Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-28
a FLUNG . TO DEATH.
Terrible Accident at ReadinE-A
Gravity Car Dashos Down the Hn-
cline Mt an Awful speed aud stpsets
Passengers Knitted and Wounded,

Gravity Car Dashos Down the HHt-
cline mt an Awful speed aud stpsets
Passengers Knitted and Wostndeh,
READING, Pa, Aug. GA horrible
accident occurred this morning shortly
before IL O'Clock, on the Mount Penn
Gravity railroad, q mountain route en-
circling Mount Penn, 800 feet above the
city Of Reading.
The road was opened five months hgo
and has been doing good business ever
since. The cRrs were taken from point
on the outskirts of the city 10 the top of
the mountain, distance of five miles.
On returning the cars were allowed to go
down the mountain by gravity by way OF
another route to the point Of starting.
This morning at about 10. so o'clock q
car containing about IS passengers was
taken from the station to the top of the
mountain. This consumed about 80 min
utes. On top of the mountain there is q
high stone tower, where the passengers
were allowed to alight to enjoy the scene
for so miles around.
There are different stories as TO the
cause Of the accident but II appears that
when the tower was reached, the point
where the gravity portion of the road
commenced, the engine was detached,
when the car ran away while the passen-
gers were still on board. The distance
to the point of starting is Ave miles and
1t is estimated that this was covered by
the runaway car in about three minutes,
the car attaining fearful speed estimated
at 80 miles an hour.
1t remained on the track to the foot Of
the plane going Ground all the curves
while the passengers shrieked in their
freight and several jumped on. When
the car reached the station at the foot of
the plane it Jumped the track end rolled
down O 80 foot embankment where it
landed upside down with the passengers
imprisoned inside.
The greatest excitement prevailed and
soon large crowd gathered. Doctors and
the ambulance were sent for and the dead
and injured removed. Four were taken
out dead. Among them were Charles
Rettew, aged 90, conductor of the ILL
fated car, and Edgar M. Levin, an
attorney of this city, aged about 40.
In addition to Levan and Rettew, who
were killed, the two others killed were
Miss Rosa Peiifer, young lady of this
city, and Miss Harriet Hinkle of Phila-
delphia.
Following will die: Mrs. Hiram Schiller
ana MrH. w. a. Ii. bcnmel.
Among the others injured are 5allie O.
Bye and Mary A. Guthrie, Wilmington,
both badly hurt, and Willie Sohmel, this
city, both legs broken.
Norman b. Wimsher OF this city, vino
was stsnding at the foot of the plane
when the car came dashing down the
mountain, gives graphic story of the
accident. He says that he first heard q
distant roar as OF thunder, and locking
up saw the car come down the mountain,
but sticking to the tracks, at the rate OF
about a mile in As seconds. He had
barely time to recover himself when the
car like lightning fash dashed past the
station and down the embankment so
feet below.
Mr.. Wimsher was first on the ground.
He Gays that he found the car upside
down, the passengers all thrown in con-
fused mess and that with the assistance
of others who arrived on the ground he
helped to carry out the dead and in
jured. There were about dozen of the
later With broken limbs and battered
heads, their clothing covered with blood.
Mr.. Wimsher says that as the car fell the
united shrieks OF 20 voices added terror
to the scene.
DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES,
READING, Pa, Aug. 23.-The coroner
has decided to postpone his investigation
Of the Mount Penn gravity railroad hor-
ror until Monday. 1t has now been def
nitely ascertained that the accident was
due to the defective working of the
brakes A new automatic air brake had
been put ON the car two weeks ago and
it had been working satisfactorily until
the car yesterday started on its fatal
journey. Then it refused to work.
OF the injured Mrs. William A. Fl.
Sohmel OF this city can hardly survive.
Her son Willie has both legs broken and
he will be crippled for life. Bessie and
Katie Kelly of Chester Pa, are doing
well.
MISS BYR WAS THOUGHT TO BE DEAD.
Miss Sallis O. Bse and Miss Mary A..
Guthrie, both Of Wilmington. Dol, have
been transferred to st. Joseph's Hospital.
When MisB Bye was brought to the
hospital it was thought she was dead and
she was only restored to consciousness
with difficulty.
Mrs. Harry Cooper, who jumped from
the car with her baby, left for her home
in Allentown this morning. Tho baby will
die.
MISS dUTHRIg's STATEMENT.
Miss Guthrie said this morning
"When the car was flying down the
mountain tho conductor went from one
side Of the car to the other, and he end
the brakeman did all in their power to
stop the car. man and woman in the
rear part OF the car cried, and sat down
on the floor. did not hear any scream
ing. People were peaceful in the face OF
death. Everybody sat perfectly still ard
all was quiet. We felt we were going to
our DEATH"
TWO WILMINGTON WOMEN HURT.