The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-01
A RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
SHOCKING ACCIDENT TO CENTEN-
MAJ ExCCRSTONISrS.
A Collision with n Heavy Coal Trnin-Two
Passenger Coaches Tei-scopcd - several
Persons Killed aud Many Badly Ilurt.

Persons Killed and MANY Badly Hurt.
SCRANTON, Oct. 2I.--A frightful accident
occurred on the Delaware Lackawanna and
Western Railroad last night at a small station
known as Lehich Summit. on the Pocono Noun
tain, twenty miles from Scranton Tho regular
afternoon train to New York and Philadelphia,
consisting OF seventeen passenger coaches
drawn by three engines, had about twelve hun
dred passengers on board, principally bound
for the Centennial Exhibition. The train was
two hours behind time. and reaching the sum
NIT shortly after o'clock, stopped to take
water from the tank. While there heavy coal
trim, drawn by three engines. ran into the rear
OF the passenger train, teloscoping two Of the
cars through and through, and breaking Eve
others. The scenes that ensued were heart
rending' although by a most miraculous circum-
stance the number Of killed was but few. The
Scranton Republican OF this morning gives the
following list Of dead and wounded:
NJ haled1payid r. Pierce Of Hamilton N. Y; James
nc gg"asa-rFq@ss 70. ,.y Seymour Of Rome n vi Cor
ioa. H. Y, Mrs pSSf, ,ahiIt,p Lha poSe h1gil MI
D., D. K PIERCE, hs@ion' \: ~ Josa Parker aam.i:
BTososhoUdY BS5sh UdYu%'S M 6n; H5s vi ra[E Noa
Thomas. saelourne. \. j.; Hugh Reilly. Columbus
N u ~, L. Sortcn c9Snau pS1 NSMiir,SMiNr Mis. MNrsie
& I! M HS@oi dq & T. smS. S' GREENE MeI,'eoSs eSSats
Yi T. yseKssop. Rlchneid slrihgs, \. Y, Mrs.
The wounded were taken to the Goidsboro
Hotel. where corps OF surgeons from scran.
ton attended their injuries. MIR. Seymour, Mrs.
Gay, Mrs. Dowell. and Mrs. Pierce are not ex-
pected to recover. The dead were taken to
scranton this morning at o'clock. The pas
sengers on the wrecked train were transferred
ney at midnight.
IL seems tnat after taking water at LehlRb
summit one engine became detached from the
tr n After being coupled on again another
start was made, which resulted In breaking of
the last two cars. The two engines and nfIeen
cars went back for the stray cars out in comin,
up missed the coupling. In backing no again.
aud when at about forty yards from the two de
tdchei csrs, the long, heavily laden coal train
came driving up at a speed Of about fifteen miles
an hour. ran into the two detached cars ana
shot those forward into the rear of the rest OF
tne ttaln. Ihe two detached cars, standing be-
tween the two trains, were, strange to saw but
ilttie damaged, and the rear cars uf the ufteen
INTO wLicn these were Immediately plunged
also suffered httlo; but the nfth and sixth era
IRON the rear were literally knocked into Kind
u ing wood. Ihe hfth car reared and was thrown
ttht upon the car In front. Ine rest of the pas
sehger tram In font was not much injured, and
even the engine OF the coal train which had
caused the damage was very little broken up.
Imagine two r. smashed into flinders as by
a pile driver the splinters and blocks thrown
INTO heap In the most indescribable confu-
sion, ana the passengers pitched into this MN
gled mass OF wood and iron, aud wedged in |
such way that tho backs OF Inc seats nd ~ ~ |
De broken in order to Rescue many of them, the |
AIR hlled with the shrieks Of men and women |
aud the groans OF the wounded, and one has |
only a Lint conception OF [ ic scene. some of |
the passengers mad stepped OF the train to wait |
Tor the watering OF the engine. and so fortu- |
the tram itself, immedi .tely set to work to res
cue the wounded. some of these we're so
It was a long time before they could he extr,.
Gated, and their sunerings were indeScfibable
cars took Ore and Was 81 oessrsssa' scene one oil tho
surgeons bad been teiegraphed for to Scran-
lon' eighteen miles away. and stroudsbur1,
u ouidso ooro, t&o nllpJe. was one SURGEON AZ
" 30 was soon on hand and did Rn ne t6tiiaS In
hat could one physicihn, however skilled and
however humane, do with so many woundedi
/ he officers of the road did ali that possiS,y
could be done TO alleviate the sunerngs OF the
Wourded while Awaiting the arrival OF ths snr
geous who had bee telegraphed for, and who
IL seemed, would never come. 1t was at least
Iwo nous befoIe tLe scranton and Strniidshnrs
corps OF surgeons arrived. They reached the |
place about the same time. ana numbered about |
D iteen. with them me probably forty persons
rom the two PAGES, aud all set 10 work hinding
Ip wounds. The country near Lehigh summit
IS y,ry sparseii settled, and but little aid could
De rendered 10y the few residents.
As to the cause of the accident. The road in
tins section Is full Of curves aud the grade at
me III &C OF the disast ter-Mbicn Is only "A water
ng place and telegraph station. the passenger
station bsing Two miles TINS siue-iS eighty Ieet
10 the mile. The y .ssenger train left scranton
with two conductors. the regular conductor,
y r. Bush, benz on the font Of the train, and
-he extra conductor. Mr CARING, on the rear
cars. he rear car had the usual red light sta
nal. hut the crONd on the platform hid .he sig
mai from the engineer of the front engine Of the
)n- coming coal tran 50 the Latter claims. Tho
curve nid tue passenger train until tue coal
Train was immediately upon It, and the steep
grade required all the steam which could he
carried. ibe actual Cause Of the accident was
PROBABLY the fact that the machinists and men |
abOriug in the yard Al Scranton had been ON a
,triAe about a month, this being the third re
1uctton Of their wages, and, conseq Ientlg, the
rolling stock Is sadly in need OF repairs. On ac-
count Oi the Centennial, tue road Is constantly |
crowded with PASSENGER anu excursion tralus,
aud all The stock Is IN constant demand.
Cornelius q " Of Treble. n. Y, one OF tho
victims vi the Lehigh summit dis ister, died of
his inJ.ues at GOulisbOro This forenoon. His
remains Nere conveyed To tn, cltY. Ine BODIES |
II Deacon Bragg ana ID. X. Pierce are also here.
lhe bodies weie enclosed In caskets and con-
.igned this afternoon to their late homes.
Eight OF this wounded parties I.lsseI through
TINS city from GOulIsooro to-day en- route for
their homes In Mads.n county, y. y. the bal
lnce of the wOunded-about twenty In all-ale
still cared for at the SimOns House 10y a corps OF
: StrantOn surgeons and their attendants.
The death OF Mrs. Brown, who VS. uncon-
"'ans all OF TO-DAY, Is expected momentarily,
lhGp that OF Mrs. J. l.. iuttle.
eohuluVHrity OF the injured are In hopeful