The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-19
A LEH|CH VALLEY WRECK
Buffalo Express Crashes Into a Train
of Coal Cars.
A SWITCH WAS MISPLACED
Engine, Baggage and Express Car Badly
Shattered-passenger Shaken, but
Not Seriously InJured-Narrow Es.
cape of Engineer and Fireman.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa, Dec. 18.-The Buff
falo express on the Lehigh Valley rail-
road met with serious accident at
Horizons switch, three miles from here,
this morning. When near Horizons the
train ran into an open switch and
ploughed into a number of coal cars
standing on the track. The engine, bag
gage and express cars were badly
wrecked. The engineer and fireman
jumped to save themselves. The pas
sengers, most Of whom were asleep,
were badly shaken up but none were
hurt. A number of cars standing on
the switch were wrecked Traffic was
delayed for several hours.
At the point where the accident oc-
Cured is sharp curve. On the right
hand side are number of culm piles
extending from Port Bowkley to
Plainsville. On the opposite, or west,
side Is meadow considerably below
the level of the tracks. The train left
Wilkes-Barre ten minutes late and the
fact Of there being no stops between
that city and Ptttston, a distance of
nine miles, the train was running, when
the accident occurred, at rate of no
less than so miles an hour. Just as the
train pushed around the curve Engineer
Wahren saw the switch open, but be-
fore he could collect his thought the
train jumped the rail and crashed into
lot of coal cars that were standing on
the siding. The force of the crash was
terrific. The engine swayed for a mo-
ment and then toppled over into the
soft mud below. The baggage and ex.
press and smoking car in some way be-
came uncoupled from the remaining
coaches and followed the engine. They
are a total wreck.
Engineer Wahren and Fireman
Stephens stuck to their post, and not
withstandlng their thrilling experience,
escaped with slight injuries.
Fireman Stephens, who resides on
Parke street, West Pittston, was seen,
and in relating his experience said:
1--WE were flying along at a forty mile
an hour gait and was in the act of CIV
ing her coal when all of sudden / felt
the rumble beneath me and in an in
stant was hoisteG in the air. / knew
nothing more until l found myself be-
tween the engine and tender, which
had become separated. next dragged
myself out and secured medical attend
ance." Mr.. Stephens injuries consist
of several painful contusions of the
skin, but nothing serious.
G.. l.. Benieman, of Mauch Chunk,
the express messenger in charge, had
miraculous escape also. He was thrown
violently against the timbers and sus-
tanned a terrible cash in the head,
eighteen stitches being required to close
the wound. None of the passengers
or trainmen were hurt, but as can well
be imagined were badly shaken up.
Investigation leads to the belief that
a deliberate attempt was made to cause
the wreck. Only twenty minutes be-
fore the express ran into the switch an
empty engine passed over 1t in safety.
The railroad officials are thoroughly
aroused over the outrage and they say
they will spend thousands of dollars to
hunt down the Williams who made the
attempt at wholesale murder.