Evening journal., 1890-08-23

5@etess Brakes lie Died At his kosts
-Four Persons killed and Nearly Score
xnjured-Thrilling scenes.
READING, Pa. Aug. as.-The accident on
She Mount Penn Gravity railroad in this
city Friday killed four people and injured
nearly score: The road encircles Mount
Penn and rises 500 feet above this city and
is Ave miles long When the cars reached
tbs top Of the hill they became detached in
some way and ran down the steep incline
atthe rate of eighty miles an hour and
were upset at the bottom.
The killed were Charles Rettew, con-
ductor, aged IS; Edgar NJ Levan, lawyer,
aged 40 Miss Rosa Heiffer, aged 80, all OF
Reading; Miss Harriet Hinckle, aged s.,
OF Philadelphia.
List OF Dead and Injured.
The following is correct list Of the
~v@anded: Mrs. William A. II. Schmehl,
badly cut and suffering with conclusion OF
The brain; she cannot recover. William
Schmehl, both legs badly fractured and
will probably die. Mrs. Schiller, terribly
mangled and unconscious. Miss Kate Ho-
man, very seriously hurt about the head.
Misses Bessie and Katie Kelly, nieces OF
Miss Holman, both badly injured. Cor
nefius Hanion, Of Allentown, suffering
with conclusion of the brain. Mrs. Cor
nelius Hanlon, of Allentown, badly cut
ARE bruised. Miss Sallie Bye, Of Whining
ton. Del, very badly injured and uncon-
wcieus. Miss May Guthrie, of Wilmington,
DEF head cut, but not dangerously. Mrs.
Arnold Lewis, of Allentown, left wrist
broken. Miss Weller, Of Allentown, daugh-
ter of a prominent merchant of that place,
baby hurt about the head and chest Mrs.
Smith, Of Allentown, skull fractured and
will die; now at St. Joseph's hospital. Mrs.
Cooper, Of Allentown, cut in left temple
and about the eye; her baby was also Sc
werely injured Mrs. Schitter and Mrs.
Cooper, with her BABY in her arms, jumped
from the car during its descent, and were
found by Harry Brown, of Philadelphia,
who had leaped from the car soon after it
started on its run, but escaped without
anjary.
Helpless on the Incline.
The i'll fated open car, with about twenty
passengers. left the gravity station and
was pulled to the top Of Mount Penn, 1900
feet above the sea level, by locomotive.
1t IA customary TO stop at the summit to
aIl@w passengers to view the scenery, but
this was not done owing to the brakes not
working properly. When the engine
stopped within 800 feet Of the summit TO
run back to push up the car it was noticed
that the brakes were not working and the
car was held in place by blocks placed Al
the wheels. The train hands then set tc
work to fix the brakes, and thought they
had done SO properly. They then reported tC
AL 81
the car was then pushed up to the summit
and left 10 90 alone as usual by gravity on
its tourney around and down the mountain
70 the place of starting.
The engineer saw at once that the cal
could not be controlled by the brakes and
that it was going at fearful speed. HI
started bis engine N pursuit but could mo-
overtake the car. which was now bounding
down the grade, increasing its velocity
every second.
Moments of Awful Horror.
Conductor Rettew told his passenger
the crew could not control the car ant
that they could jump II they wished, bu
that he would stick 70 his post Thre
young men had already leaped from tn
car and reached ground safely BY thi
time the car had bounded around th
came frightful. Passengers became pani
stricken, and 20 jump meant instant dealt
or frightful manning Soon the car wa
at It's height of speed. Passengers crouche
to the floor TO avoid the rush OF cold al
through the open car.
Some women shrieked, others prayed
children cried and men stood wit
blanched cheeks. AT one time two me
wanted to jump, but their wives and chi
dren chung to them and held them back.
He Died az His Post.
Lawyer Levan begged the people to I
cool and not 70 jump, THAI there was hoI
the car would slow up on the lower level
But it did not. The car sped on with te
rife velocity Another mile and Brak
man Heller jumped for his life and lande
on his back, badly hurt. His example W,
followed by Mrs. Nathan Schiller and Mr.
Cooper, Of Allentown. They landed {
their heads aud rolled over and over. III
other passengers on the car witnessed th
horrible scene aud many began to call Q
God to help them. Conductor Rettew wi
now alone at the brakes working frant
cally, but he could do no good The Mou
tain picnic grounds were passed with
whirl, and people saw the blood curdlir
sight but could render no assistance
Workmen tried TO run of the car b
failed For eight minutes this awful jor
ney down the mountain continued, un
finally Conductor Rettew saw the cemete
curve. short and sharp, in sight. He KIN,
this meant certain death, yet he remain
st his post
A Deadly finale.
The next instant the car reached (
curve and with one terrific leap IL bOuI
ed of the rails and went crashing dowr
fifty foot embankment, breaking off tn
fifteen inches in diameter like twi
&urned bottom upward aud fell upon {
Mortified passengers, crushing them vi
the splintered trunks Of the trees a
sharp, Jagged rocks beneath. The car Y
smashed to pieces and a horrible scene
sued. Crowds quickly gathered from
main starting station, a short distai
away Doctors and ambulances arriv
and the work Of removing the dead q
injured began.
Superintendent Dechart gives as
cause Of the accident the refusal Of
brake to work properly It was n
brake and was being experimental wi
1t is miraculous that single passenl
escaped, as the car was smashed to pieC
a thorough Investigation was common,
today by the coroner.
An a1lered Sxxindler avreatad