Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-01-13
A Great Calamity.

The Newport News of the 9th inst, TN
der the above heading gives the following
graphic account of the wreck Of Local
Freight, eastward bound at $50 on Monday
evening, January 4th inst: Two crews do
service between Harrisburg and Huntingdon
in the interest of local traffic, each making
trip one way daily. They are known as
local freight men. The east bound local on
Monday evening was conducted by Mr.. A.
". Baldwin, one of the best and most re-
spected men in the railroad company's ser
vice. His companions were none the less
meritorious and consisted of Abraham G..
McCahran, assistant conductor; ". Il.
Noel, engineer; John Mcbride, fireman
John Myers, flagman; Richard N. Turbett,
William Saylor, Miles johnson and John
| W Williams, brakemen. At Newport, Shope's
market car, loaded with produce billed 10
Philadelphia and in charge of Joseph Ad-
ans, was among the cars shifted into the
train along with several cars from Marshall
furnace in charge of George Meyers. A
number of washouts and slides had occurr-
ed during the day at different points along
| the line, causing more or less detention to
trains, and when local freight arrived At
Duncannon it was night and very dark.
Considerable shifting of cars is done there
for the Duncsnnon Iron Company every
day, and on Monday evening several from
that company were dropped in about the
middle of train, Immediately in front of the
Newport market car. One or more WAS
losdened with merchant iron and the bal
ance were iron ore cars, in charge of John
Miller, destined to Cornwall, Lebanon coun-
ty, for ore. While engaged in shifting the
north track is more or less made use of,
and the fireman crosses the bridge to sig
nal and stop western bound trains If any
approach, the regular tisgmsn being engag-
ed in the discharge of similar duties TO the
rear OF his train. The fireman remains
near the curve east of the bridge and i.
picked up when his train comes along. The
work of shifting finished, the train was
coupled together and steamed away from
Duncannon, the entire crew light-hearted
but ever mindful of the possibilities Of &C.
cidents on the railroad. Assistant Conduc.
tor McCsbran was In the engineers cab
Mr.. Miller sat In his little 6x6 cabin, on one
of the ore fats, the eighth car from the ten
der, and in hi. company were Conductor
Baldwin and Brakeman Turbett JOSEPH
Adams was In the market car, while the
other members of the crew were on the
rear end of the train. With his hanc OF
the throttle Engineer Noel listened to the
remarks of Mr.. McCahran, who, as the pom
derous locomotive struck the trestle worn
leading to the iron bridge, stood with one
foot on the tender and the other On the en-
. gine floor, and as his eyes beheld the dis
NAL, reckless current beneath him, he said
'sthis is bad night for q wreck and a mai
, would stand a poor chance for hi
, life in there" And he never spok,
again. The next instant, with but q mo
ment's warning, the locomotive dropped
furnace foremost, twenty feet into twenty
feet of water, and with it went the tende
and the next fifteen cars with the five mel
'I-Messrs. Noel and McCahran on the en-
gine, and Messrs. Baldwin, Turbett and Mil
Ter in the cabin on the ore car. Less thar
twenty minutes prior mail east crossed in
safety, having on board as passengers prob.
lone hundred and fifty souls. In the mean
time the pier previously described had pass.
ed away and when the next burthen was
placed upon that span of the iron structure
thtre was nothing underneath to sustain the
weight and down to death and destruction
went three men and much treasure. Feel
ing the track give way under the weight OF
his locomotive, Engineer Noel shut OF
steam and reversed the lever as he sank in.
to What most naIraeVl0usly proved not to be