Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-15
DEATH IN DENSE FOG.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Has
the Worst Wreck 1t Has
Had for Some Time.
ABAD REAR-END COLLISION
At New Florence, Yesterday, Which
Results in at Least Two Deaths.
A SCORE ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Thrilling Stories of Narrow Escapes Told
by Some Passengers.
A SCORE ARE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NOT SURE WHERE THE BLAME LIES


Railroad for several years was that which
occurred early this morning at the water
tank just east of this place.
Whether it was due TO the dense fog that
hung like a pail over that section OF the
country, or was the fault of the telegraph
operator at Nineveh, has not yet been
officially determined.
No matter where the blame lay two people
were suddenly hurled into eternity, half
dozen so badly injured that they may die,
while 90 more were more or less hurt.
No. 9 is what is known on the roaC as the
night train from New York for the West.
At Harrisburg a sleeper coming over from
Washington bv the Northern Central road
is attached. Train No. Z is composed of
baggage, express, and passenger coaches,
and follows right after No. 9. As stated
abovethe valley of the Conemaugh was dense
with fog, it being impossible to see cars
length. Therefore extra precautions were
taken by the railroad officials, but in this
case they proved Intellectual.
No. was due at the Nineveh block tower
a. 5:46, but was nearly an hour late. The
engineer did not see the red signal until be
had passed. Then ne went back and getting
his orders proceeded as far as the water
tank Just east of New Florence. At this
part of the story comes in the uncertainty
as to just where the blame lay.
RUNNING CLOSE TOGETHER.
Both trains, it is averred, passed the
Nineveh block tower within ten minutes OF
each other. The fog was so dense that the
engineer of the Western express had to feel
for the nozzle of the water tank, and lost
time in that way. fagman was sent
back, but was met by rushing train No. z,
and the engine crashed into the Washington
Pullman sleeper, the Biscay, which was in
the rear.
Harry Bowles, the 2O-year-old operator in
the tower at Nineveh, says he showed a red
light, but Engineer Mccormick insists that
the light was green. This would mean, so
says Assistant Supervisor Rogers, of
this section, that the two center
tracks were occupied by freight trains
and that the outside tracks were
clear. Several railroad hands who were
near the block tower at the time agree with
Engineer Mccormick that the green light
was shown. Bowles has only been in the
employ of the railroad company for short
time and lives at Nineveh, while McCor-
mick lives inst east at Armagh.
Both Engineer Mccormick and Bowles
went to Pittsburg on the 10 o'clock train
and were put through a searching examina-
ton by the railroad officials.
AN AWFUL SCENE.
The crash of the engine No. into the
L he
drove in fully ten feet and the car was re-
duced almost to kiudling wood. The noise
was heard for long distance, and then,
after a moments hush, came the awful cries
OF the wounded. There were ready and will
ing hands on the two trains, and soon they
were at work helping those who were
imprisoned in the wreck. The sleeper
Achates, Just ahead OF the BScay, was
thrown IRON the track, but beyond some of
the passengers being bruised there were no
serious casualties. Bed clothing was soon
got out and the wounded made as comfort
able as possible.
DR.. J. A Fulton is the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad Surgeon at New Florence, and he
was one OF the first physicians on the scene
He said It was one or the worst wrecks he
had ever seen. ''When l got there SAID
he yesterday, everything possible had been
Deel 10 make lne WOQQOGu COmIOrta Die, but
atonce saw that they must be moved to houses
so as to get them out of the damp air. Some
were taken to the New Florence Hotel, and
others to private residences Then aid was
sent for from NlDeveh and Johnstown,
and with this assistance came a
lot of siChtSeers from those places.
The two dead bodies were placed in the
railroad station, and later removed to
Greensburg, the accident having occurred
III WestmOreiand county.
MF. Minot and Mrs. Angel were killed
outright being badly crushed. AS to
whether any of the others will die it is hard
10 say. Internal injuries are hard to dag
nose hastily.
There seems to be a general impression
here" continued the doctor that Bowlcs
is responsible for the disaster. Engineer
Frank Mccormick is acknowledged to be
one of the most careful engineers on the
road. II he had not seen that green light he
would have stopped. You see he passed the
station sure that the block to New Florence
was clear.
The wreck blocked up the road for about
six hours, but even after it had been cleared
away the scene was visited BY hundreds of
people from the surrounding country,
One Of the most remarkable things about
the accident was that no one on No. z train
was injured, except Fireman Pitcairn, who
/ was cut about the face, and Express Agent
Miller. Ii is feared that he is badly hurt
internally, as the shock of the collision
threw him against heavy iron safe
When Superintendent Crump and other
officials reached the scene from the Union
depot the injured were placed on train
and taken to Pittsburg. except several who
wished to return to their homes in the East
and whose condition could not bear the
journey.
The following is list of the killed and
wounded:
TWO WHO MET DEATH.
HENRY MINOT. No. 80 Court street. Boston
MRS. H. S. ANGEL sos Twenty-first street
N Washington. D. c.
The following is list of those who were in
jured:
M C. A. WEIHLE, Washington. d. C.
slightly.
MRS DIR. wEIHLE, seriously; taken .,
JohnstOwn.
RS. DULANEI and wife. Haymarket, Va.
botb seriously; taken to the West Penn
Hospital.
WILLIAM ROCHESTER, Hoffman House. New
York, internally
r q HICKS, Providence r. L, seriously
taken to JohnstOwn Hospital; will lose rlgh
foot.
IF MATTHIA. Baltimore slightly.
I II. HILL Sunbury, Pa. badly bruised.
John MILLER, Allegheny. express mes
senger, seriously; taken to West Penl
Hospital.
J. HELMAN. 629 B street, n. W., Washington
D. C.; slightly.