Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-05-16
PeODle were thrown in all di

quake. People We're thrown in all di-
rections; several of the cars were
smashed like matchwood.
After the sounds of the clash had died
away the screams and cries of women
and men could be heard on every hand
| saw q number Of bodies of the killed
and wounded. / do not know the num-
Der, but there must have been about
twenty killed outright. Many others
were unconscious. There must have been
about seventy injured The parlor car
on our train was smashed. but not badly
Its strength saved it, and the occupants
of it escaped with less INJURIES I believe
than those in the accommodation car
next to it."
An official of the railroad company
gives the number of dead as twenty three
and says forty are badly injured. Sew
eral Of the latter, it is thought, will die
before night.
Technical Story of Disaster.
Fast express train No. IL, which ordi-
narily runs through from Reading to
Pottstown without stop, was held up at
Exeter by coal train which was using
the crOsS-Over switch there.
While standing there awaiting orders a
special through train running from Har-
rlSburg to Philadelphia on account of
Hartranft day, ard laden with eXcur
slonists, came along and crashed into the
rear cars of No u, wrecking two day
coaches and a Pullman, and crushing
the lives out of many Of their occupants.
The special was running as second sec
ton of No. II, allowing the latter about
a minutes Roadway and the engineer, it
IS presumed, did not see the red light
which was displayed at the Exeter sta
ton while giving orders to No. u. At
any rate the great engine came along I'M
der full head of steam and with the ter
rlhc momentum which the weight of O
heaylly-laden train behind it would nat
urally impart, crashed into the rear of
the waiting train. The rear day coach,
the Pullman ahead and the day coach
splinters. The day coach behind the
smoker and the smoker itself escaped
comparatively uninjured and were later
brought down the road and run into Phil
adelphia.
The engine and these two cars, with
several baggage cars, constituting what
was left of No. II, were brought to this
city. On them were a number of people
who were slightly injured.
Some of the dead and wounded were
taken to Norristown on a special train
sent down from Reading for that pur-
pose.
Excellent service was rendered by the
members of Co. +, Pennsylvania Ma
tional guard, of Norristown, in assisting
the nurses sent from the Reading hosp-
tai
G. i. Laverty's body is badly multi
ated. The remains were identified
through number of articles found on
scribed &C. l.. Laverty, Harrisburg.
Room II, College Block"
Luclen Custer, aged IS years, Of Potts
town, had both legs broken and died at
> clock this morning at his home at
that place.
Railroad Mans Statement.
Philadelphia Pa, May 13-Gen. SuDt
A l. Swlgert Of the Reading railway
gave out statement this afternoon in
which he places the number killed in the
wreck near Exeter, Pa, last night at
twenty-five and those injured at fifty In
his statement Mr.. Swigert says:
The cause of the accident was the
pulling out of a drawbar on a coal train,
which was taking sidetrack at Birdsboro
to allow the first section of the express
train to pass. On account of this draw
bar having pulled out considerable time
was consumed III coupling up the coal
train and it did not clear Train No. II
(the first section) left Reading three min
utes late and ran by the block at Exeter
the entire length of the train, but imme-
diately backed the length of the train
while the conductor was receiving his or
ders at the telegraph office.
The block ahead then being cleared.
the train started, and just as it was
leaving the second section collided with
the rear Of the train.
The engine of the second section tele-
scoped the Harrisburg coach its entire
length and stopped with the front end
Of the engine in the Pullman car. The
front end of this Pullman car was also
crushed in by the car ahead. The first
car of the second section was damaged
to some extent, as was the car next to
it,
Three of the killed and three Of the in
iured were employed in the United
States appraisers department in this city.
The killed were: Capt George c. NJ
Eicnoltz of Downingtown. Capt. c. t.
STREET. Of Philadelphia, Elmer E. Schelly
of Philadelphia. The injured, who are
in the Norristown hospital. are: Frank
j. Taggart of West Chester, Alfred
Hardness Of Ogontz and Frank Harring-
ton of this CITY