Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-15
G, Richmond. Va; an.

MRS. M. V. KELLOGG, Richmond. Va; an
kle sprained.
MRS. E. A. PARRISH, Quincy, ILL.,; hand in
jured.
SAMUEL GALLEY, A Jay street, New York;
cut on head.
NJ. WELFARE. Cleveland; slightly.
]. w. LESLIE, Boston. Mass; slightly.
MRS. S. D. WILLIAMS, Cleveland; slightly.
W. S. CROSS. Baltimore; cut on lower limbs.
H. S. HILL. Pittsburg; slightly.
E. H. TIGHE. Detroit; slightly.
A. E PITCAIRN, Williamsburg, fireman on
train No. z; cut on head and face.
MADE A FATAL MISTAKE.
The Western express was due at New
Florence at GAG. On account of freight
wreck above Johnstown, however, it was 90
minutes late. 1t was double-header, and
as only one engine could take water from
the trough between the rails, the train was
stopped at the New Florence plug. 1t re-
quired only few moments to take water,
but it was fatal time, and before it could be
regained one of the most serious wrecks in
the history of the Pennsylvania road had
taken place. The mail express came up
unsignaled. A dense Jog obscured the dan
ger lights in the rear of the fatal sleeper
and made useless the lantern of a belated
fagman.
1t was supposed by the trainmen of the
Western Express, which is known to rail-
readers as train No. 8, that the operator at
the Nineveh block house would keep the
red light signal before train No. until the
iormer had passed New Florence. Instead
of that, however, Engineer Mccormick de-
clares he was given green lights, which
means to advance cautiously. This, he
claims. he did, but says that on account of
log he did not know No. 9 was on the track
in front OF him until within few yards OF
disaster On the other hand, James Boles,
the operator at Nineveh, has declared and
maintains that he is ready to swear that he
had red lights before No. z and kept them
there until No. passed the New Florence
block house. 1t was his duty to do this. He
also gives it as ms belief that the engineer of
No. was prevented from seeing the danger
signal on account OF fog. With these con-
Trajectory statements, it is impossible to
learn who is responsible.
DIsoBEYED THE COMPANY RULES,
One thing alone is definite, and that is
that the fiagman of train No. 6 disobeyed
the company rules in not Immediately start
ing back as soon as his train was stopped.
Relying on the Nineveh block house, cow
ever, he remained on his train until No.
whistled, then grabbing his lantern he
rushed back, but it was too late. The fog
prevented his signal being seen until the
engine was within a few feet of the flag
man, and that was only short distance
from the scene of the wrRk. The
brakes were applied, the engine reversed,
but scarcely was it done when the crash
came. Engineer Mccormick stuck to his
post. He did not leave the engine until it
mad plowed through the entire length of the
sleeping car Biscay. He is uniniured. His
fireman, A. E. Pitcairn, stepped to the edge
of the cab and was thrown out. He is a
relative of Superintendent Pitcairn, and is
slightly inj ured.
The scene at the wreck was narrowing.
There were 20 people in the rear sleeper.
A few of them had arisen, but the greater
part were still in their berths. The collision
completely demolished the entire car. The
engine remained on the track and threw the
sides of the car against the banks. In lower
berth No. 9, about the center of the car. was
h. d. Minot, OF 80 Court street, Boston.
Directly in front of him in lower berth No.
z was Mrs. S. H. Angel, of 800 Twenty-first
street, Washington. When the crash came
they were both thrown together. Both OF
their heads were crushed and death must
have been instantaneous. A heavy
timber lay across their heads and
was removed with difficulty. Near them
lay Mrs. r. A. DuLanev, a bride of two
days. Her husband, with q severe wound in
his head and another in his side, attempted
to remove an iron bar which pinned his wife
among the debris. He could not do So
however, and finally gave way to strange
hands, which carried them both to the sta
tion agents house. Here they were ten
derby cared for, and the fact learned that
they were from Haymarket, Va, and were
going to Wisconsin on their honeymoon.
FIRE QUICKLY QUENCHED.
Scarcely had the wreck occurred when
flames broke forth from the front express
car of No. z. They were quickly subdued.
and none too soon, for as the last bucketful
of water was thrown in a trunk. low moan
was heard from under it. A search re-
vealed the form of John Miller, the express.
man. He was unconscious. The fire had
reached his clothes and Dlackened board
on which his hand was resting. Another
minute and cremation would have been
added to the horrors of the disaster. As il
is, Miller's life is despaired of.
Aid for the sufferers was quickly secured.
DR.. j. C. Fulton, of New Florence, was one
of the first on the ground. He was shortly
Joined by Drs. c. w. Banks, of Derry; j.
W. Kline, of Derry, and Loriman, oil
Johnstown. Drs. Hamilton and Heron, o
Pittsburg, went up on a special train. The
injured were TEN porarily taken to the New
Florence Hotel, the station house and resi-.
dence near the wreck.