The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-11-10
Centennial Excursion Train
Run Into.

Centennial Excursion TraiT
Rum Into.
SCRANTON, Oct. 31.-The fearful
accident on the Delaware, Lack
awana and Western Railroad last
night, occurred at a small station
known as Lehigh Summit, on the
Pocono mountain, twenty miles
from Scranton. The regular after
noon train to New York and Phil
adelphia, consisting of seventeen
coaches, drawn by three engines,
had about 1000 passengers on
board, principally bound for the
Centennial Exhibition. The train
was, it appears, two hours behind
time, and reaching the summit
shortly after eight o'clock, stop
ped to take water from the tank.
While there a heavy coal train,
drawn by three engines, ran into
the rear of the passenger train,
telescoping three cars through
and through and breaking five
others. The scenes that ensued
were heartrending, although by
an almost miraculous circum-
stance the number killed were
but few.
New York, Oct. 31.-A special
dispatch from Scranton gives the
following particulars Of the disas-
ter last night to a Centennial
train on the Delaware, Lackawa-
ma and Western Railroad, at Le-
high Summit Pass. The train
stopped to take water. On start
ing one engine became detached.
After again being coupled to the
second engine another start was
made, which succeeded in break
ing off the last two cars. The
two engines and fifteen cars went
back for the stray cars, but in
coming up missed coupling. In
backing up for the purpose of
again attempting to couple, and
when about forty yards from the
detached cars, the long, heavily
laden coal train Of ninety-three
cars, drawn by three engines, the
third engine in the center Of the
train, came driving up at the
speed of about fifteen miles an
hour. 1t ran into the two detach-
ed cars and shot those forward in
to the rear of the fifteen cars.
The balance of the train, the
two detached cars standing be-
tween the two trains, we're,
strange to say, but little damaged,
and the rear cars of the fifteen,
into which they Immediately |
plunged, also suffered little, but |
Lhe fifth and sixth cars from the
rear were literally knocked into |
wood. The remainder
Of the passenger train in front
was not much injured, and even
The engine of the coal train,
which had caused the damage,
was very little broken up.
The passengers were wedged in |
he wreck in such way that the |
backs Of the seats had to be bro
zen in order to rescue many Of
he sufferers. Some of the pas
'engers had stepped off the train
% wait for the watering of the en-
zine, and so fortunately escaped.
These and the uninjured on the
rain Immediately setto the work
If rescue. Two dead and twenty
i've gashed and bruised bodies
we're taken from the wreck.
The rear car of the passenger
rain had the usual red light sig
lal, but the train was very crowd
ID, and the crowd on the plat
orm hid the signal from the en-
sineer of the front engine of the
,oal train, so the latter claims.
The curve hid the passenger
rain until the coal train was I'M
upon it, and the steep
;rade required all the steam that
ould be carried.
Cornelius Gay, Of Preble, New
York, one of the victims of the
Iehigh Summit disaster, died of
lis injuries at Goldsborough this
orenoon. The body was brought
ere, and with the bodies of Dea-
on Bragg and DR.. Pierce, the 9th
r victims, also lay. Eight of the
rounded parties passed throug h
ere from Goldsborough en- route
Or their homes in New York, and
he others, about twenty i'll all
re still cared for at the Simmons
louise. The death of Mrs. Brown,
tho remained unconscious all
ay is expected momentarily, as
, that of Mrs. Jas. Tuttle.