Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-23
DILLERVILLE COLLISION
MARROW ESCAPE OF MANY LIVES

MARROW ESCAPE OF MANY LIVES.
what Might Have Been . Terrible Dasastsr-
Two Trains Meet ss = Cros.lng-The
p. II. II. Engine Arrives TOO Soon.
The railroad collision, which occurred
at the crossing of the Pennsylvania and
the Lancaster & Reading railroads, at
DilIerville, yesterday afternoon, was one
of the most terrible in its possibilities that
has occurred in this vicinity for long
time. It will be remembered that since
the construction of the new line of railroad
above the city, the Pennsylvania has to
cross the Reading road at that point, and
as the limited Chicago express. the fast
train, which runs west past this city
without stopping about p. M, now runs
on the new Pennsylvania line, it passes
this crossing daily at about the same hour
on the other road, is due at the same
point. The crossing is watched
and the signals for it are con
trolled from the Pennsylvania tower.
Between the approaches of tho two roads
to this point is q high bank Of earth, the
Reading passing through it in q cut,
and it being impossible for those in
charge of the approaching trains on the
different roads to see each other. The
regular time of the Reading train here is
1 :O3 and that Of the Chicago limited 1:O7,
though as the latter makes no stop be-
tween Philadelphia and Harrisburg its
time varies and that train which is given
the white signal by the tower operator has
the right of way. There seems to be no
doubt that yesterday this signal was dis
played to the Reading engineer and the
red was down in front of tho train on
the Pennsylvania road.
The Reading engine was just ON the
crossing when the limited express on the
Pennsylvania road came up and both
engines struck. The engine on the
Reading road was tho old Robert
Crane. 1t was totally wrecked, be-
ing almost broken to pieces. 1t was
turned completely over Oh it's side. Ths
engine on the Pennsylvania road was No.
997 and almost new. Although it is not
broken as badly rs the Crane, it is pretty
we'll used up. John DUNCAN was the
engineer in charge of the Crane and Daniel
Rineer was firing for him. Both men went
over with the engine and DUNCAN had one
rib broken. Rineer was not injured in the
least. Augustus Jeffries, of this city, one
of tho Oldest and most careful engineers
in the employ of tho company, had
charge of the engine on the limited. He
also remained at his post and escaped I'M
hurt. The baggage car Of limited was
thrown from the track but not broken.
Immediately after tho accident wreckers
| were sent for by both roads. Upon their
arrival they at once went to work and by
night everything was cleared.
Both trains carried many passengers
none of whom was hurt and not even do
layed long time.
Whatever responsibility exists for the
accident seems to lie with tho management
| of the Pennsylvania train. The signal was
properly given to and observed by the
| Reading engineer the rate of speed at
which the Chicago limited was running
is variOusly reported at from eight to six
teen miles an hour.
| Engineer DUNCAN states that he had the
right of way and had no idea that he
would be interferrcd with. As it was he
reversed his engine. Had he not done
that his train would have been struck in
the middle and many lives would have
been lost.
Engineer Jefiries' Account.
| Careful inquiry shows that the cause of
the collision is in no way in doubt. Mr..
Jeffries, the engine driver of the Pennsyl
vania railroad train, and ono of the very
best men in his profession, gives this
account of it He was approaching the
crossing Oh time with written order in
his pocket to stop at DilIorville to let off a
passenger who desired to take the train
for Columbia, he believed Mr.. Patton. He
intended therefore to stop. There
is signal erected for the north
bound and one also for the
south bound track. There is also third
signal placed nearer to the crossing, which
is intended to serve tho necessity of the
crossing. There is q straight track ap.
preaching these signals and they can be
seen at good distance off. Jeffries
looked at tho signal for his own track, in
tended to show whether or no it was clear
for him, and found that it was white. Tue
crossing signal he did not look at
until he had nearly reached his
own track signal. He might have seen
it soccer however if he had looked for it.
But as he expected his own signal to
govern his movement, he was slow to OBJ
serve the other. II it was his duty to
watch both signals, as it probably was,
then he was negligent in not looking for
the crossing signal before lie did. One
reason for his failure to do SO was prob
ably the fact that he was Intending to
stop at Dillerville and had already slowed
his engine for that purpose. Ho was run
ming, he says, at about ssven miles an
| hour.
When he caught the red crossing signal
he at once put on the brakes, but they did
not act with sufficient power to stop his
train in the space he had before reaching
the crossing. A train Of ordinary cars
would have been checked by it in ample
time. But his cars were all Pulimans,
which arc very hard to brake by reason OF
their weight and the larger siza Of theiI
Wheels as we understand it.
Mr.. Jeffries thought that the operator
should have given him the red on his own
track signal as we'll as On the crossing
signal. But tho operator tells him tina,
was not his duty and Jeffries We under
stand does not confidently deny
the statement. Still the fact is
that he was under the Impression
that he would have the red on his OWL
track signal, if the crossing was encum-
bered, and it was this impression that
caused him to fail to observe the crossing
signal as soon as he might have done.
The cause Of the accident is thus shown
to be Immediately due to the engine driver
of the Pennsylvania train, failing to look
at the crossing signal in time. Secondly
to the fact that his own track signal was
white. Thirdly, to the Pullman cars d
the train making it not rs readily braked
as all ordinary train. And lastly to tn.
fact that the trains arc not required tt
stop before reaching tho crossing, so as to
avoid possibility of accident through do
rangcment Of machinery or negligence o
men.