Los Angeles herald., 1890-09-20
DASHED TO DEATH.
An Awful Disaster ON the
Reading Road.
A Lightning Express Trains
Frightful Leap.
Down Steep Embankment Into the
Schuylkill River.
Trainmen and Passengers Crushed and
Drowned-Fully Half a Hundred
Victims.
Associated Press Dispatches.

- SAAN
worst wrecks ever known in this section
occurred tonight on the Reading rail
road, seventeen miles from here. Near
Shoemakersville there is curve where
the railroad is about eighteen or twenty
feet higher than the Schuylkill river.
Here shortly before O'Clock freight
train ran into a coal train, throwing sew
eral cars. onto the opposite track. Before
the track hands had time to warn any
approaching train OF danger, the Potts
vile express, carrying about one hun
dred and fifty passengers, came around
the curve at the rate OF forty miles an
hour and ran into the wrecked coal cars.
The engine went down the embank-
ment, followed by the entire train with
its human freight.
A Scene of Horror.
The scene was one OF great horror
The cries of the imprisoned passengers
were heartrending. Some of the pas
sengers managed to crawl out of their
prison and arouse the neighborhood.
Word was telegraphed to this city and
GulSCOllS alu IL lOlCC vi OOU WOl
were taken to the spot. The work was
great difficulty. Up to l o'clock tonight
six dead and thirty wounded had been
taken out. OF the latter some were
brought to this city and others taken to
the miners hospital at Ashland.
The Dead and Injured.
The dead taken out so far are: Wm
d. Shomo, Reading; John White, en-
gineer, Pottsville; James Templin, fire.
man, Pottsville; Harry Logan, conduc-
tor, Pottsville; David Augustadt, Ma
honey City; E. w. Logan, baggage
master, Shenandoah.
njured-Harrison Riland, Philadel-
phia; Joseph Southwood, Centraia
James L. Merkel, Bethlehem; John
Thornton, Leesport; Joseph Noll, Shen-
andoah; Frank B. Holl, manager OF
Frank Mayo's dramatic company; John
Carroll, St. Clair; Joseph Asfeid,
Mahoney, City; VIM. Glassmeyer,
Philadelphia; Robert Collins, Potts
town. Samuel Shellenberger, Hamburg
B. w. Githler, Girardville; John Coo
lick, Mount Carmel; w. w. Johnston,
Shenandoah; George Sanders, Reading
Benjamin Franklin, Shenandoah; James
Bernhart, Shenandoah; John Hess, Ma
honey City; David G. Young, Mahoney
City; Lyman Dick, Hamburg; DR.. B. F.
Salade, New Ringgold; Jacob Ullmer,
Pottsville; Samuel Coomb, Mahoney
City; William SINNERS, Ashland.
At the Bottom of the River.
The wrecked train is still lying at the
bottom of the river. The exact number
on the passenger is not known, and a
reporter, who is still on the ground,
telephones that he believes that there
are still twenty-five or more bodies
underneath the wreck, or who were
carried away by the current.
Later, IL 80 p. m.-The Associated
Press agent has just had direct COM
munication with the representative at
the wreck, who says conservative esti-
mates place the number of killed at forty
to fifty. 1t is almost impossible to esti-
mate the exact number, and the full
horror of the situation will not be known
until later hour. At IL O'Clock Mail
Agent Greenawald's body was taken out,
followed by the horribly mangled bodies
OF two Mahoney City firemen on their
way home from Chester.
Thirteen Bodies Recovered.
At midnight thirteen bodies have
been recovered. The names of those
known have already been given. Five
bodies are exposed to view in the wreck,
pinned under the timbers.
A Passengers Story.
One of the passengers who escaped
with slight injuries, said to the Asso-
~ciated Press reporter at midnight
"When the crash came, was hurled
from my seat. One end of the car
splashed into the river andI was thrown
against the side of the car with force
that partially stunned me. Iquickly re-
covered myself and managed to climb
upon the seats on that side
of the car which lay against the en-
bankment. l was a prisoner in the car
and while l was nursing my sprained
ankle and wrist out OF joint, L realized
l was in scene of veritable horror.
Around and about me were human be-
ings struggling in the water, screaming
with fright, and some almost dragged
me back into the water again. A few
saved themselves as l did, and the re-
mainder struggled in the water and
then quietly sank out OF sight"
Additional Victims.
Professor Mitchell, of Lehigh Univer-
: sity, at Bethlehem, is among the injured
at Reading hospital. Lawrence Barnes,
OF Philadelphia, had his arm dislocated.
The body OF John l.. Miller, of Cresona,
was taken out at midnight.
At three O'Clock this morning 300 men
are still at work, but making slow prog
ress. Fifteen bodies were taken out.
None of the bodies have been taken from
the scene of the disaster.
John McDonough and William john
SON, of Shenandoah, and John Strauss,
of Schuylkill Haven, are among the lat
est injured reported. 1t is believed that
there are still twenty or more bodies be-
meath the wreck Nothing definite. can
be known until the wreck has been
raised, which will probably be tomor-
row.
No more names can be secured; the
telephone office has been closed; that
was the only means OF getting news all
{. Of the night. The only reporter to get
10 the scene was one of the Eagle men,
and he telephoned down nearly all that
was secured, to 5he Reading papers. :,
FHnADELpHA, Sept. ia special
. from Leading 70 the Enquirer about the