Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-10
THE sALUNGA TRAGEDY



Special to the lNTELLIGENCER.
MOUNT JOY, July 10, 1880.
When the Chicago and Niagara express
steemed into the depot at Mount Joy,
shortly before noon yesterday, there were
on board Mr.. Philip Schum and wife, Of
Lancaster, in dying condition, whom the
train had caught while crossing the Penn
sylvania railroad in a buggy at point
directly west Of Salunga, called Peifer's
crossing. They were carried to the ladies'
sitting room. Medical aid was summoned,
all that was possible was done for their
relief, but Mr.. Schum expired about 20
minutes after their arrival, his last words
being request to lie more comfortable.
Mrs. s., who was removed to the ticket
agents residence. adjoining the depot, died
at 1 1:35-about two hours after she was in
jured. The nature of the injuries were re-
ported in the 1NTEILIGENcEHy yesterday.
The news Of the accident and tho ar
rival of the victims spread through this
borough like wildfire. The excitement
was unequaled for a long time, if ever be-
fore, and the sympathy and sorrowing
among all were intense. The fact that
they were at first unknown made it all
the more so, but when at Undertaken Sour
beers, the body of the man was exposed
to view a half dozen citizens identified the
corpse as that of Rev. Joseph Specht, of
Mannheim. 1t was astonishing how their
imagination ran away with their good
judgment. They were all intimate friends
of his; had known him this long time !;
even a gentleman of Mannheim was sure he
recognized him. We looked at a photo
graph of Specht's taken some years ago,
and VIC imagined there was enough resem-
blance to he he. But word was received
from Mannheim about o'clock that Mr..
Specht and wife were at home, and specu-
lation as to who they were started anew.
A conductor thought him gentleman
whom he had seen at Lancaster. But no
one thought he was from there, because,
prominent men of that place had assisted
Lancaster, and, finally, little boy who
viewed the body of Mrs. Schum, said it
was she lady was sent for, who recog-
nized her, and one or two men then
thought that the mans body might be
that of Mr.. Schum-with a strong en-
phasis OH the word might.
But their identity was established when
Messrs. Lebzelter and Olt, of Lancaster,
saw them. They were accompanied by
John E. Schum, who was too enfeebled
by the sad news to look at them. When
his parents left home in the morning it
was their intention to visit an old lady
friend at Mannheim, and return at II o'clock;
but they changed their intention, as they
were on the way to Marietta, where lives
a daughter of Mrs. S.
Deputy Coroner Henry Kurtz empan.
e!ed jury with the following named
gentlemen George Carpenter, B. NJ. Grei-
der, ]. NJ. IIiestand john Evans, C. NJ.
Martin and Alex. Dysart. They adjourned
until 10! o'clock to-day, when evidence as
to how the accident happaned will be taken
and 4 verdict given.
The Jury's Verdict.
just after mail train No. 1 arrived the
juryreassembledlin the ladies' waiting room
at the depot. Engineer Mcintyre, his son
Frank, the fireman, and Conductor Justice
Law and Harry Stoll, foreman of sub-di-
vision b., who was working near the scene
of the accident, gave their testimony.
1t appears that the hell was runG
and the whistle blown at the regular sig.
nal post. 1t is supposed by the engineer
that Mr.. and Mrs. Schum were unaware
of the trains approach, and only knew it
when struck. The horse was going on a
slow gait and showed no signs of excite.
ment. 1t is thought that they received
their injuries by being thrown upon the
ground, not directly from the engine.
At o'clock the jury returned the fol.
lowing verdict That said Philip Schum
and wife came to their death by being
struck by the Chicago express, while
crossing the railroad track, in buggy, q
short distance west of Salunga, and that
from all the evidence adduced, no blame
attached to the employees of the Pennsyl
vania railroad company"
The Bodies Brought Home.
The bodies were brought to Lancaster
this morning and at once taken in Brim
mers hearses to the late residence of de-
ceased, $50 South Water street, where q
great throng of people were assembled te
see the victims of the terribly casualty
The Messrs. Rote & Son. undertakers, took
charge of the bodies and placed them in
ice. The faces of both look quite natura
though that of Mrs. Schum is somewhat
disfigured by cuts.
We are informed by the family that be-
fore leaving Lancaster for Mannheim, yes
tertlay morning, Mr.. Schum left word that
he and his wife would be home by noon
Their nOn-arrival at that hour caused nc
uneasiness, as it was supposed that Mr.
Schum had concluded to wait until even.
ing on account of the extreme heat of the
weather. Even to the time that an INTEL
LIGENCER reporter informed Mr.. John E.
Schum of the accident, and intimated that
there was a report that the victims might
be his father and mother, the news re-
ceived but little credence, as it was not
thought likely that they could be in the
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