Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-31
nxrRrss TRAIN rLUScEs INTO A
TRAIN FULL or ExcURsIoNIsrs.
FORYY.TWO PERSONS KILLED.
Eighty Others More OF Less Seriously
Iniarea--News Of Engineers Death
,xins His wife-Gruesone Work of
Rescue.

Meadows. about two miles out Of this
city. shortly after $50 o'clock this eve
ming. resulting In the death OF forty-two
pcoale. so far IS now can be learned,
ana the woundng OF eighty others.
train left here. consisting Of seven cars
over the West Jersey railroad, bearing
a special excursion OF Red Men and their
friends, OF Bridgeton. y. j.. and Salem.
and had reached the crossing Of the
Reading railroad when IL was struck
by the $50 down express from Philadel-
phia, demolIshing two cars and telescop-
ing the following two. The engine Of the
Reading train became total wreck.
killing the engineer and fatally injuring
the fireman. and the car behind 1t was
also thrown from the track, and many
OF IT'S occupants were killed or injured.
The responsibility for the collision has
not yet been placed but William Thur
low. the operator at the block tower
situated near the crossing. has been
placed under arrest, by order Of the
Coroner.
Leaving the city, the tracks Of the
West Jersey road run parallel 70 those
of the Camden and Atlantic until after
llCy CIOcS the NIdNDIl0bts WHCh AANs
switch off 10 the south, crossing the
Reading road at an obtuse angle.
SIGNALS OPEN.
John Greiner the engineer OF the West
Jersey train, saw the Reading train ap-
preaching the crossing at swift speed, but
as the signals were open for him to pro-
coed on his way he continued. His en-
gine had barely cleared the track or the
Reading when the locomotive OF the lat
ter train, which left philadelphia at 5AO
p. NJ, struck the first car full in the
centre, throwing IL far of the track INTO
a nearby ditch and completely eubmerg-
ing 1t. The second car OF the west JeI-
sey train was also carried into the ditch,
the third and fourth cars being tele-
scoped. The engine of the Reading train
was thrown to the other side Of the track,
carrying with IL the first coach.
A few minutes after the collision, 20
add to the horror OF the situation. the
boiler OF the Reading locomotive ex-
ploded, scalding several TO death ana
throwing It's boiling spray over many OF
the injured passengers.
AZ soon as the news reached this city
II spread with rapidly. and thousands OF
people Hooked TO the scene In the ROAD
leading to the place Of the accident was
q constant procession of hacks, buses
bicycles. and all other kinds Of vehicles,
while thousands OF pedestrians hurried
along the path 10 render what assistance
they could or TO satisfy their curiosity.
WORK OF RESCUE.
Darkness fell quickly, and the work OF
rtecung the injured and Of recovering the
bodies OF the dead was carried on under
the glare OF huge bontires. IL was
Eruesome sight presented TO on-lookers,
as the mangled and burnt forms of the
81
which bound them and laid side by side
on the gravel bank near the track. with
no other pail than few odd newspapers
gathered from the passengers. the
wounded were quickly gathered together
and carried by train and wagon 10 the
Atlantic City Hospital. where six Of them
died shortly after their arrival.
The old Excursion house, at the foot
OF Mississippi avenue, was converted into
a morgue and thither the dead were
taken. At late hour this evening there
We're twenty mine bodies laid out there,
none Of which are as yet identified.
This city is terribly excited over the
accident The streets In the vicinity OF
The Excursion house and the City Hos
pltal. as well as the road leading to the
scene OF the accident, being packed with
people anxious 10 learn the latest news.
fhe Bridgeton and Salem excursionists
who escaped injury were brought back
TO this city and sent home on special
train several hours later in the evening"
MEDICAL EMERGENCY CORPS.
James W. Hoy, the secretary OF the De-
partment Of Public Safety, Immediately
upon learning Of the extent of the ca
tastrophe. telegraphed for the Philadel-
phia Medical Emergency Corps, fifteen OF
whom responded. and hurried to the city
on a special train, which left Philadel-
phia at 1913 p NJ. These surgeons ma
terially aided the volunteer corps OF this
city. which embraced almost every ply
sician at present within its confines.
Many Of the injured were taken 10 hotels.
About thirty Of the wounded had their
injuries dressed. and were able TO pro-
ceed on their way. 1t Is expected that
fully a dozen OF those now lying I'm the
hospital Will not survive their injuries.
Mrs. Edward Farr, the wife OF the
Reading engineer who met death while
performing his duty. and was found with
one hand on the throttle and the other
on the brake. when Informed or the &C
cldent and her husbands tragic death
was unable 10 withstand the shock, and
fell to the floor, dead
IDENTIFIED DEAD.
The list Of identified dead is as follows;
Mr.. and Mrs. TRENCHARD. Bridgeton,
identified by their nephew, T. w. Trench-
ard.
EDWARD FARR, engineer OF the Read
ng train. Atlantic City.
kAAfUEL THORN. baggage-master,
Pennsylvania railroad. Atlantic city.
p. s. MURPHY. Millville, N. j.
]. d. JOHNSTON and J. d. BONON'
BHAS. 3ridgeton.
g. u. TAYLOR. no address.
p. II. GOLDSMITH and WIFE. Bridge
ton.
SAMUEL. SMITH, Atlantic City.
D. Il. WOOD. shipping clerk, Philadel-
phia-
JOHN GREINER. Bridgeton.
CHARLES ACKLER, Salem
CHARLES MGEAR Bridgeton.
FRANKLIN DUBOIES. Woodruff, N. j.
Mrs. j. ERNEST. Bridgeton.
INJURED.
Howard Woodland. Bridgeton; arm
broken.
samuel MUTT Brideeton; scalp wound
and internally injured.
W. Spaldlng guest at the Royal Cot
tage; internal injuries.
Howard Smalley, Bridgeton; BODY
bruised: head cut.
W c. Hernsley, No. q Pine street,
Bridgeton: bodily injuries.
l.. G. Hemsley, wife OF tho above; body
and head bruised.
Mrs. ". A. Abbott Rhodestown, N. j.
lex and arm broken.
IAzsie smalley. Bridgeton, and Carolina
\. Mailer arms and legs severely In
lursd.
c. ID. wraser ana wife. BrIdgeton; both
badly cut on head.
Irwin Duboies. Is years: head cut, and
bodily injuries.
Mrs. NJ. Keiger. Elmer, N. j.; back
hurt and head cut