The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-05-03

covered that the train was unmansgeaoie
and that an accident Of some description
was sure to ensue, Mr.. Mnrdock decided 10
take chances Of saving his life by jumping.
He was sitting on the opposite side OF the
cab from the engineer and in front Of the
three members Of the Pile family. Fortu-
nately he remembered that a parcel Of I'M
siaked line had been unloaded from a car
at point where a wagon road crosses the
railroad track. and as soon as the dying
train came in sight Of The lime pile he cross
ed 10 the apostle side of the engine and
Jumped for bis life He landed on the lime
pile all right but was rendered unconscious
by the force Of the fall. He recovered in a
few minutes and was able 70 walk to the
iunction. where be took the train fJr Johns
town.
Engineer NeT was in an awful predics-
ment, one that can be better imagined than
told. He realized that his train was beyond
control ard that its inordinate speed was in
creasing with every revolution ofthe wheels.
lie could have jumped and perhaps have
saved his life, bat could he leave his little
boy. a helpless woman aud her daughter all TO
be hurled to death without exerung a last
Effort 10 save their lives The thought was
banished in a moment, and with his steady
right hand clutching the lever he sat in his
cab Ikea hero. Only one chance 70 save
the lives on the runaway train remained. The
switch at the junction had been turned as a
precautionary measure for Just such an acci-
dent as this, and if the engine stuck TO the
rails the train would avoid ,oolliding with
the cars loaded with stone standing on the
main track. and would glide on TO the sid
ing. which hugs the steep hillside to the right
and would there come TO a stand still unable
TO drag the heavy weight which had propelled
il down the grade with such frigdtful velocity.
On, on the train sped, amid the shrieks OF
the startled children and the frantic cries Of
the loving mother. Nef never looked to the
right OF LEFT. but with determined stare on
his face he made a final effort to check the
speed Of his train. that nothing could have
stopped. The next instant there was a
crash. The engine had jumped the track al
the switch and dashed into the loaded cars.
The three members of the Pile family were
thrown out on the left side Of the engine in
a heap. and several of the immense stones
on the car back Of them were hurled onto
their bodies crushing them into pulp. The
litile Nef boy was tossed from his seat in
front OF his father over the top Of the cab
and landed on the engine between the
bell and whistle. When the engine top
Piled over the lad fell with it. he was hor-
ribly scalded But had enough strength LEFT
10 crawl away from the kissing steam and
call tOpne OF the workmen TO carry him 10
his home only few rods distant. The brave
engineer stuck 10 his post and even the ter-
rible shock Of the collision could no. throw
him rom his position. HIS grasp on his le-
yer was only broken when the engine fell
over and after his thumb had been pulled
from its socket. Bleeding and scalded be
crawled from under the wreck aud anxious
IL inquired for his child.
The two Italians who lost their lives were
sitting on the car next to the engine. When
the crash came they were thrown forward
under the engine. Both were literally boil
ed BY escaping steam and in their agony tore
the flesh from their bodies with their fingers.
They were carried to their boarding house
near BY. Both realized that death was i'm
minent and made piteous appeals to their
countrymen to write messages for them to
their wives and children in sunny Italy.
The mangled bodies Of the Piles were re-
moved from the wreckage as speed as
possible and were tenderly carried to their
home mile away Here they were reeeiv-
ed by the children. who had been orphaned
in a twinkling, with apparent stoicism, 50
sudden was the shock.
The triple funeral Of the Piles took place
Thursdays afternoon, Rev. Silas Hoover, Of
the Brethren church officiating Mr. Pile
had been a soldier in the civil war and he
was given a soldiers funeral by members Of
z p Cummins Post, G. a 4. The inter
ment took place at the Pleasant Hill church,
Milford township, and was attended by
large crowd Of people.
The body Of Russell Nefr was inferred in
the Lutheran cemetry, at Somerset Thurs
day afternoon.
The same day two fathers OF the Catholic
church visited the scene Of the wreck and
performed the last rites ofthat church over
the body Of the dead Italian. Later in the day.
the body was inferred in the grave yard near
Milford station.
John Murdoch, Jr., the general manager
of the Stone Company, was untiringin his
attention 10 the wounded and carefully
looked after their comforr. It was
known that the man who was removed
to Johnstown had been fatally injured. hut
when be expressed desire to be taken to
hospital Mr. Muriock Immediately arranged
for his removal to the Memorial Hospital in
that city.
A visit to the scene Of the wreck leaves
the impression that nothing but Providence
saved the lives Of the men who escaped from
the Inflated train. The Bare Rocks railroad
twists its sinuous way over one Of the most
barren and ro8ghest sections Of territory in
Sharp rocks and eharred
slnmps line the road on either side and the
only two points along the entire road where
it would be epossible to jump from a rapidly
moving train and escape without being
horribly msngled. was where Mr.. Mnrdoek
left the train q mile above the junction, and
Al the junction itself
On ntheily OF the accident only about one
half Of the usual force Of men was at work !
IN the quarry Had the faIl force been at [
work sad had all been on board the train in 1
the evening. as it was customary for them TO /
be in order 70 ride to their homes or board /
ng houses, the number OF hialities mas;
lave tesn greater
Thuisday morning the B & o. wreck train
scared aNsy ;he debris Of the wreck and the 1
leTt day tie wrecked engine and oars were 1
AIKEN 20 the Cambria I5On Company's shops 4
Il JohDsioEn 70 be repaired. The loss 10
ile stone Company is estimated AZ 81 600.
A B. & o. engine has been engaged tempo
arly and to-day the Stone Company is in as
c;ive operation as though nothing had
TO interfere with its daily routine.