The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-01-20
A RAILWAY
DISASTER |
Wreck on the %"Pennsy" at Pottsville
Last Night.
THE ENGINEERS TERRIBLE DEATH
Jonas shoup Died with His Hand on tn,
Throttle-Fireman Herman Barely
Escaped Death-other Trainmen
I~njured-None of the Pas
sengers Suffered.

P~oTTsvILLE, Jan. 20.-A fatal railroad
wreck occurred here last night. The list of
killed and injured
KILLED.
Jonas Shoup, engineer, of Delano, aged
about 43 years, married and leaves a large
family. He died two hours after the acct
dent.
NJUR
William Herman, fireman, lives at Delano,
wife, no children, terribly scalded about the
legs and body, not dangerously hurt.
Frank Koch, conductor of passenger train,
hurt by heavy trunk falling on him.
Jere Donovan, b-aggagemaster, received
ugly bruises.
Lehigh Valley passenger train No. SIP,
engine 400, due here from Delano at $50
last night, crashed into a car loaded with
scrap iron that had been knocked across
the main line near the old shoe factory, by
a runaway coal train from the Primrose
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The
engine and truck were thrown off the track
and were turned over on their sides. None
of the passengers were seriously hurt, but
all were badly shaken up.
The accident occurred north Of the juno
ton of the Pennsylvania main line and the
Minersville branch, which tracks, at this
point, are parallel with Nicholas street. On
the track Of the Minersville branch stood a
car loaded with scrap iron. Down this
branch came a loaded coal train from the
Lytle colliery. 1t is a gravity line and the
train, which consisted of about 20 cars, is
said to have been running without an engine.
1t is also said to have got beyond control Of
those aboard, and at all events, crushed into
the car loaded with scrap iron. The collision
derailed the car and threw it upon the main
line, the track used by the Lehigh Valley in
entering Pottsville. This was about 1910.
Simultaneous with the crash came the
whistle of engine No. 400 drawing the Valley
train No. 512 from the direction of Delano,
and a moment after the blaze Of her head
light burst into view rs the train appeared
from around the curve near the shoe factory,
but 600 feet away. No. 512 was twenty
minutes late and making good time. From
their position on the curve the trainmen
could not discern the condition of the track
ahead. Fireman Herman says they did not
see the wreck until close upon it. At that
short distance stop was impossible.
The engine fell upon the side occupied by
Engineer Shoup. He went under the wreck
age with his hand upon the throttle, and was
caught like a rat in a trap. Fireman Herman
was leaning out the window at the moment
of the crash. An instant after he was caught
in the debris, bruised and cut by the flying
timbers, and scalded by the steam escaping
from broken pipes. He was found dangling,
head foremost, from the cab window, endur-
ing great pain. With legs badly scalded and
otherwise injured he was removed to the
Gross residence nearby and from there to the
hospital.
There were Ave passengers in the front
coach; Mrs. A. j. Shortall, of Pottsville, re-
turning from Nahanoy City; Squire John
Buckley, Of Jalappa, E. Fisher and b. H.
Miller, two travelling men, and another,
whose name could not be learned. They
were preparing to leave the car as the crash
came. The abrupt stop flung them rudely
forward and upon the broken and uprooted
seats, but strange enough, they sustained no
injury save a few bruises. Frank Koch. the
conductor, was in the baggage car on the rear
end. He was flung about among the trunks
and bruised, asalso was Jerry Donovan, the
baggage-master, but neither were severely
hurt.
The people Of the neighborhood rushed to
the scene and offered what aid they could. By
this time the wreckage had taken fire. Soon
after a hose was secured from the Good Will
house and a stream from a neighboring plug
was played upon the flames. Chief Of Police
Pritchard was also upon the scene early and
assisted considerably. About three-quarte1
Of an hour after the collision a Pennsylvania
wreck train arrived on the scene. During
all this time Jonas Shoup, the engineer.
laid pinioned beneath his engine. His body
was bruised and his face black with coal dirt.
The feed pipe laid across his stomach and
bound him to the ground n his feet were
buried beneath the boiler. His feet were
burning the odor of roasting flesh was ap,
f parent, the feed pipe was crushing out hi.
life, but he made little complaint; merely
told the rescuers Of his condition. With re.
} markable fortitude, under the DISTRESSING
B circumstance, he camly directed the work OF
3 the Wreckers. He directed them TO saw of
a heavy timber that held the pipe againsI
{ his breast, This was accomplished after &
half hours work. He continually requested
the men to Jack her up" meaning that they
should raise the boiler beneath which hi
feet were imprisoned, by means Of iacl
screws. For some reason this was not be
gun until nearly midnight. With his fee
gradually roasting the mans pain must have
been awful. But he continued a calm an,
sensible conversation, encouraging the mel
who worked so heroically for his rescue
3 Drs. George II. Halberstadt, James Carpente
and Charles A. Zeller were present. At 114
Shoup became very weak, and il became
evident lhal ms emu was near. AL ll;0O M
motioned 10 a man beside him. Tell my
wife, he said, that l died in peace" \
moment after the brave engineer was dead
AT 1:15 a. IN. the body was released. /
was removed TO the family residence il
Delano this morning.
The wreckage was cleared away at day
light.
A strange chain Of fatal circumstance
followed Engineer Shoup during the past weel
lie had the reputation Of being ono Of thu
best experienced and most faithful an,
careful engineers ON the Lehigh Valley road
but last Thursday morning he struck ant
killed track Waterman john j. Mcdonald "a
the Kelley Rum Junction, Shenandoah, an,
ON Friday afternoon struck a farmers team
at Granville. The farmer and his team
escaped serious injury, however. Frida,
night Shoup became in and he remained ol
duty until yesterday morning.
The hospital authorities say that Herman
will recover from his injuries. He is a son
in-law Of Jabez Powell, Of East Coal street
; Shenandoah.
Cascarets stimulate liver, kidneys an
hnuroIe Nauar efaHn4 rr.nE.r, .- .-f.. ~