Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-10-20
FIFTY FIVE KILLED.
TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT
In Pennsylvania--A Young Lady's
Leg Amputated with an Axe.

thew celebration at Hazelton, Pa,
Wednesday, ended in most frightful
disaster, the like of which has never
been seen before on the Lehigh Valley
road, or, indeed, in the country. The
wreck occurred at Mud Run, about
midway between White Haven and Penn
Haven Junction.
The first section, while standing still,
was run into by the second section. The
last three cars of the first section file d
to overhowing, were totally wrecked,
and all the passengers in the rear ear
were killed. The last two cars were
telescoped, and the passengers were
CRUSHED TO DEATH,
packed against the boiler. The scene
was heart-rending. 1t was nearly six
hours before the first section was able to
reach Wilkesbarre, the wounded being
conveyed in ambulances from Mill creek
to the city hospital.
HORRIBLE INCIDENTS,
Passengers on the several sections of
the train tell tales too horrible for belief
under any other circumstances. They
relate that the third section of the ex-
cursion train stood in the track a few
hundred yards from Mud Run, waiting
for the sections ahead to get out of the
way. A brakeman. so they said, had
been sent back with lantern to guard
the train in the rear. Suddenly they
saw train approaching from the rear at
high rate of speed. Several who were
on the rear platform jumped off and
escaped. Cne young woman sprang,
but seeing two little boys who were in
her charge, yet on the platform, she
climbed back to rescue them and lost her
life by her daring. In one instant the
flash of headlight illuminated the
interior Of the ill-fated car. There was
frightful crash, and the engine plunged
her full length iuto the crowded mass of
humanity. The shock drove tie rear
car through the next one for two-thirds
of its Ienath, ard the second into the
third. Il is not likely that a single
person escape in the rear car. The
secoi was crowded with MANNED and
bleeding bodies. and the third car had
but few passengers who escaped. The
passengers in both trains were terribly
shaken up and bruised. They soon
swarmed upon the track, and the
FULL HORROR OF THE ACCIDENT
dawned upon them. The throngs from
from the two trains gathered beside the
telescoped engine and car. and there
Witnessed the most fearful sight of their
lives.
The shattered engine was pouring
forth clouds of scalding steam and
streams of water which partly hid from
human eyes many horrible scenes.
The Kissing of steam deadened the
shrieks end groans of those involved in
the ruin.
Ghastly, white faces peercd in the
windows to be greeted by faces more
CHASTITY. Tie already dead, gripped in
the broken timbers, sat, some erect as in
life, staring, open>eye6, as if aware of
the horrible surroundings.
Here youth, stone dead, held his
little brother. whose feet were pin
ioned. A father was crushed and
mangled, and lay at full length upon
the PROSTATE form of his son, badly
injured.
As the steam and smoke cleared from
the car. its
CHASTITY SIGHTS WARE BETTER REVEALED
The timbers were crushed and
wreuched into all sorts of shapes, while
in every part hung mangled bodies and
limbs. 1t was slaughter pen, bloodier
than butcher shambles A few unman-
gled bodies were burned and scalded by
the steam, and little remained in the cars
which bore human resemblance.
AIDING THE UNFoRTUNATEs.
When the first shock subsided the un.
hurt passengers began to do what they
coald for the unfortunates. The few
light tools on the train were called into
requisitioD, but proved feeble instru-
ments, inde,d.
The windows Of the cars were
SMASHED, and brave men entered,
and reie lscd those least hurt or least
eniangled.
In one car they found John Lynch,
brother-in-law OF Policeman Guinney,
hanging from the roof by one leg. His
ciies brought friends, who, to relieve
him. stood on the wreck and held his
weight upon their backs for two long
hours Finally axes affected his release
His l,g was fractuiel.
LEG CUT OFF WITH AN AXE.
A young lady was found caught b
the legs, one Of them nearly severed
Cne leg was quickly released. The othel
could not be froel, and blow Of at
axe severed it from ber. body. She saw
the blow struck and never fiinchcd
Taking out her gold watch. she handeC
il to an acquaintance rs gift to a frient
at home. She was put on one OF tn
tn ins. and given all possible care. Sh,
ctnycrsed freely and cheerfdlly witt
hiends Suddenly she gasped and fel
back a corpse.
TIE killed are placed at 55 and tn
ipjGre d at 75.