The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-09-24
A Train Loaded With Happy PeopIe
P'unges into the ScluyI-
kill River.
READING, PENNSYLVANIA IN MOURNING,
Horrible Scenes Graphically Described
by an Eye Wit
ness.
Fifteen Bodies Recovered aud MANY
Still in the Water.

NHAbiNu, Id., oept. lS-A wreck Oc-
Cured on the Reading railway, II miles
above this place about 6:45 tonight. If
everything is borne out by subsequent
developments, 1t is the worst wreck that
has every occurred in this section in the
history of the Reading road. The train
which met with this disaster left this city
at e:O5 o'clock, ten minutes late. 1t is
known as the Pottsville express and was
running at the rate of at least 80 to 40
miles per Lour. 1t had en- board possibly
125 TO 100 passengers, and it consisted of
the engine, mail, express cars and three
passenger cars. Above Shoemakersville,
this county, about Is miles above this
city, there is place where the railroad
is from IS to 20 feet higher than the
Sckuylkill river. Here, shortly before 6
O'Clock, a freight train ran into ccal
train, throwing several cars Of the latter
on the opposite track and before the train
hands had time to 60 back and warn
any approaching train of the danger,
the Pottsville express came around the
curve and ran into thewrecked coal cars on
its track. The engine went down the en-
bankment followed by the entire train
with its human freight. The scene was
one of great horror. The cries of
the imprisoned passengers were heart
rending. 1t was scene never to be for
gotten by those who participated and sur
vived. Some OF the passengers managed
to crawl out of their prison and arouse
the neighborhood. Word was tele-
graphed to this city and help summoned,
but all information was refused at this
point by the railroad officials. Physic-
ians and surgeons and force of 300 work
men were taken to the spot by the com
pany, and with the aid Of the travelling
electric light plant, the work of clearing
away the wreck was at once proceeded
with. The work was slow, and the dead
and dying were taken out with great
difficulty. Up to 10 O'clock tonight six
dead and some 80 wounded had been
taken out. Of the latter, some were
brought to this city and others were
taken TO the Miners' hospital at Ashland.
The dead 20 far recovered are still OH the
ground.
The dead and wounded taken out UP
to this time are as follows:
Killed-William D. Shone, Reading.
Badly mangled-J ohm White, engineer,
Pottsville; James Templin, fireman,
Pottsville; Harry Legau, conductor,
Pottsville; David Augstad, Mahoney
City, who died after being taken from
the wreck, his head and body being
crushed; E. w. Logan, baggage master,
Shenandoah.
The injured are: Harrison Roland,
Philadelphia, leg broken and internally
injured; Joseph Southwood, Centrelleo,
F. Markell, Bethlehemi John Thornton,
Lsesport; Joseph Noll, Shenandoah
Frank B. Hall, manager of Frank Mayo's
dramatic company; John Carroll, St'
Claire; Joseph Asfeld, Maloney City;
Thomas Cooney, Fhildadeiphia, Robert
C0llyn, Pottsville; Samuel Shellenherger
Hamberg; B. ". Cooper, Girardville
JOHN Cooper. Mount Carmel; W. W
johnson, Shenandoah; George Sanders
Reading; Benz. Franklin BepcAer, 5hen
andoah; James Beinhart, Shenandoah
John Hess, Mohoney City; David q
Young, Mahoney City; Lyman Dic'.ey
Hamburg; B. F, solade, Ranyold; jacob
| Utmer, Pottsville; Samuel Coombs, Ma.
honey City, and VIM. Sinners. Ashland.
The wrecked train is still lying at the
bottom of the river. The exact number
| of the passenger Int Is not known anl
tho reporter who Is still on the grouno
telephones that he beIives that there still.
twenty-five or thirty more bodies under
meath the wreck or have been carried
away by the current.
1885 D. m. The Associated Press
agent has just had a direct communica
ton with bis representative at the scen'
of the wreck to the effect that conserva
i've estimates place the number OF kiliet
al from 40 to so. IT Ia almost impossible
To estimate the exact number and the full
horror of the situation will not be known
before morning. Mall Agent Green
wald's body was taken out, followed bl
the horribly mangled bodies of two Ma
honey CITY firemen on THEN way homt
from the Chester convention,
There is q rumor at the scene OF Uni
wreck that Geo. F. KaerOher OF Potts
VILE was in the wrecked palace car
Whether this refers to Geo. +. AaeFoheF
tie famous lawyer Of this place, - no
known. but If this IS so, the state loses on'
nf its brightest lights and orators.
rho scene in this city is one OF grea
1ap' u,-Tha Associated press reprie,
sentative has Just had IN interview wlIl
one of the passengers, who ~eat AoW'
in the wreck and who was but siagRtl.
injured. Sixteen II the injured wef
hronoht on special tram to the Headlnl
hosnitai At eleven o'clock. This genue
man says that when the passenger M tpai,
iefr ReadiuV, the cars were all well niie''
amorg them wers many ladies. =, T.. sa :
~ M front seat of Cue last car. This !
,,;s storv. .The train was gong ~
. lively rate Of speed ana .ne y g',sl ,ban, il
appeared to be happy; many OF u .nen, "ah,n' 70
: dies who were chatting ahu iau arL. n .
after the days pleasure az ,n,ru ,ns nre ~ -
! %. fair. | was yiewing the coun"y auddsnl, anil
l which we were passing, wAen ss su hnrIe,
' there was a terrible crash. WY Aniiis' nno,is'
from NV seat, while the cars us. tSu au'
down the twenty foot embaakmeht H. a.r Ad' :
I was thrown FROM one ana M s,,,ash VI ~ on
the other like q boy. When, ,aps sp,sIn, ~ Iaw wv
and went into the water anu mns ';,h h s',ci
sasinst the side OF the car "',n '4''
I eerca that partially stunned Me, .aa
n,,,ctlvT recovered myself ana ainnasp VIZ =
X climb upon the seats on Una. W. s'ue 10 y i /
.ha oar which lay against the eino"Mr ~
rant was prisoner In the ea', mr., ~,
shle % to ast out and the while ~as 'ss,st n1,I q,
~; NJ snrained ankle and wr'ss oor or
] 81 joint. realized ths. .d,Md mS' and m abo,
Iof yeritabie horror. Aroun4 4g,,,;ag ta in ii
me were human beings s'fGsEktn frigkt and son
water, screaming in @ Iheir irIgn, ,nte the re- waite
almost dragged me 0Acf 'i"