The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-31
KILLED
An Express Crashes Into an
Excursion Train at At.
lantiC City.
RESTITS M THE ACCIDENT
RESULTS OF The ACCIDENT
FOrty-tWo Persons Are Killed Out
right and Many Die Of Their In
juries--An Engineers Wife Drops
Dead Upon Learning Her Husbands
fate--LiSt Of Dead and Injured.

Atlantic city, \. j., July 3O.-A ter
rible railroad catastrophe took place on
the Meadows about two miles out of
this city shortly after $50 o'clock this
evening, resulting in the deaths of
forty-twu people, SO far as now can be
learned, and the wounding Of eighty
Others. A train left here consisting Of
seven cars over the West Jersey rail-
road. bearing Il special excursion of
Red Men and their friends Of Bridge
tom and Salem, and had reached the
crossing of the Reading railroad. when
II was struck by the $40 down express
from Philadelphia, demonshing two
ears and telescuping the two following.
The engine of the Reading train be
came Il total wreck, killing the engineer
and fatally injuring the fireman, and
the ear behind it also was thrown from
the track, and many of its occupants
killed or injured 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
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
Beading road AT AN obtuse angle.
FOLLOWED SIGNALS
John Greiner. the engineer of the
West Jersey saw the Reading train ap-
prOaching the crossing al a swift speed
but as the signals We're open for him
t. uroceed ON his way he continued.
Ills engine had barely cleared the
track of the Reading when the locomo-
tive of the latter train, (Which left
Philadelphia at $40 p. m. struck the
first car ful in the center. throwing
; ii far off the track into Il nearby ditch.
and completely submerging IL. The
second ear Of the West Jersey train
was also carried into the ditch. the
third and fourth ears being telescoped
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 collision. to adj
tu the horror Of the situation the boil
-r of the Reading locomotive exploded
StdIulHS S''NtTdl u utdlH, anu tdStlHs
its boiling spray over many of the in
jured passengers As soon as the news
reached this city it spread widecast aud
thousands of people Hooked to the
scene. The road leading To the place
of the collision was Il constant process
sion of hacks. busses, and bicycles. ani
all kinds of vehicles, while thousands
of pedestri hurried along the path
To- render what assistance they could
or to satisfy their curiosity.
Darkness fell quickly, and the work
of reScuin" the injured and the dead
bodies was carried out under the glare
uf huge buntres. Ii was gruesome
sight presented To onlookers as the
mangl.d and burnt forms OF the dead
We're carried from the wreckas- which
bound and killed them side by side on
th. gravel bank near the track. with
no other pail than the few old newspa-
pers gathered from the passengers. The
wounded We're quickly gathered toS-th-
er 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
a morgue, and thther the dead were
taken. 4; late hour this evening
ther. We're twenty-nine bodies laid out
there none of whom are as yet identi-
fled.
THE CITY EXCITED.
This city is terribly excited over the
accident. The streets in the vicinity of
excursion house and the city hospital.
~, a
"f the accident, being packed with peu-
ple anxious to learn the latest. The
RridgetUn and Salem excursionists who
escaped injury were brought back to
this city and sent home on Il special
train several hours later in the evening
James w. Hoyt. secretary of the de-
partnent of public safety. Immediately
upon learning of the extent of the catas-
trophe, telegraphed for the Philadelphia
medical emergency corps. fifteen of
whom responded and hurried to this
! city ON special train which left Phila
/ delphia at 1915 p. m. These surgeons
materially aided the volunteer corps of
! this city, which embraced almost ev-
/ cry physician at present within its con-
| fines. Many of the injured We're taken
I To hotels. as the city hospital soon be-
| came Overcrowded. About thirty of the
wounded had their injuries dressed and
, were able to proceed on their way. 1t
is expected that fully a dozen of those
now lying in the hospital will not sur
vive their injuries.
Mrs. Edward Farr. the wife of the
Reading engineer who met death while
performing his duty, and was found
with his 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.
IDENTIFIED DEAD.
The list of the identified dead are:
Mr.. and Mrs. Trenchard, Brdgeton: iden-
| titled by their nephew, n. W. Tren-
chard. city socilitor of Bridgeton.
Edward Farr, engineer of the Reading
railroad train. Atlantic city.
Samuel Thorn. baggage MASTER Penn
!. sylvania railroad. Atlantic City.