The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-12-18
FArALRAIIRoAn ACCIDENT.
Two Wen KILLED and a Boy Seriously
Injured by Fast Line.

We are indebted to the Altoona Times for
the following particulars of a sad accident
which occurred near Bells Mills on Friday
night last. That paper of Saturday morning
SAYS:
When Fast Line west. on its way to this
city, reached Bells Mills last evening, Con
dUctoT NaUormer and Engineer Samuel Free
received orders to run on the south track,
the north track west Of that point being
blocked bv q deTailed car, and the middle
sidinq being occupied by 1umbeT Of cars.
The engine dipped water after leaving
BoU's Mills, was switched to the south
track, ana at the east end OF Elizabeth third
or middle track, which is about one mile
and half west of Bells Mills, had attained
a speed Of % miles an honr- At this point
Engineer Free noticed light ahead, carried
by track wafcrman who was walking on
the middle siding. The train approached
closer and closer TO the watchman aud was
within short distance of him when the lat
ter suddenly made an attempt to run across
the track ahead Of the engine. He had mis-
calculated the dist nee of the train, or the
speed at whicr it was travelling as he was
struck the moment he stepped on the track
end hurled back against a freight car stand
ing or the middle siding. Engineer Free
saw the liett disappear in front of the en-
ginP, and c-uclUding the man had been
struck he put on the air, telling his fireman,
William F. Shower, at the same time that lie
feared he had hit the man. The train was
stopped in its Own length, and backed slow
/ ". the engineer and the crew going ahead
with lamps.
On the outside of the south track they
found a man and a small boy lying close to-
getheT. The man was dying and the boy
was in an unconscious condition. On the
/ middle track about twenty feet further on
was found the dead body of the track
watcbman. His skull was crushed and his
I brains we're bespattered on the end of the
/ freight car against which he had been
thrown. The dying man expired while
/ being lifted on the baggage car. The dead
Waterman was laid by his side. The little
/ boy was placed upon some cushions in the
/ car, and the train then proceeded to this
/ city, arriving half an hour late.
I 4 cOroner's. jury was impaneled. An ex
/ animation Of the bodies was made and the
watohman was identified as James Parks
/ who lived near Elizabeth Furnace. He was
/ large man with sandy hair and beard, and
/ was probably forty five years Of age. His
/ skull was crushed in, and death was instaD-
/ taneous. The head of the other man was
/ crushed and his arms and legs were broken
/ and his left ankle had been run over. II
( his pocket were S17.61 in change and twt
/ store bills, one containing the name of Isaac
. Snyder and the other Abram Snyder, one OF
hOth Of which was evidently the Unfortunate
/ mans name His age was about 30 years
/ The boys skull was fractured at the side
( ard hack Of the head. His wounds were
7 dressed but it is doubtful if he can recover
/ He is q son Of Mr.. SNYDER. The engineer
said he supposed that the man with the boy
4 while walking on the south track, expected
that Fast Line would be on the north track
4. Watchmau Parks evidently saw their dan
I ger and was making an effort to save thei
tNs when he was struck.
p. S.-SiUce the above was put 10 type ",
/ have learned that Dorsey Snyder, the little o
year-oIG boy who was so seriously injured
died at the home of mis- mother, near Eliza
beth Furnace, on Tuesday afternoon.