Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-03-04
met A TERRIBLE death.
The Victims of a Railroad Wreck
at Philadelphia.
An Express From Washington Runs
Into Local Train.

The Southern express on the Pennsylvania,
which left Broad-Street Station, Pbilade,-
phia at 1920 the other morning, collided
with the Morton (Pa.) accommodation train
near South-Street Station, West Philadel-
phia. Three carsof the accommodation train
were wrecked.
A rumor gained wide circulation that the
special train bearing President Harrison
from Washington to New York was one of
the trains in collision. This however, was
nntrus. The Presidents sp cial passed
through for New York about on schedule
time.
The accommodation train was crossing
switch to pull into South Street Station. All
the cars hut the last ono had crossed when
the Southern express came rushing down
the track and struck the local passenger car
that was upon the switch fun in the middle.
The express was made up entirely OF heavy
Pullmans, and the light passenger car We.
hurried so feet from the track, broken and
smashed by thu terrible force of the blow
The express train escaped injury and tho
ems iaeer Immediately stopped his train. The
crash OF the collidng trans and the screams
aud shrieks of the unfortunate people pinned
DOM benea,h the troken timbers OF the
VIZ. cked car sp edily attracted al excited
crowd to the scene.
The Twenty-first District Police Station is
hut few sqnaIe s from the place where the
accident occurred, aud squad of officers
were soon on the scene aud tre work of ex-
Treating the injured passengers was soon
aocomp ished.
The killed and injured were confined to the
third car OF the accommodation and tois was
completely wrecked, -Four persons Were
killed and 10 injured. OF the injured none
is dangerously hurt
Rev. James Walker, one Of the victims of
the disaster, was the rector of Calvary Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, at Rockdale, Della
ware county, near Lenni Station, where no
had been located for dozea years past. He
was So years of age and was well and favor
ably known by the clergymen OF the do
cese.
Mr. Walker and his wife occupied seat
in the centre OF the passenger coach on the
side where the collision occurred, with Mr.
Walker occupying the seat next TO the win
dow, and when the crash came he was iu-
ttantly III Ell by silver IRON the side of tho
car striking him in the stomach, disembowe.-
ing him. Mrs. Walker was thrown from her
seat by the coll sion aud dashed against the
rails OF the seat on the opposite side OF the
car, and received a severe scalp-wound. 1t
to which institution she was removed, that
MIS- Walker had also sustained inter nal in
jufies.
Edward L. MintZer, Jr., who was in
stantly killed, was about As years of age
The death OF Mr.. Mintzer was outright, his
head being actually severed from his body.
Mrs. Mntzer, who was sitting by his side
in the car, was also instantly killed, also be-
ing d capitated.
Miss Maria X. Reeves, OF Media, the
fourth victim, was taken out Of the wreck
alive and placed tenderly in an ambulance
connected with the University Hospital,
but she died before reaching that institu-
ton.
The train having the Presidential party
was delayed only short time q short dis
tince below the scene OF the wreck, and Il
thea proceeded to New York. Those on
board were no doubt unaware of the ter
rible slaughtersst human life caused by the
train which had preceded them from Wash
ington.
Little Edward Mintzer, the 10-yearold
son OF Mr.. and Mrs Mntz r, who were de
capi,ated and instantly killed, told at the
University Hospital where he was taken
after the collision, bow he escaped unn'
jured.
''Mamma and were sitting side by side IN
tie sent and was talking TO her. She had
a book, but shc was not reading III was
lying in her lap. And then, all at once, the
locomotive come in through the window.
And--wasn't it nice2 was not hurt a bit.
found myself lying right out on the ground
ard mamma and papa were nowhere 10 be
seen. don't know where they are now, but
| guess they'll be hero pretty soon"
The child was not informed OF tho awful
fate OF his parents, OF which, happily, he
had no suspicion.