Morris tribune., 1890-09-24
PLUNGED INTO A RIVER.
HORRIBLE DISASTER ON THE READ
ING ROAD, NEAR READING.

Entire Passenger Train Thrown Into the
schuylkiu by a Collision with a Freight
Wreck - Fifteen Dead Bodies Recov-
ered---At Least Thirty More in the
Water.
READING, Pa, Sept 20.-A wreck oc-
CURED on the Reading road seventeen
miles above this place at $40 p. M, the
worst that has ever occurred in this sec
tion in the history of the Reading Rail-
road company. The train which met
with the disaster left this city at o:lO
o'clock, ten minutes late. 1t is known
as the Pottsville express, and was run
ming at the rate of at least
Forty-Fivs Miles an Hour.
It had on board probably 1876 to $50 pas
sengers, and consisted of engine, mail
and express cars and three passenger
cars. Above Shoemakersville, about
fifteen miles above this city, there is
curve, where the railroad is about eigh-
teen or twenty feet higher than the
Schuylkill river. Here, shortly before
Z o'clock, freight train ran into coal
train. throwing several cars in the latter
on the opposite track, and before the
train hands had time to go back to warn
any approaching train of the danger the
Pottsville express came around the curve
and
Ran Into the Wrecked Coal Cars
on the track. The engine went down
the embanxment, followed by the entire
train, with its human freight. The
scene was one of great horror, and can
be better imagined than described. The
cries of the imprisoned passengers were
heartrending. 1t was scene never to
be forgotten by those who participated
and survived. Some of the passengers
managed to crawl out of their prison,
and aroused the neighborhood.
Physicians and surgeons and O force OF
300 working men were taken to the spot.
and with the aid of travelling electric
light plant the work of clearing away
the wreck was at once proceeded with.
Fifteen Bodies Recovered.
At Q o'clock a. M. 800 men were still
at work, but they were making slow
progress. Fifteen bodies had been taken
out. None of the bodies have been
taken from the scene of the disaster.
Told by Passenger.
A passenger, who went down with the
wreck and who was but slightly hurt.
says: When the passenger train left
Reading the cars were all filled, many
of the passengers being ladies. sat in
the front part of the last car. The train
was going at lively rate of speed. The
passengers appeared, a happy croWd,
many of the ladies chatting and laugh
ing after days pleasure at the Berks
county fair. 1 was viewing the lovely
country through which we were pass
ing, when suddenly there was terrible
crash. was huddled from my seat.
While the cars rolled down the twenty
foot embankment and I was thrown
from che side of the car to the other like
a boy, when, splash went
One End Into the Water
and I was thrown against the side of the
car with force that partially stunned
me. I quickly recovered myself Rnd
managed to climb up on the seats on
that side of the car which lay against
the embankment. 1 was prisoner in
the car, unable to get out, and while
was nursing my sprained ankle and dis
located wrist I realized that | was in
scene of veritable horror, among human
beings struggling in the water, scream.
ing in their fright and some almost
dragged me back into the water again:
A few saved themselves as did, and
the remainder struggled in the water
and they quickly sank out OF sight,