The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-08-07
AN AWFUL CALAMITY.
Two Crowded Trains Conided at q
Railroad Crossing.
Forty Two Persons Killed Outright and
Eighty injured. Most OF Whom
Must Dic~An Engineer
Dies at His Post.


miles out of this city, shortly afte
$50 o'clock last evening. resulting III
The death Of ~ people, rs far rs now
can be learned, and the wounding OF
60 Others. 4 train left here consisting
OF seven ears 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 i was struck by the
Gao down express from Philadelphia,
demOiishing two cars and telescoping
the TWO following. The engine OF the
Reading train became "A total wreck,
killing the engineer and fatally injur-
ing the fireman, and the car behind it
was also thrown from the track, and
many of its occupants killed or in
iured.
Abe responsibility for the collision
has not been placed, but William Thur
low, the operator of the block tower
situated a. the crossing, has been
placed under arrest by order OF the
coroner.
Leaving this city, the tracks of the
West Jersey road run parallel to those
of the Camden x Atlantic until after
they cross the draw bridge. when they
switch off to the south. crossing the
Reading road at an obtuse angle.
John Greiner, the engineer Of the
West Jersey train saw the Reading
train approaching the crossing at a
swift speed, but as the signals were
open for him to proceed on his way he
continued. Ills engine had barely
cleared the track of the Reading when
the locomotive of the latter train
struck the first ear square in the
center and throwing it far off the
track, and completely demolished it,
The second car OF the West Jersey
was also thrown of the track, the third
and fourth ears being telescoped. The
engine OF the Reading train was
tErOwn to the other side OF the track
carrying with it the first coach. A
few minutes after the collision, to add
To the horror of the situation, the
boiler of the Reading locomotive ex-
ploded, scalding several to death.
AS soon as the news reached this
city it spread with rapidity, and thous-
ands of people focked to the scene.
The road leading TO the place Of the
collision was a constant procession of
hacks, busses and bicycles and all
kinds of vehicles, while thousands Of
pedestrians hurried along the path to
render what assistance they could or
to satisfy their curiosity.
Dark ness fell quickly, and the work
OF rescuing the injured and the dead
bodies Was carried out under the lurd
glare u huge bonires. II was grew
some sight presented to onloolxers as
The nangled and burnt forms OF the
dead were carried from the wreckare
which bound them, and laid side by
side on the gravel bank near the
track, with no other pail than the few
odd newspapers gathered from the
passengers. The wounded were
quickly gathered together and carried
by train and wagon to 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 morgue, and thther the dead
Were taken.
AT late hour last night there were
20 bodies laid out there, none of them
as yet identified
This city is terribly excited over the
accident. The streets In the vicinity
OF the excursion house and the city
hospital, as well as the road leading To
the scene Of the accident, are packed
with people anxious to learn the latest.
The Bridgeton and salem excursion
lists who escaped injury were brought
back TO this city and sent home on
train several hours later in the even.
ing.
James Hoyt, secretary of the depart.
ment of public safety, immediatelv
upon learning the extent of the catas-
trophe, autographed for the Philadel-
phia emergency corps, $50 of whom
responded and hurried TO this city on
a special train.
Many Of the injured were taken to
hotels, as the city hospital soon be.
came overcrowded. About 30 OF the
wounded had their injuries dressed
and were able to proceed on their way.
Airs. Edward Farr. the wife Of the
Reading engineer who met death while
performing his duty and was found
with one hand on the throttle aud the
other on the brake, when informed Of
the accident and her husbands tragic
death, was unable to withstand tho
shock and fell to the floor dead.