Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-06-29
Awful Railroad Disaster.


The people Of the JUniata Valley
were shocked last Saturday morninD
when informed by despatch that an
awful railroad disaster had taken
place that morning in the city of
Harrisburg short distance from
the statlon-on the Middletown side
of the depot-Gy Second Section of
Western Express running into the
first section which had been stoned
at Dock street short distance from
the station at 1915 that morning.
Why the first section stopped there
is not known here, bat the train was
not off ''the block" which lies be-
tween Harrisburg station and Steel
ton when the wreck took place. The
disaster was caused by the Steelton
operator, II. S. Hayes, who has done
service as an operator in the Juniata
Valley, failing in his duty to hold the
second section at Steelton until he
was informed that first section had
left the block. He assumed the re
sponsibility of guessing that it had
left the block and hence tae calamity
that took the lives of II people and
injured some % others.
The wrecked trains were through
trains. Had they been valley trains
the people killed would have been
people from the central part Of the
state which would have brought the
awful occasion in closer touch to the
heart Of the inhabitants of the Mid
die Division, as it is the disaster has
awakened feeling in the central
part Of the state that has not been
experienced so generally in many
years. The awful responsibility
resting on the operator in the tower
as guardian. for the time baing of
the lives Of people that are in transit
as fast rs steam can carry them over
his block was discussed over and
over every minute rs fast as people
could relate the calamity.
The boys who are taught to oper
ate telegraph instruments for rail
roads are not sufficiently impressed
with the great responsibility that
rests upon them in the conscientious
discharge Of their duty. 1fany Of
them have first experience in isolated
towers where they scarcely over are
brought in contact with people who
appreciate the responsibility of the
situation but who on the other hand
make light Of skip in duty and
even so 50 far as to hint that skips
in daty are smart, that it is ''shut-
ting the eyes" of the employer and
the travelling public and therefore
they dare give listles' attention.
exercise their own Judgement instead
of the rules of the company, and
some times even indulge il sleep be-
tween the running OF trains and trust
to luck to get their signals out.
The details of the awful occur
rencs at Harrisburg have not been
given and Will not be given unless in
after DAYS from The lips of those who
passed through it, for it was at such
an hour that newspaper meu did not
appear upon the scene until after
those who were best competent IN
their way to tell the whole story of
tie awful scenes of the dreadful oc-
casion had gone away.
As has been stated, the first sec
ton was stopped at Dock street be
yond the station and while standing
there the second section running at
the rate Of so miles an hour crushed
into the rear end of the first section.
The rear car of the first train was n
heavy private car and was driven
through the three passenger coaches
ahead Of it crushing and mangling
out of all semblance many of the
passengers, tearing limbs from others
slightly injuring q number and IN
several individual cases throwing
people away clear of all wreckage
without serious injury.
The private car that was trst
struck was split from one end to the
other and marvellous as it may seem
it is a fact that none OF its inmates
were seriously hurt. In the midst
of the wreck was the locomotive OF
the second section covered sH ovel
with splintcrs and thousands of In
describable pieces of tho wreck and
both engineer and fireman uphurt
excepting a number of flesh scratch
es about the face. Their escap'
ranks among the marvellous escape
from railroad wreck.
Daniel Mason, of Huntingdon
known to a number of Mitfilntowr
people was killed, Richard Adams
and s. Raymond, of Harrisburg
were killed. A number of Miffiln
town people were acquainted wit
them Alma S. Carstetter, of PERI,
county was one Of the injured as far q
has been learned. They are the onl
people on the i'll fated train VIII
were known TO Juniata county pee
pie.
lightning struck Harry Moor
house near Van Vert several day
ago about 4 o'clock in the Afternoon