Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-10-19
CRUSHED IN THE CARS.


THREE PACKED CARS TOTALLY
WRECKED EVERY PASSENGER
IN THE REAR CAR KILLED
FEARFUL SCENES AND INCL
DENTs-TALEs TOLD TOO HORRI'
BILE FOR BELIEF.
WILKEsBARRE, PA, Oct. H.
About 10 o'clock last night a
dreadful accident on the Lehigh
railroad was rumored to have oc-
Cured, and 1t further said the
wrecked train was section OF an
excursion returning from Hazleton.
Nearly SIX thousand LuZerne and
Lackawanna people had gone
there, and no one knew just who
had returned. The railroad officials
we're mnte. They knew nothing.
Gradually the stories took terrlble
form. It leaked out that Superln-
tendent Mitchell and others had
gone down the road on special
engine. Then private telegram
arrived saying that the accident
had occurred at Mud Run, one
section OF an excursion train run
ming into another. Forty persons
are reported killed.
The people were in agony, and
the crowd at the depot swelled to
hundreds. Still the officials were
mute. No dispatches could be
gotten over the wires. Many we'll
known citizens were seen at the
depot wringing their hands, their
faces fearful and pale with dread.
Women thronged the depot with
terror.stricken countenances, sob
blng ,crying,or silent and trembling
with dreadful uncertainty. Still
the railway officials preserved their
terribly cruel silence, declaring
that they knew nothing.
Every means was taken to get
information, but all to no purpose
The New Jersey Central train fl
nally brought news to the effect
that eighty we're killed, and the
excitement grew intense. All the
" hite Haven physicians had gone
to the scene. There were seventy
eight cars from Wilkesbarre to
Hazleton, the number of passengers
being about $500. The sections
we're all crowded to sufiocation,
furnishing the condition for ter
rible loss of life in case OF wreck.
Throughout the night the depot
was thronged by hundreds OF per
sons suffering untold agony over
the uncertainty.
The throng was loud IN It's de-
nunciation OF the company for
refusing all information and ca1s-
ing needless suffering. At 1870
A. N. a report was in circulation
that arrangements had been made
for the receipt OF large number OF
the wounded at the hospital. The
rumor was soon confirmed. The
officials We expecting twenty-five
of the victims. With such a list
of wounded coming in this direction
the public pulse stood still over the
horrible possibilities aud thousand
faintlng hearts qulvered in dread.
Many persons wanted to 90 to the
scene of THE disaster an endeavOred
to charter a locomotive. Rev.
Father Moylan, of Scranton, offered
to pay cash for any expense in that
direction, but the favor could not
be obtained owing to the absence
of Snpt. Mitchell at the wreck.
Many persons, after waiting
during the long, weary hours, from
ten to three in the morning, took
the sOuthbound train, which passed
here at $40, and went to the scene
of the APPALLING disaster. 1t was
there learned that the third section
of the excursion had stood on the
track a few hundred yards from
Mud Run waiting for the section
ahead to get out of the way. The
dagman, some say, had been sent
back with a lantern to guard the
train from the rear. Suddenly the
pa ssengers on the rear platform
saw the train approach at high
rate of speed. Several Of these
passengers who saw danger jumped
off and escaped.
In an instant the flash OF the
headlight illuminated the interior
of the ill.fated car. There was a
frightful crash and the engine
plunged her full length into the
crowded mass of humanity. The
shock drove the rear car through
the next one for two.thirds of its
length and the second car was
forced into the third. Not a single
person escaped from the rear car
The second was crowded with
manned and bleeding bodies, and
the third car nau Dut rev paSsen
gers who escaped. The uninjured
but terror.stricken passengers oI
both trains made their way out Of
the cars and hurried to the tele
scoped engine and cars where the
full horror of the terrible disaster
dawned upon them. The shattered
engine was pouring forth streams
of scalding steam and water which
hid from their eyes the fullest
measure of the horrible scene, while
it's kissing sound deadened the
shrieks and groans of those I'm
4to .vrantr