The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-04-26

A runaway train on the Somerset Stone
Companys railroad, four miles below here,
caused the instant death Of at least three
persons and fatally injured number Of
Others, shortly before six O'Clock last even
ing.
John f. Pile Milford farmer, his wife and
yoHng daughter, were killed and Jacob
Neff and his nine year-old son were severely
seAlded, the latter fatally, and number Of
workmen were seriously injured.
The Somerset Stone Company's railroad
runs from Milford station TO the Company's
quarries at Bare Rocks, two miles north
east. The road is equipped with small
engine aud number Of gondOia cars
The grade OF the road is very steep, be-
ing abou, 80 feet TO the mile. At noon
Tuesday two cars loaded with dressed stone
were run down 10 the junction of the Som
erset 4 Cambria and the Stone Company's
railroads. After this the engine returned to
the quarry and remsined there until a few
minutes before siI O'Clock, when it was at
tsched to two more loaded ears. The work
men 81 the quarry, about twenty in number,
all quit work at this hour and majority of
them erawled on board the cars in order to
ride to their boarding house al the end OF
the line. Jacob Nef was the engineer in
charge Of the locomotive. His son Russell,
lad Of about nine years Of age, was in
the engine with him, as were the three
members Of the Pile family, who happened
to be at the quarry a. the time and took sd-
vantage ofthe opportunity to ride part Of
the distance home. The train had
proceeded on its way for q mile or
more without incident when suddenly
its momentum perceptibly increased. En-
gineer Nelf applied the brakes, and 70 his
CONSERVATION found that they would not
hold the train Sand was applied to the
slippery rails aud again he tried 70 check
the speed of the now dying train, bat all to
no purpose; the train was beyond his con
troll The whistle shrieked an alarm to the
worknen on the cars behind. Faster
and faster sped the runaway train past rocks.
stumps and broken timbers. In less time
than it takes TO tell the story the train had
covered the distance from where it got be-
yond the engineer control to the curve a
few rods east Of the ejanction. On the main
track al the junction stood the two loaded
cars hauled down from the quarry in the
morning. Into these the flying train hurl-
ed Itself with a frightfaI crash. |
The engine was literally demolished |
and the four cars with their heavy
loads were piled on top Of one another in a
huge mass John Pile, wife and daughter
were thrown under one Of the cars and the |
heavy rocks fell upon taem crushing their |
bodies into pulp. 4 number of the work |
men were also embedded in the debris.
They are all Italians and their names |
could not be learned tonight. Engineer |
e. Jake Neif and his little son were thrown |
to one side Of the engine and were scalded !
by escaping steam. A number ofthe work |
men jumped from the train before the crash |
occurred; how many of them were injured |
has not been learned. John Murdock, OF |
JohnstOwn, President Of the stone Company,
was on the train. he Jumped from il when |
itcame in sight Ofthe junction and escaped |
without serious accident. He passed |
through Somerset on his way to Johnsto WI
on the evening train. He had to be assisted
from the engine TO the passenger coach
when the train arrived here. It is possible
that he may have received internal injuries
The Somerset & Cambria train, north
bound. stopped ar the Stone CompAny's
junction = few minutes aher the accident.
A messenger came TO Somerset on the train
and procured the services OF two or three
physicians. Meanwhile Conductor Waite
teiegrsphed to headquarters, asking permits
sion 10 sidetrack MS train al Somerset and
take the physicians to the scene of the
accident on his engine before proceeding
to JOhnstOwn. Permission was promptly
granted him and Drs. Carothers and Kimmel,
we're hurried to the scene, on board the en-
gine.
Word comes from the junction that the
accident resulted through the engineers not
having sufficient steam 70 operate the
breaks. This report is discredited, howev-
er. and ii is more than probable that the ac-
eident was occasioned by slippery rails, caus-
ed by the continued rain OF the past week.
The bodies Of Pile his wife and his
daughter were taken from the debris o. the
wreck and were removed to their home,
about two miles distant, several hours after
the accident happened.
Four Of the !aborers on the train. all of
them Italians, we're severely scaided, two Of
them it is thought fatally.
Engineer Nef, who isa native ofSomer-
set and until the last few months was e
resident ofthis place was badly sealded, but
his condition IS not considered serious. His
son was frightfully scalded and the physi-
clans have 10 hope Of his recovery.