The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-06
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
COLI lSEON WITH AN OIL TRAIN AT
STATINGTON, PA.
Two Men Killed and Fifteen Badly Injured
-Rridge DektrOYed-ltl Tank. Rnrned.

STATINaToN Pa, April 5.-Train No. 40,
leaving Mauch Chunk about 10 o'clock,
reached this place, and discovering that there
was hot journal stopped to cool it off.
While waiting, engine No 154, drawing forty
oil tanks and four freight cars, that left
Mauch Chunk about ten minutes later, came
speeding along at the rate OF twenty miles an
hour and ran into the rear OF train No. 49, the
track, exploded the engine, broke the bridge,
which is u total wreck, and precipitated some
fifteen oil tanks into Trout creek
The oil tanks caught fire and illuminated
it not been for the presence of mind OF Edwin
Conner, who suggested that the cars of the
rear portion OF the train be uncoupled, and, by
main force, pushed back, the whole town
would have been destroyed. Twenty cars
were pushed back, and, the wind blowing
The machine shop and foundry OF Brown
x Williams Is total loss, estimated at
$4,000, with no insurance.
A portion OF the engine, by the explosion,
cupied by Jacob Hummel, situated about 100
yards from the explosion, striking near the
bed occupied by Hummel and his wife, but
fortunately no bodily injury was done. Sew
eral buildings were shattered and glasses
broken.
Portions OF the engines and cars were
thrown over 300 yards.
There are several conflicting stories as to
whois to blame. There is signal tower here
and it was the duty Of the hind brakesman to
signal engine 40, which was running irregu-
lar. back. The engineer of 154, John Walter
and the fireman, Irwin Mosser, assert that the
light was not turned so as to signal them
back, and several citizens confirm their state
ments; but even If they had been sgnaled, it
would have been impossible to stop the train,
as it was a heavy one and running down
grade. Walter and Mosser are seriously in
jured.
portion OF the depot platform is de-
stroyed and great injury was done to the
here at 8 o'clock, transferred it's baggage and
passengers over the road bridge, there being
train In waiting for Philadelphia below the
wreck. All passenger trains will run as usu-
al, and arrangements are being made to erect
temporary bridge, which 1t is thought can
be completed In forty eight hours. ALI freight
trains will be discontinued for the present
The oil is still burning, but no further damage
Is feared.
9:3oa m-There has just been an explosion
and from ten to fifteen severely burned, some
very seriously.
flames are now under control
Orders had been given to empty the tank
from below, and when the tank was 80 far
rushed in and exploded the tank, with the
above fatal results.
LATER.
The names Of the killed and burned are as
follows: VIM. Shoemaker, killed; Daniel Re
Der, Ed. Sibert, Geo. Jones, Rehner,
Aaron Snyder. VIM. Kayn, Joe Goldberry,
John Rohrback, David Hughes and Sam Mas
sell, burned or wounded; four Or five Of the
injured are not expected to recover.
Two other oil tanks have exploded. The
Mauch Chunk fire department are working
hard to save property, and many streams of
water are pouring on the fire and houses,
Great excitement prevails.
3p. m.-The fire Is still burning, but is now
under control. The casualties are thus
summed up: One man killed and nineteen
burned, six of whom are burned seriously.
Nineteen oil cars and their contents, four cars
of merchandise and one locomotive complete
ly destroyed, nothing being left Of the latter
but the old iron. The Mauch Chunk fire de-
partment were of great value in assisting to
put the fire out, and were the means OF saving
the Lehigh Valley depot and several brick
buildings near the track. The loss will proba-
bly, foot up nearly 100000, on which the in
Surance is very small.
8 p. m.-While clearing the wreck OF the
broken cars this evening, Thomas Boston, of
Packerton, was seriously injured by the
breaking of rope, and Ruben Musselman, of
Weersport, was slightly injured through the
same cause. Daniel Rober, who was reported
as seriously burned died last evening. Up to
this hour there are forty-two reported as hav-
ing been burned.