turned the
switch when the excursion train ap-
preaching. and thus opened the way for collision
! with the freight train