The Dickinson press., 1890-09-27

Entire Passenger Train Thrown Into the
Schnylkill by IL Collision with IL Freight
Neutrality-suspicious. Dead Bodies Tnkon
From the Wreck.
READING, Pa, Sept. 20.-A wreck oc-
Cured on the Reading road seventeen
miles above this place at 6:i5 p. H., the
worst that has ver occurred in this Sec
tion in the history of the Reading Rail-
road company. The train which met
with the disaster left this city at G:lO
o'clock. ten minutes late. 1t is known
as the Pottsville express, and was run
ming at the rate of at least
F%orty-Fiye Miles an Hour.
1t had on board probably 125 to $50 pas
enger and consisted of engine, mail
and express cars and three passenger
cars. Above Shoemakersville. about
fifteen miles above this city. there is Il
curve, where the railroad is about eigh-
teen or twenty feet higher than the
Schuvlkill river. Here, shortly before
: o'clock. a freight train ran into a coal
train. throwing several cars in the latter
on the opposite track. and before the
train hands had time to go back towarn
Any approaching train of the danger the
Pottsville express came around the curve
and
Ran Into the Wrecked Coal Cars
on the track. The engine Went down
the ~embarSment. followed by the entire
train. With its human freight. The
scene was one of great horror. and can
be better imagined than described. The
cries of the imprisoned passengers We're
heartcending. 1t was a scene never to
be forgotten by those who participated
and survived. Some of the passengers
managed to crawl out Of their prison,
and aroused the nelghborhood.
Physicians and surgeons IL aforce of
SCO working men were taken to the spot,
and with the aid of IL travelling electric
Light plant the work of clearing away
the wreck wa at once proceeded with.
Fifteen Bodies Recovered.
at work, but they were making slow
IlOBlCSS. I1llScl1 DOu1CS lltNl DScl1 li.hCll
out. None of tho bodies have been
Told by a Passenger.
A passenger, who went down with the
wreck and who was but slightly hurt,
says: When the passenger train left
Reading the cars We're all filled, many
of the passengers being ladies. l sat i'll
the front part of tho last ear. The train
was going at a lively rate of speed. The
passengers appeared a happy crowd,
many of the ladies chatting and laugh
ing after a days pleasure at the Berks
county fair. I was viewing the lovely
country through which we We're pass
ing, when suddenly there was a terrible
crash. l was huddled from my seat.
While the cars rolled down the twenty
foot embankment and l was thrown
from II side of the car to the other like
a boy, when, splash went
One End Into the Water
and I was thrown against the side of tho
car with IL force that partially stunned
me. l quickly recovered myself and
managed to climb up on the seats on
that side of the car which lay against
the e~mbankment. [ was q prisoner in
the car, unable to get out, and while |
was nursing my sprained ankle and dis
located wrist l realized that | was i'll Il
scene of veritable horror, among human
beings struggling in the water, scream
ing in their fright and some almost
dragged me back into the water again.
A few saved themselves as | did, and
the remainder struggled in the water
and they quickly sank out Of sight.