Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-07-12
THREE PERSONS KILLED.
A Dozen Others Injured and a Wagon
Smashed.
Wreck of a Chesapeake and Ohio Ex-
press During Storm-A Rail Pieress
One of the Cars.-The Injured.

wreck of Chesapeake and Ohio Ex-
press During Storm-A Rail Pteress
One of the Cars.-The Injured.
A sad accident occurred al the Preston street
crossing of the Louisville Southern Railroad
in Louisville, KY, Mr.. Frank Akin, who lives
on large farm two miles out, came in and
took to his place party of young people &c
spend the day. These were Frank and Ben.
Jamin Pratt, lille, Lizzie, Pheniee and Katie
Aoltemeyer and taeir sister, 9 months Old;
Mary Green, Louis Herber, 1illie Hagemach
and William and Sadie Vance aud Lube
Steuit They started out in Mr.. Noltemeyer's
heavy furniture car, driven by Akin, ana al
o'clock thye eJoined by Mr. and Mrs. Nolte-
meyer.
The day was spent by the young people very
happily and at O'Clock they began prepara-
tons to return. All piled info tie large
furniture car, Frank and Ben Aotemeyer Oc-
cupyingt the front seat, the latter driving They
were drawn by two risky young mules and
to this fact, in all probability, is due the Ia
mentable accident The young people were
laughing and chatting during the ride in and
none of the party had any suspicion OF their
terrible fate until twas upon them.
When within a few yarus Of the crossingth
rays from the headlight Of engine No. 40, Of
passenger train No. 4, were seen dancing down
Der was the only one, it seems, who saw the
light, for he threw himself over the side of the
furniture car, falling in the road. The train
men say they blew for the crossing, but at all
events the mules dashed furiously ahead, the
children still laughing and singing merrly.
Just as the wagon was full upon the track the
train struck it Squarely in the side completely
cutting it in two. The laughter and singing
were changed in the instant TO shrieks and
screams of agony and those in the train, as
they flew by, saw bodies scattered in all direc-
tions. Frank and Ben Pratt, Mr. and Mrs.
Noltemeyer, and William Foulks were thrown
to the right. On the left side of the track viii
liam Vance and his sister Sadie were hurled
thirty feet into field while the girls were
dashed every way. Mary Green was dragged
some distance and then forced aside BY the
eoweatcher and the baby was evidently thrown
under the wheels, for its little right foot was
crushed to shapeless mass.
The train, which was running at the rate
of about fifteen miles an hour was brought
to stop so quickly that the last coach stood
touching the fragments of the wagon which
were leaning up against the side of the car
The wounded were lifted carefully into the
rear coach and taken to st. Mary's and Eliza.
beth's Hospital short distance beyond the
scene of the accident, on the line of the South
ern. Here they were carefully cared, the two
young men and brothers. Ben Pratt, Is years
of age, and Frank Pratt, aged 81 years and the
little child, Mary Noltemeyer, only months
of age, expired after terrible suflerings.
Some of the parties in the furniture wagon
declare that the engineer failed to whistle for
the crossing, though he, as well rs the con
duetor, denies this. Both of the latter claim
that a prolonged whistle was given