The record-union., 1896-07-31

ATLANTIC CITY CN. J.), July 30.-A
terrible railroad catastrophe took place
on the Meadows about two miles out
of this city shortly after $50 o'clock
this afternoon, resulting in the death
OF forty-two people, so far as can be
learned, and the injuring of eighty
Others
A train left here consisting of seven
cars over the West Jersey Railroad,
bearing a special excursion of Red
Men and their friends of Bridgeton, n.
y, and Salem, and had reached the
crossing of the Reading Railroad,
when it was struck by the $40 down
express from Philadelphia, demolish-
ing two cars and telescoping the two
following. The engine of the Reading
train became a total wreck, killing the
engineer and fatally injuring the fire
man, and the car following was also
thrown from the track and many Of it's
occupants killed.
1t is thought that William Thorlow,
the operator at the block tower near
the crossing, was to blame for the ac-
cident.
Leaving this city the tracks of the
West Jersey road run parallel to those
OF the Camden and Atlantic until after
they cross the draw bridge, when they
switch off to the south, crossing the
Reading at an obtuse angle. John
Greiner, the engineer of the West Jer-
sey train, saw the Reading train ap-
preaching the crossing at a swift speed
but as the signals We're open for him
TO proceed on his way he continued.
His engine had barely cleared the
track of the Reading when the locomo-
tive of the latter train. which left Phil
adelphia at $40 p. m. struck the first
car full in the center, throwing it far
of the track into ditch near by and
was completely submerged. The sec
ond car of the West jersey train was
also carried into the ditch, the third
and fourth being telescOped. The en-
gine of the Reading train was thrown
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 and
casting its boiling spray over many of
the injured passengers.
AS soon as the news reached this city
it spread broadcast, and thousands of
people focked to the scene. The road
leading to the place of the collision was
q constant procession of hacks, buses
and bicycles and all kinds of vehicles,
while thousands of pedestrians hurried
along the path to render what assist
ance they could or.to satisfy their curl
osity,
Darkness quickly fell, and the work
of rescuing the injured and dead
bodies was carried out under the glare
OF huge bonfires. It was a grewsome
sight presented to onlookers as the
mangled and burnt forms of the dead
were carried from the wreckage which
bound them and laid side by side on
the gravel bank near the track, with
no other pail than the few old news
papers gathered from the passengers.
The injured 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
a the foot of Mississippi avenue was
converted into a morgue, and thither
the dead were taken. At a late hour
tonight there We're twenty-nine bodies
laid out there none of which had been
identified
This city was terribly excited over
the accident The streets in the vicin-
fly of the excursion house and the City
Hospital, as well as the road leading to
the scene of the accident, were packed
with people anxious TO learn the It'd
ings.
The Brighton and Salem excursion
lists who escaped injury were brought
back to this city and sent home on
special train several hours later in the
evening.
James Hoyt, Secretary of the De-
Iartment of Public Safety Immediately
upon learning the extent of the catas-
trophe, telegraphed for the Philadel-
phia emergency corps, 80 of whom
responded and hurried to this city on a
special train, which left Philadelphia
at 1915 o'clock. These surgeons ma
terially aided the volunteer corps of
this city, which embraced almost very
physician at present within it's con-
fines. Many of the injured were taken
TO hotels after the City Hospital be-
came overcrowded. About thirty of
the injured had their wounds dressed
and We're able to proceed on their way
1t is expected that fully a dozen Of
those now lying in the hospital will
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 in
formed of the accident and her hus-
bands tragic death, was unable to
Withstand the shock and fell to the
floor dead.
The list of the identified dead Is:
Mr. and Mrs. Trenchard, Bridgeton;
Edward Farr, engineer of the Reading
train Atlantic City; Samuel Thorn,
baggagemaster, Pennsylvania Rail-
road, Atlantic City; p. S. Murphy,
Millville n. J.; ]. d. Johnson; D. Bong
has. Bridgeton; G. B. Taylor; p r.
Goldsmith and wife, Bridgeton; Sam
rel Smith Atlantic City; d. E. Wood,
Philadelphia; John Greiner. Bridgeton:
Charles Ackler Salem; Charles Nc
Gear. Bridgeton; Franklin Dubois,
woodruff: Mrs. J. Earnest, Bridgeton.
Following is list of the injured;