Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-26
PITCAIRN WAS DAZED.


Vreck-Cars Were Completely TeIe-
scoped-Does Not Believe the Block
system Was at Fault.
Robert Pitcairn, Superintendent of the
Pittsburg Division of the Pennsylvania
road was one of the fortunate passengers
on the ill-fated first section. of the wrecked
train who escaped unharmed. During his
long and varied career as a railroad man
Mr.. Pitcairn has been the unwilling witness
ofmany smash up on the road," but, in
an interview with a DISPATCH reporter last
night, said never before had he gazed on
such a complete and absolute railroad wreck
as that of Friday night
Despite the fact that several hours had
elapsed since the catastrophe Mr.. Pitcairn
was nervous and unstrung when seen a. his
home on Ellsworth avenue last night
my story of the accident" said Mr.. Pit
cairn, SIS very vague and disconnected, but
I will tell you all 1 know. was with Mr..
George Westinghouse in his private car,
the Glen Eyre. Ours was the rear car of
the first section. There were three day
coaches and baggage car between the Glen
Eyre aud the locomotive.
Robert Pitcsirn's Story of the Wreck.
'The train was late when it lett and it
failed to make up anv of the lost time dur
ing the run to Harrisburg. Just behind US
was the second section, composed almost
entirely of Pullman sleepers. A half hour
or more before our section arrived in Har-
risburg l retired to my stateroom. ! was
completely tagged out, and quickly fell
asleep. Before ] closed my eyes,
however, 1 remember noting the fact
that there were but two other
men in the car besides Mr. Westinghouse
and myself They were the porter and the
cook. The former was at the forward end
O. the car and the cook was in the rear pam
try. l bade Mr. Westinghouse good night
and remember nothing more until awoke
with start TO find myself on the floor
of the car which was filled with
smoke and steam. For moment or two 1
was too dazed TO move or realize what had
happened. Then / scrambled to nv feet
only to be confronted bv the headlight of
locomotive which showed dim and ghastly
through Jagged seam of splintcred wood
work and debris. l groped nv way to
window, the glass of which had been shat
tered by the crash, and with considerable
difficulty crawled through this aperature in
the damp night air. Close beside me stood
Nh. Westinghouse who had made his escape
IN a similar manner
Day Coaches Completely Telescoped
"When looked around me / saw hor-
rihle sight. Propelled bv the terrific shock
the Glen Eyre had ground her way through
the day coaches in front and they appeared
20 be completely telescoped. The front of
the locomotive of the second section was
driven into the rear end of the private car
and over its cab and tender stood
q baggage car. It was a chaotic
blending OF pulseless machinery.
shattered wood work, twisted metal and
debris. Overhead and all about the wreck |
hung a cloud of steam and smoke. This |
curtain OF mist half revealed, half concealed |
the awful picture of death and suffering. 1 |
heard the groans of the dying and the |
shouts of the rescuers but was that dazed |
and bewildered that 1 can give you no |
coherent account of what followed. / see |
by the papers that it was raining furiousiv |
at the time, but did not notice it: in fact, |
I thought at the time that the night was |
clear
AFTER a time how long do not know,
for all my sense of time had left me- 1 was |
led to the Harrisburg station. About 3 |
o'clock in the morning train was made up |
and number of the passengers, including |
IL
and made fresh start for Pittsburg We |
arrived here about 1880 o'clock this morn
ing and 1 came directly home, where have
been ever since.
Don't Know How the Servants Escaped.
81 cannot tell you how the porter and the |
cook escaped, but 1 believe that they both
got out safe and sound.
eyes, l escaped without scratch. was
badly shaken up and even now am stiff
and a trife sore. Mr. Westinghouse had |
much the same experience, but L believe
that he is all right
'No, 1 can't tell you who or
what was responsible for the COL
lision. The scene Of the accident was
about a quarter of mile east
OF the Harrisburg depot / have always
thought, and still think, that the block sys-
TEN used by the road is almost perfect, and
do not believe that it is responsible for
the dreadful affair." However, 1 decline to
express any opinion at this time as to the
cause. A rigid investigation of this acci-
dent viii be made, and the responsibility
placed where il properly belongs"
Mr. George Westinghouse spent a quiet |
day in his house at Hemewood He re-
ceived no injuries worth mentioning, and
viii start this morning for Chicago.
The car Glen Eyre is a complete wreck