Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-10-27
The Wreck ut Gallery.

Although the P. d W. and B. d 0.
roads have carried their share of the travel
lers to and from the Worlds Fair, this
summer, they boast that not single lie
has been lost on their lines. This proud
record, however, came near being broken
at Gallery last Mondsy morning when the
fast train going, which is composed en-
tirely of sleepers and which does not stop
at Gallery went flying by and moment
after was derailed by an open or a de-
fective switch. The engine kept the
main track, but the first car left it; the
engineer quickly turned on the air, and
the train was stopped within three rods,
and nobody seriously injured.
The first Pullman was thrown nearly over,
plunging into an embankment OF clnders
that acted as even perfect airbrakes could
not have done, stopping the train like
lightning. or the tlrst four cars, three are
nearly total loss, aud the fourth Will
need d great deal of repairing The first Is
actually splintered, and the floors OF the
next two we're piowed up by the tracks SO
badly that they will have 10 be replaced by
new once. All of the trucks must. be sent
to the scrap pile. The miracle Is tnat not
only was there no one killed, but not one
man. woman or child has cut or scratch
to take home a. a souvenir Of the most ex-
citing event in their lives. Several ladies
tainted when they realiEen how providen-
tia S-1s th-ir escape, but there are no ser1-
ous results anticipate IL their cases.
District Passenger Agent Ed Smith OF
the Baltimore d. Ohio, and General Pas
senger Agent Bassett of the Pittsburg
Western were, as it happened, both re-
turning from Chicago on this train, and
they were at once alive to the situation
OF course both were greatly surprised, as
well as pleased, to learn that no one was
either killed or hurt, and they Immediately
took steps to care for the passengers until
the arrival of the second section OF the
train. some two hours later, when all
aboard the wrecked train, many of whom
had not even left their cars, were transfer
red to the second section and brought to
Pittsburg, none the worse OF their hair
raising experience except, perhaps, Tor
shock that all soon forgot apparently.
But none quite 80 soon forgot how won
derful b ad been their escape, or how much
had depended upon the GOODNESS and
bravery of the engineer, James Park, and
his equally brave comrade, Fireman VII
liam Purcell. Both live IL Chicago juno
ton and were obliged to remain with their
wrecked train, but movement set on foot
at once to raise purse for the two brave
men netted nearly 800, which was tender
ed them with the profound thanks and ap-
probation of the passengers. Then 1t was
that the engineer and fireman proved that
they were as modest as they are brave.
They politely, but none the less firmly and
emphatically, refused to take one cent for
what they insisted was only in the direct
line Of their duty, and in no way could
they be prevailed upon to change their
minds. The committee having the matter
in charge then determined To take the
money to Now York and have made two
beautiful gold medals attesting the appre-
citation Of the passengers, all OF whom feel
that they certainly owe their lives or limbs
TO the mon who prevented them from
crushing into the freight train on the sid
ing at Gallery Junction.
The passengers OF the second section
were taken by surprise wher they saw
three of the cars from the wreck added to
their train about two miles beyond the
scene Of the wreck. Then they were hrst
told what had happened, and when the
wreck was reached many got out and
walked around it, wondering at their es-
cape from q terrible catastrophe and listen
ing to the experiences Of the passengers
of the first section. Many of those on the
section had narrowly escaped the same
thrilling experience by not having beer
able to obtain accommodations on the
Pullman train.
Every birth onsthe sleepers was occupied
at the time Of the accident. Most OF the
passengers were bound TO New York and
Philadelphia the two rear coaches only
being reserved for Pittsburghers.