The state journal., 1884-03-29
DISASTROUS WRECK.
A Collision on the Pennsylvania Railroad
i'm this City-Engineer Killed.

i'm this City-Engineer Killed.
Thursday about $50 o clock one ofthe
most disastrous wrecks that has occurred
on the Pennsylvania railroad in score of
years happened in this city near Second
street. The collision and crash of broken
cars was heard quite distance, and in a
very short time crowd of several
hundred persons had gathered at the
scene. 1t seems that shifting engine
(No. 974) was engaged in drawinga draft
of cars from the freight warehouse down
the fourth track toward Second street.
At Cox's avenue, is switch connecting
the third with the fourth track and this
by some mistake, not yet explained,
had been left open. Going
east on the third track was
long freight train drawn by large
mococ engine, which was abreast of the
shifler When the two trains reached
the switch the shifting engine, instead of
continuing down the fourth track as those
on it supposed it would, crossed over to
the third track and a terrible collision
with the freight train was the result Both
trains were running at good rate of
speed, and when they met the crashing
of broken cars and swapping rails was
something awful
The force behind the engines was such
as to wedge them together tightly. The
engineer Of the shilter jumped when the
crash came and soon after was found dead
with a long cut along his right temple
and otherwise scratched, lying under the
tender of the freight engine. His name
was Montgomery S. Gilbert. He was
aged about 30years and leaves wife and
three children to mourn his death. De
ceased lived at ESQ Liberty street.
The fireman of the shifter, John Flick,
sustained more serious injuries than was
at first supposed and now lies at his home
on Railroad street. He is much pros
trated. No others were injured.
The shitter was good deal damaged
and the mOdOc engine was almost rem
dered worthless. When the shock oc-
Cured the engineer on the freight
train reversed his engine and the
sudden stop caused a car filed with
grain near the middle of the
train to break and several cars back of it
were thrown from the track and broken
into atoms. Altogether about twenty
Gals were entirely destroyed or badly dam
aged. Grain and other produce was
scattered over the tracks several inches
deep. The broken trucks and splintcred
timbers were piled up in the great
est confusion, and the only won
der is that more lives were not lost.
A freight train was lying on the north
track when the accident occurred, and
number of its cars were also overturned
and damaged in the general destruction.
Railroad men say if the rear cars of the
east bound freight train had not tele
scoped as they did the damage would
have been much greater. Rails are
broken off, tracks are displaced, and
the wreck this morning as viewed by
hundreds Of people was pronounced the
worst they had ever seen. Cars were
thrown almost over to the warehouse and
were standing in all imaginable shapes.
The wrecking crew was Immediately
put to work and has been working with
might and main ever since. Trains were
moved about 3 O. clock in the morning on q
siding, and by this evening they will be
running pretty regularly.
When the crowd gathered many per-
sons were seen carrying away articles
that had been scattered over the tracks
from the broken cars. The damage will
amount to several thousand dollars.
Splinters.
The loss by the wreck cannot be less
than $75, 900.
Tons of wheat and corn were piled up
along the tracks. This will be solo.
WOrkmen at the round houses were
added to the wrecking gang this morn
ing.
The freight destroyed will all be paid
for, but the settlement of damages will be
a perplexing task.
Superintendent Quicker, of the Phila-
delphia division, arrived at noon ON a
special car ard surveyed the scene of the
wreck.
A handsome passenger car on a siding,
belonging to the Cumberland Valley
road, was struck by pieces of the
wrecked freight cars and the side crushed
in.
Superintendent NJ Clellan, as soon as
he heard of the wreck last night, went to
the spot and remained on duty all night
and al to day. 1t was by his directions
and prompt action that the great work of
clearing the tracks was accomplished in
Such rOOd order