The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-12
On the Lehigh, Pennsyl-
vania, Valley
Railroad.
SCENES or DISTRESS Al
THE WRECK.
List Of the Killed and Wounded.

aster. the like Of which has never beer
seen before on the Lehigh Valley road
or, indeed, in this country. The wreck
occurred at Mud Run, about idway be-
tween Whiiehayen and Pennhaven juno
ton The first section, while standing
still, was run into by the second section.
The lat three cars of the first section,
filled 10 oyerhowing, were totally
wrecked and sll the passengers in the
rear car were killed.
The last two cars were telescoped, and
the passengers were either crushed TO
death or pressed against The boiler and
burned TO death. The scene was heart.
rending and beggars description. 1t was
nearly six hours afterwards before the
| first section was able 10 reach Wilkes
barre, the wounded being conveyed in
ambulauces from Mill Creek to the City
Hospital Passengers on several of the
section trains tell tales too horrible for
belief under any other circumstances.
They relate that the third section OF the
excursion train stood on the track few
hundred yards from Mud Run, waiting
for the sections ahead to get out of the
way. A brakeman, so they say. had
been sent back with a lantern TO guard
the train in the rear. Suddenly they saw
the train approaching from the rear at
| high rate Of speed. Several who were
on the rear platform jumped off and es.
capped.
One young woman sprang, but seeing
two little boys who we're In her charge
yet on the platform, she climbed back
to rescue them, and lost her life by her
daring. In one instance the fash of the
headlight illuminated the interior OF the
ill-fated car. There was a frightful
crash. and the engine plunged her full
head into the crowded mass The shock
drove the rear car through the next one
for two-thirds Of its length, and the sec
ond into the third.
1t is not likely that a single person
escaped in the rear car. The second was
crowded with manned and bleeding
bodies, and the third car had but few pas
sengers who escaped. The passengers
throughout both trains were terribly
shaken up and bruised They soon
swarmed upon the track, and the full
horror of the accident dawn,d upon
them.
The throngs from the two trains
gathered and there was a fearful sight.
The shattered engine was pouring forth
in clouds scalding stesm, aud streaDss of
water. which partly hid from human eyes
many horrible scenes. The escaping
steam deadened the screams and grOans
involved in ruin Ghastly white faces
peered in the windows to be greeted by
faces more ghasily.
AS the smoke and steam cleared from
the car its ghasily sights were better re.
veaed. The timbers were crushed and
wrenched into all sorts OF shapes, while
in every part hung mangled bodies and
limbs. 1t was a slaughter pen, bloOdier
than butchers shambe. A few man
ged bodies we're burned aud scslded by
steam, and little remained in the cars
which bore human resemblance.
When the shock first had subsiGod the
passengers began to do what they could
for the unfortunates. The few light
tools in the train were called into requi.
sition, bat proved feeble instruments,
indeed. The staunchiest pioneer corps,
which was on the train, piled with zeal
the broad axes meant for Holiday occa-
sions They were but little adapted TO
the work and were soon useless.
In the meantime the windows of the
ears were smashed, ard brave men en-
tered aud released those least hurt or
least tangled. In one car they found
John Lynch hanging from the roof by
one leg. His cries brought friends, who
relieved him. Finally axes effected his
release. His leg was fractured.
a young lady was found caugh, by her
legs, one Of them nearly severed. One
leg was quickly released. The other
could not he freed and blow of the axe
severed il from her body. She saw the
blow struck and never tinched Taking
out her gold watch she handed ii 30
friend as gift.
She was put on one of the trains and
given all possible care. She conversed
freely and cheerfully with friends sud
denly she gasped and fell back a corpse.
The latest figures give the killed at nifty
five and seventy five injured
This morning, TO free the bodies In the
rear car, the tTainmen attached loco
motive 10 the wrecked engine and start
ed 10 pull it out The first movement OF
the shattered wreck brought from The
wounded such awful signs of distress
that the surrounding friends ordered the
engineer to desisl on pain OF bis lie.
THE DISASTER DUE TO CARELEssSE.s.
The passengers gave many different
accounts OF the probable cause Of the ac-
cident, some aitIibuting it to the negli-
gence of the flagman in not going back
with the red light. Others say the fourth
section, which ran into the third, had no
air brakes.
After the news was received a. the
hospital confirming the wOrs. fears, the
scenes at the depot were heart-rending
indeed Several hundred persons as.
sembed as the report spread that the
train was approaching; then rush was
made for the platform. A line OF police
men and railIoad employees was drawn
up to keep back the crowd. Ii vas then
reported that the wounded were on board
and were to be taken on 10 Mil Greek,
near the hospital, there to be transferred.
One desperate man hearing this sprang
forward and, with an awful impreca-
ton, declared that his family were
on the train, and that any
attempt to keep him from them would