The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26
CRASH OF THE TRAINS.
THE DEATH LIST AT HARRISBURG
NUMBERS ELEVEN.

Between Thirty and Forty Passengers
Injured-The Wreck the Fault of the
Operator in the Signal Tower-The
Operator an Unsophisticsted Coun-
try Boy ana Now Nearly Crazy
With Grief.
HARRISBURG, PA. June 25.-1he western
cypress on the Pennsylvania railroad, leav-
ing New York at $3.50 o'clock q. IN. and
Philadelphia at 9:20 o'clock, is due in Har-
risburg at 1915 O'Clock q. m. This morn
ing, however, il was several minutes late
leaving Philadelphia and had not made up
the lost time when it reached here. It was
made up OF one baggage car, one express
car, three day coaches and the private car
of George Westinghouse of Pittsburg, in-
ventor Of the air brake. Robert Pitcairn
of Pittsburg was also with the Westing
house party. AS the train rolled IN Harris
burg it was stopped few minutes at Dock
street, east of the station, TO allow some
shifting in the yards, flagman being sent
back to signal the second section, which
was following close behind. He was soon
called in and the train had but started when
the second section dashed around q sharp
curve a few yards away. Then
came a horrible grinding and crushr
ing sound and Immediately after
the groens and shrieks of injured and dy-
ing passengers. 1t was an awful moment
and the only wonder is that so many
escaped from the terrible wreck. II was
but few minutes until the industrial estab-
lishments in South Harrisburg supplied an
army Of willing men, who did all in their
power to rescue the imprisoned men, women
and children and alleviate their sufferings.
The firemen and police force, under Mayor
Fr1teheys direction, also did excellent ssrv-
ice and assisted in getting the injured ito the
city hospital as soon as possible. Physicians
and surgeons were also summoned and
labored throughout the night to relieve the
pain of the bruised and lacerRted passen-
gers.
TEN DEAD.
The total number dead at 9 O'Clock this
morning was 10, as follows:
Robert S. Raymond of Columbus, O., a
horse dealer.
E. NJ. Whitlock of No. 1S3 Arlington
street, Cleveland, O., chief clerk of the rail-
road company.
Daniel Mason of Hagerstown. Nd, tele-
graph operator on the middle division Of
the Pennsylvania railroad.
Rev. Dacosta Pomeren of No. 3611 Ham
iltou street, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Uriah Heebner of Norrstown and
Winfield Heehner. her son, aged II years.
Chase L. Fee of No. 1 Windsor street,
Allegheny City. supposed to be telegraph
operator.
Richard Adams of Harrisburg, a furni-
ture dealer.
There are two unidentified bodies, one
that OF a young man. supposed to be tele-
graph operator named Clark of Altoona,
and the other that of a young woman with
black hair and wearing garnet dress, sup
posed to have boarded the train at Lancas-
ter. In her purse was found a card with
the name John Blair" and on a piece Of
ribbon was the word "Alve." Among her
effects was also a perforated leather belt.
Many of the slightly injured only stopped
at the hospital long enough to have their in
juries dressed, when they left for home or
departed on trains for their desti-
nations. Many were injured. 1t was
stated at the city hospital
this morning that eighteen Of the injured
passengers occupied cots in the institution,
and that, with probably one or two excep-
tions, all would survive. The hospital staff
has been busy since an hour after the acci-
dent amputating limbs. stitching great
gashes and in every possible way minister
ing to the comfort of the victims OF some
body's blunder.
Later on in the morning the body of the
unknown young girl found in the wreck,
aged Is, and whose head was severed from
the body. was identified as that of Miss
Lizzie Blair of Twenty-irst and Dickinson
streets, Philadelphia, who was accompany
ing Mrs. Mary Ganger to Seattle, Wash.
THE ELEVENTH VICTIM.
HARRISBURG, PA, June 25, SP. M.-Prof
G. L. Smith of Baltimore died this after
noon, making The eleventh death.
Mrs Granger of Philadelphia is also in a
dangerous condition.
The railroad authorities this afternoon
issued the following statement:
"The cause of the accident has not been
fully investigated, but the Indications are
that the engineer of the second section ap-
preached the block at Dock street, Harris
burg without having his train under proper
control according to the rules"
AN OPERATOR TO BLAME.
HARRISBURG, PA, June 25, 10 p. NH.
S. Hayes, the telegraph operator at the
Steelton tower. practically admitted before
the coroners inquest this afternoon that he
was responsible for the wreck. Hayes, who
is a young man of %, was arrested tonight
at the instance of Coroner Hoy on q charge
OF m8nslaughter. He is now in Jail and his
mental distress is terrible to witness.
Fears are expressed that he may lose his
mind. He has been in the service of the
company only few months and has been
an extra operator, going wherever he was
Steelton tower as a substitute for William
Good, the regular operator He allowed
the second section of the express to enter
the block before the first section had passed
out at the western end, againit the rules
of the company. and the disaster il
a direct result of the violation
of the rules. When informed Of the wreck
and loss Of life he became almost frantic,
and the day operator was ordered on duty.
He simply assumed that the first section had
passed the block, without troubling himself
about any notification from the Dock street
tower TO that effect. Hayes was closely
questioned, and during his examination was
greatly agiteted, frequently breaking down
and weeping bitterly. He is an unsophisti-
Gated youth, and but lately left a farm in
York county. He frankly admitted that
he gave Engineer Kelly the white signal to
go on without first having been notified
that the block was clear, but he thought be
was not wholly responsible for the accident
de said other operators had made the same
mistake of which ne had been guilty, but
The consequences had not been so terrible.
hayes also admitted that there had been
TWO other persons in the tower with him
aud that In that he had broken another
rigid rule Of the company. He withheld
nothing from the jury, and cried as though
MS heart would break as he finished his
testimony.
GLADSTONE HIT IN THE EYE
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