Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1896-08-01
CATASTROPHE.
An Express and Excursion Train
Come Together.
The West Jersey Railroad the Scene
of a Horrible Collision.
Forty-Two, People Killed aud Eighty u,
More Wchudcd--The Operator at
the Block Tower Placed
Under Arrest.

on the Meadows, about two miles out
of this city, shortly after 6:30 O'clock
Thursday evening, resulting in the
death of AZ people, so far as now can
be learned. and the wounding of so
others, A train left here consisting of
seven cars over the West Jersey rail-
road bearing u special excursion of
Red Men and their friends, of Bridge
ton, N j., and Salem, and had reached
the crossing of the Reading railroad
when it was struck by the $40
down express from Philadelphia,
demolishing two cars and telescoping
the two following. The engine of the
Reading train became total wreck,
killing the engineer and fatally iujur.
ing the fireman, and the car behind
also was thrown from the track and
many of it's occupants killed or in
jured.
The responsibility of the collision
has not yet been placed, but William
Thurlow, the operator at the block
tower situated at 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 & Atlantic until after
they cross the drawbridgc, 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 IA
swift speed. but as the signals were
open for him to proceed on his way he
continued. His engine had barely
cleared the track of the Reading when
the locomotive of the latter train which
left Philadelphia at GAO Atruck
the first car full in the center,
thowing it far off the track into q near
by ditch, and completely submerging
it. The second car of the West Jersey
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 it the first
coach. A few minutes after the COLI
sion, to add to the horror of the situa-
ton, the boiler of the Reading locomo-
tive exploded, scalding several to death
of the injured passengers.
AS soon as the news reached this
city it spread widccast and thousands
of people flocked to the scene. The
road leading to the place of the COLI
sion was a constant procession of
hacks, buses 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.
Darkness fell quickly and the work
of rescuing the injured and the dead
bodies was carried out under the lurid
glare of huge bonfires. 1t was grue-
some 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 odd
newspapers gathered from the passen-
gers. The wounded were quickly
gathered together and carried by train
and wagon to the Atlantic City hos
pital. where six of them died shortly
after their arrival.
The old Excursion house at the foot
of Mississippi avenue was converted
into morgue and thither the dead
were taken. AT late hour Thursday
evening there were 30 bodies laid out
there. none OF whom are as yet identi-
ged. This city is terribly excited over
the accident. The streets in the vcin-
ity of the Excursion house and the city
hospital, as we'll as the road leading to
the scene of the accident, being packed
with people anxious to learn the latest.
The Bridgeton and Salem excursionists
who escaped injury were brought back
to this city and sent home on a special
train several hours later in the even
ing. --.... -.--~cs' a. ssss<s.gss.
james Hoyt, secretary of the depart
ment Of public safety, Immediately,
upon learning the extent of the catas-
trophe, telegraphed FOR the Philadei-
phia emergency corys, $50 of whom re-
sponded, and hnrried to this city on a
special train, which left Philadelphia
at 10:45 p. m. These surgeons mater
tally aided the volunteer corps of this
city, who embraced almost every ply
sician at present within its confines
Many of the. injured were taken to
hotels as the city hospital soon became
overcrowded, About 80 of the wound
ed had their injuries dressed and were
able to proceed on their way. 1t is en-
pected that fully dozen of those now
lying ip 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 Of
the accident and her husbands tragic
death, was unable to Withstand the
shock and fell TO the floor dead.
The known dead are: S. p, Murphy,
Millville, N. j.; j. D. Johnston, Bridge
ton; Charles d. Bourroughs, Bridge
ton; G. b. Taylor, no address; Mr.. and
Mrs. p, C. Goldsmith, no address;
Samnel Thorne, baggagemaster, At
lantic City; ID. E. Wood, Philadelphia;
John Grever, Bridgeton; Chas Eackler,
Salem, N. j.; Charles McGear, Bridge