The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-12
HORRORS OF THE WRECK
SIGHTS TO MAKE THE sTOUTEST
HBE RT QUAIL


Cars-Fiity-Seven Bodies or the First
Funeral Train Heartrending Scenes
at the Depot at Wilk kesbarrre.
WILKEsBARRE, PA, Oct. 11.-About 10
O'Clock last night dreadful accident on the
Lehigh Valley railroad was rumored to
wrecked train was the second section of the
excursion train returning from Ha2leton.
Nearly 5000 people bad gone there, and
no one knew just who had returned.
The railroad officials were mum. They
knew nothing.
Gradually the stories took terrible form
and it came out that Supt. Mitchell and
Others had gone down on a special engine
Their private kilograms were received, say
ing that the accident had occurred at Mid
Run, one section of the excursion train
running into another.
Forty people were reported killed. The
people were in agony, and the crowd at the
depot swelea to hundreds.
The officials, however. were mum, and
no dispatches could be gotten over the wire.
ANGUISH AND SUSPENSE.
Many well-kuown citizsns we're seen at
the depot wringing their hands, and their
faces fearful and pale with dread. Women
thronged the platform with terror.stricken
countenances, sobOing and crying from
their d eadful 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
A New Jersey Central tram finally
brought news to the effect that eighty were
killed, and the excitement grew intense.
All the White Haven physicians had gone
to the scene. There were seventy-elght
cars from Wilkesbarre to Hazelton, the
number of passengers being about $500.
The sections were all crowded to suifocation.
furnishing conditions for terrible loss of
life i'll case of a wreck. Throughout the
night the depot was thronged by hundreds
of people suffering agony over the uncer-
tainty.
NEEDLESS SUFFERING.
The throng was loud in its denunciation
of the company for refusing information aud
causing needless suffering. AT $3.50 o'clock
this morning "a report was in circulation
that arrangements had been made for re-
ceiving large number of wounded. The
rumor was soon confirmed. The officials
were expecting twenty five of the victims
With such list of wounded coming in this
direction the public pulse stood still over
the terrible possibilities and thousands of
hearts quivered in dread
Many persons wanted TO 20 to The scene
Of the disaster, and endeavored to charter q
train. 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 Supt.
Mitchell at the wreck.
AT THE SCENE OF THE WRECK.
MANY persons, after waiting long weary
hours. from 10 o'clock last night to O'Clock
this morning, took a sound-bound train,
which passed here at $40 o'clock, and went
to the scene of the disaster 1t was there
learned that the third section of the excur-
sion train had stood on the track a few
hundred yards from Mud Run, waiting for
the other section to get out. The flagman,
some say, had been sent back to guard the
train from the rear.
DEATH LOOMS UP.
Suddenly the passengers on the rear plat
form saw train approaching at high rate
of speed. Several OF these passengers who
saw the danger jumped and escaped. In an
instant the flash of a headlight illuminated
the rear car There was a frightful crash.
and the engine plunged full tilt into the
crowded mass of humanity. The shock
drove the rear car through the next one for
two-thirds of It's length and the second car
from the rear car.
MANNED AND BLEEDING.
The second was crowded with manned aud
bleeding bodies, and the third had but few
passengers who escaped uninjured. The
uninjured passengers Of both trains made
their way out, anG on going to the telescoped
cars the full horror of the disaster dawned
on them. The shattered engine was pouring
forth streams of scalding steam and water
which threw before their eyes view of the
scene, while its kissing almost drowned the
groans of those imprisoned in the wreck,
CHASTITY white faces peered in the windows
to be greeted by faces more CHASTITY. Some
of them looked as in life, staring as if aware
of the horrible surroundings. AS the steam
and smoke cleared from the cars awful sights
were revealed.
CRUSHED AND WRENCHED.
The timbers were crushed and wrenched,
while on all sides hung mangled bodies and
limbs. The few bodies not mangled were
burned and scalded by the steam, and little
remained in the car which bore human
semblance. When the shock had in a
measure passed, the uninJured tried to do
what could be done for the unfortunate, A
few light tools were called into use, but
proved almost useless. The st. Francis
Pioneer Corps, who were on the train, piled
several DrOad-axes, winch were meant for
holiday occasions. They were but little
adapted to the work, and were soon rem
dered useless. In the meantime the win
dows CT the cars were smashed in and brave
men released those who we're the least hurt
or least injured.
HANGING BY LEG.
In one car they found Joseph Lynch of
Wilkesbarre hanging from the roof by one
leg. His cries brought friends, who to re.
lieve his sufferings stood on the wreckage
and held his weigh on their backs until he
was released from his terrible position.
HORROR UPON HORROR.
A young lady was found caught by her
lower limbs. One Of her limbs was quickly
released, but the other couldn't be freed.
Unfortunately misdirected blow Of an ak
severed IL from her body. She bravely
bore her torture, and taking out her gold
witch she sent IL as a gift to friends al
home. She was put on board Of one of the
trains and given all care, but couldn't sur.
vive her injuries, and died in the arms of
friends on board Of the car.
To free the ladies in the rear car the
trninmen attached a locomotive to tho
wrecked engine and started to pull IL from
the wreck. The first movement of the
wreck brought from the wounded such
cries Of distress, that friends ordered the
engineer 10 desist on pain OF his life. They
did not wish to see the mangled forms still
further mutilated.
A few houses about the spot were thrown
open, and bonfires lighted to facilitate the
work of relief.
NEEDS AN EXPLANATION.
Passengers on the second train state that