The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-10-31
CARNAGE ON THE RAIL.
One Crowded Excursion Train
Crashes Into Another.
4 Large Number Of People
Killed and Many Injured.

A frightful railroad accident at Mud Run
Station on the Lehigh Valley Railroad in
Pennsylvania has resulted in the instant
death Of many people and severe injuries to
numerous others. Particulars Of the sad af-
fair are as follows:
The wrecked train was a section OF a
Father Mathew excursion train returning
from the annual parade Of Catholic Temper
ance societies at Hazelton. Nearly 5000 Lu-
zerne and Lackawanna reop had gone to
Hazelton. There were seventy eight cars
from WIlkesbarre to Hazelton, the number
Of passengers be ng about 550O. The sections
were all crowded to suffocation, furnishing
the condition for terrible loss of life in case
of wreck.
The third section of the excursion train
Mud Run at 10 P. M., waiting for sections
ahead to get out of the way. Suddenly the
passengers on the rear platform saw train
approach at high rate Of speed. Several
Of them jumped and escaped. In an instant
the flash OF a headlight Illuminated the in
terror Of the ill-fated rear car; there was
frightful crash, and the engine plunged her
full length into the crowded mass of people.
The shock drove the rear car through the
next one or two-thirds of its length, and the
second car was forced into the third. Not O
single person escaped from the rear car. The
second was crowded with MANNED and bleed
ing bodies, and the third car had but few
passengers who escaped. The uninjured
but terror-stricken passengers of both trains
made their way out Of the cars, and went to
the telescoped engine and cars, where the
full horror Of the terrible disaster dawned
upon them.
The shattered engine was pouring forth
streams OF solid steam and water, which hid
from their eyes the full horrors Of the scene,
while the Kissing sound deadensd the shrieks
and groans of those imprisoned in the wreck.
Some of the dead sat pinioned erect in their
seats. The timbers Of tie rear car were
hung mangled bodies and limbs The few
bodies which were not mangled were burned
and scalded by the steam.
The uniniured began at once to do what
could be done for their unfortunate COM
panions The few light tools on the train were
called into requisition, but proved very inetfi-
cient. The st. Francis Pioneer Corps, who
axes, which were meant for holiday occasions.
They were, however, but little adapted to the
work, and were soon rendered useless. The
windows of the cars were smashed in and men
released those least hurt or least entangled.
In one case they found James Lynch, Of
Wilkesbarre, hanging from the roof by one
leg. His cries brought friends, who, to re-
leVe MS suffering, SLoou upon Ine "[echaSe
and held his weight upon their backs until he
was released A young lady was found
caught by the limbs. One limb was quickly
released, but the other could not be freed,
and msdirected blow of an axe severed it
from the body. She heroically bore her tor
ture,' and taking out her gold watch she
handed it to an acquaintance as gift to a
friend at home. She was put on one Of the
trains and given all possible care, but she
AL of horf fria fbo
To free the bodies in the rear car the train
men attached locomotive to the wrecked
engine and started to pull it from the wreck.
The first movement of the shattered wreck
brought from the wounded such cries Of dis.
tress that the surrounding friends ordered
the engineer to desist on pain OF his life. They
did not wish to see the mangled forms still
further mutilated. The few houses about
the spot were thrown open to the suffering,
and bonfires we're lighted to aid the work Of
relief.
Cne brave men named McGinty risked
all danger, and mounting the wrecked loco
motives pulled out the fire. The night was
intensely dark. and bontires had to he built
along the railroad to enable the rescuers tG
work The cries Of the wounded as they tried
to escape from the debris were heartrending
Nearly all Of the passengers were jammed in
between the seats and broken timbers. They
could put their heads out of the windows
but could get no further, as their lower
limbs were held in the wreckage like vice.
Every effort was made to rescue the unfor.
tunates. but in most cases they perished be-.
fore this could be effected. Many of the male
passengers used their shirts for bandages to
dress the wounds of the injured.
Two special trains carried the wounded to
the hospitals at Bethlehem and WilkeSbarre
Forty physicians were on the ground at day
break.
The first list of men, women and children
who were instantly killed, or died soon after
of their injuries, numbered about sixty peo-
ple, and the injured comprised many more.
Of the badly hurt many were not expected
torecover.