The Portland daily press., 1888-10-12
FRENziED Watchers.
Weary Hours OF waiting For the Sad
Particulars.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Oct 1.-THE news Of
the accident on the Lehigh Valley road
last night spread through the city like wild
fire and the friends and relatives of passen-
gers on the wrecked train fiocked to the sta
tion in the hope Of learning the sad particu-
lars. Throughout the night the depot was
thronged by hundreds Of persons suffering
untold agony over the uncertainty, the rail-
road people refusing to give any information
regarding the accident. The throng was loud
In its denunciation OF the company for refus-
ing this information and causing needless
suffering.
Many persons wanted to go to the scene of
the disaster and endeayored to charter loco
motive, but the favor could not be obtained.
After waiting from 10 o'clock until this
morning, many persons took the south bound
train which passed Wilkesbarre at $40 and
went to the scene Of the accident.
1t was there learned that the third train
had stood on the tracks few hundred yards
from Mud Run waiting for the sections ahead
to get out Of the way. A fiagman, some say
had been sent back with a lantern to guard
the train from the rear. Suddenly the pas
sengers on the rear platform saw train ap-
preaching at high rate Of speed. Several
saw the danger, jumped and escaped.
There was frightful crash and the engine
plunged her full length into the train. The
shock drove the rear car through the next
one for two-thirds of its length, and the sec
ond one was forced into the third.
Net single person escaped from the rear
car. The second was crowded with MANNED
and bleeding bodies and the third had but
five passengers who escaped.
The steam and smoke cleared away and
the rear car presented awful sights The
timbers were crushed and wrenched, while
on all sides hung mangled bodies and limbs.
The few bodies which were not mangled
were burned and scalded by the steam and
little remained in the car which bore human
Scmblance.
When the shock of the crash had subsidized
the uninjured began to do what could be done
for their unfortunate companions. The St.
Francis Pioneer corps. who were on the train,
piled with zeal the broad axes which were
meant for holiday occasions. They were but
little adapted to the work and were soon use
less.
To free the bodies In the rear car the train
men attached a locomotive to the wrecked
engine and started to pull it from the wreck.
Inc nrst movement OF the shattered wreck
brought from the wounded such awful cries
that their friends ordered the engineer to
desist on pain of his life.
The few houses about the spot were thrown
open to the suffering and bonfires were light
ed to aid the work Of relief.
The passengers give many different ac-
counts Of the probable cause Of the accident,
some attributing it to the negligence of the
fagman in not going back with the red lights.
Others say the fourth train which ran into
the third had no air brakes.
The latest figures place the number killed
at SO and the injured at 40
The scenes at the depot in Wilkesbarre
when the trains with the dead and wounded
were expected were heart-reEding in the ex-
treme. Several hundred persons assembled
and it was painful to see the parents looking
for their children, husbands for their wives
and friends for friends.
Among the shocking scenes at the wreck
was that Of young lady who was found
caught by the lower limbs. One of the
limbs was quickly released but the other
could not be freed and an unfortunately mis-
directed blow Of an axe severed it from the
body. She heroically bore the torture and,
taking out her gold watch handed 1t TO an
acquaintance as gift to friend at home.
She was put on board one Of the trains but
she could dot survive her terrible injuries
and died in the arms Of her friends in the
car.
Two of the victims at the hospital died
this morning and or more will die. There
are a number of dead unidentified.