Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-03

WnKEsBARRE, PA, December p
A frightful accident occurred on the
Lehigh Valley Railroad at White
Haven at o'clock this morning. A
freight train bound east broke in half
about a mile north OF White Haven.
The engineer in charge did not
notice that his train was disconnected
and proceeded on his way. A h2gmau
and braksmen were on the rear end Of
the train, and they made every effort to
bring the runaway cars, which were
going down grade at rapid rate, to
stop. They had nearly succeeded when
wreck engine No. III came along be-
hind. The fagman Of the runaway
train was busy putting on the brakes
and was not at his post
TO SIGNAL TRAINS FOLLOWING.
The engineer Of the wreck engine
says be saw no signal ahead and while
running at the rate of 30 miles an hour
he dashed into the cabooSe OF the run
away train which had now been almost
brought to stand still. The engine
ploughed its way through the caboose
and four of the cars ahead,
finally landing in the principal street
of the town which runs parallel with
the railroad. The stove in the caboose
set fire to the wreck, and in short
time the flames communicated to the
dwelling houses along the street.
Ruhnke's hotel, the largest in the town,
was soon in a blaze. Il. w. Rieker's
livery stable and grocery store next
caught. The fire department worked
hard and prevented the spread OF the
flames. The hotel was entirely de-
stroyed as was the livery stable and
grocery store.
1t is feared that two or three men are
buried in the wreckage, which is being
cleared up as fast as possible. The
fagman and brakeman have not Leen
seen since the accident occurred. This
iS the most disastrous wreck that has
occurred since the strike began.
THE LOSS BY THE FIRE
in the town will foot up fully $40, 900.
A Lehigh Valley official said that the
wreck was the most disastrous in the
history of the company since the Mud
Run catastrophe In October 1883, when
6s lives were lost. The accident this
morning happened under pretty much
the same conditions. Trains were al
lowed to follow each other in too
rapid succession. The company
succeeded in making up three big
freight trains in the Coxton and Wilkes
barre yards last night. They were dis
patched east shortly after midnight.
The first train passed White Haven all
right. The second came along about
eig ghteen minutes later. Two non
union men were in charge.
They were piloted by tee-
praph operator who knew the road.
After the train passed over the noun
tsins and was approaching White
Haven from the north the engineer
gave the signal "off brakes" Then he
cut on full head of steam and pulled
out" The brakemen, who were also
non-union men, did not respond quick
enough and their failure to release the
brakes promptly caused the train to
part in two places.
IN TEN MINUTES
after the accident the hotel was. en-
vsoped in flames. In less than an
hour the hostelry was in ruins. w.
Ricker's grocery store and Cramer's
livery stable were also destroyed.
At 9 o'clock the fremen thought
they had the fire extinguished and
turned their attention to the
wreck, but at 10 o'clock another
alarm was sounded, and it was
found that another block adjoining the
burned hotel was on fire. After work
ing hard for three hours the fremen
finally subdued the flames. Five stores
were burned in the block, but no dead
bodies have been found In the wreck.
The company's loss will reach SEQ, 900.
ABAD WRECK AT EAsToN.
EAsToN, PA, December "A costly
wreck occurred early this morning on
the Lehigh Valley road at this place, in
which two engines and President VIII
bur's private combination car, the dor
othy," were completely disabled. En-
gine No 1872 going east overlook q coal
train loaded at Greensbri6ge, n. j.,
two and half miles from
here. The crash was inevitable
and the engineer reversed his
engine and with the fireman jumped
and saved their lives. The engine then
started backward at terrible rate Of
speed, and at Stockton crossing Phil
lipsburg crashed into the "Dor othy,"
the crew of which jumped when they
saw the runaway engine coming.
The 1872 being the heaviest Of the
two locomotives succeeded in
pushing the Dorothy" back
distance sof TWO miles TO the Abbot
street crossing, South Easton, where
they collided with engine No. 4, draw
ing an eastbound coal train. Railroad
ers say that the engines came past the
Easton station at rate Of fully As miles
an hour The wreckaRe is streWn along
the tracks for great distance. Strange
to say, none Of tie engines left the
track. The crew OF engine 1872 can't be
found.
STOCKHOLDERS COMPLAINING.
WILKEsRARRE, Pa, December a
it is rumored that a number OF the
stockholders of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad will bring strong press
ure 70 bear 70 settle the
strike. Stockholders fear the de-
structIon to property by wrecks
will force bankruptcy. Grand Master
Wilkinson, of the Brotherhood OF Train
men, said this morning that the com
pany could not operate its road with
the present force Of men. Fifty men