Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-05-18
Details of Disaster

DetSHs Oi DfsasUer
Reading, Pa, May 13-At least
twenty-five persons were killed and
forty injured in the collision between
two trains on the Philadelphia 4 Read.
ing Railroad Ut Exeter station six
miles below Reading.
Among the dead are
Adds, George H.. Norristown.
Beatty, Samuel. Norristown.
Hunchbinger, Harris. Norristown
Johnson, John, serious; Montclair.
Leaf. John E., Montgomery County.
Lewis. Milton. Norristown.
MCraw, Miss Annie. Ashland
Shaw. George, Norristown.
Shelly, Hiram. Hatboro.
Showers, Frank, NOrristown
Silvis, Benton. Reading.
Slater, William, .Nerristown.
Siinghuff, John, Norristown.
Savers, George. Norristown.
Street, Capt, Philadelphia.
Thompson, Harry, NOrristown.
Wentz, Henry, Ncrristown.
The list of injured so far as obtained
is rs follows:
Smith. Eddie. NorrisiGs,
White, Charles, .J0rristown.
O'Neil, Nathan, Nsrristown.
Clster. Luther, serious, Pottstown.
johnson, John, serious; Mt. Clair.
Kerr, Patrick, Ncrristown.
Walters, Pascal. Swedeland.
f.eister, Harry D., serious; Phoenix
vile.
Vanderslice, l.. H., Phoenixville.
Addle, Thaddeus. Norristown.
Fredboro. William, N0frlstown.
Maddis, Charles, C0nshoshockeu.
Fireman on Special, hurt by jump
ing.
Kautz, Harry, Norristown.
Special Railroad Officer Kirkpatrick,
Maddelling, Miss Annie, Ashland.
Jacobs, Capt. Henry. Norristown.
tshenfeller, A. j.. Philadelphia.
kucker, George, Philadelphia.
Steinbeck. Francis T.. Camden.
Beaver, G. A. Philadelphia.
Barney. b.. Philadelphia.
Carney, David, Norristown.
orrell, Harry. Philadelphia engineer
Of the second train.
Everett, w. L.. Philadelphia, fireman
of tile second train.
The express train for Philadelphia
WAS about half an hour late in leaving.
Meantime iaany passengers OH the
train from Harrisburg went aboard
lhe Philadelphia Express train while
it stood in the station at Reading, but
the number OF Harrisburg passengers
being too great to be accommodated on
the express train, ii was decided to
send an extra rain to Philadelphia to
run as q second section to the express.
The extraordinary travel from Har
was due to the number of peo-
pie who went to the State capital to
Witness the exercises connected with
the unveiling of the llartranft Monu-
mcnt. The second section left here
about twenty minutes after the ex
press train had departed.
At Exeter station the first train
stopped for orders, and while standing
still was crashed into by the second
section with terrific force the latter
train al the time running at great
speed. The locomotive ploughed clear
the two rear ears. reducing
them to splinters. and then mounted
the end of the third car from the rear.
rhc first car of the second train was
also wrecked.
The havoc wrought to the occupants
of these ears was appalling Many
were crushed to death Instantly. while
others We're mangled and manned in a
horrible manner. NorristOwn WAS the
home of the late Gov. Hartranft. and
many of that town had gone to Harris
burg to do honor 10 his memory by
in the unveiling OF the
monument.
rhe first train consisted OF two ex-
press cars. mail and baggage ear. a
ear. two day coaches. a
parlor ear and day coach in the order
The second train consist
ed of the sixth Regiment, National
Guards. whose headquarters are ut
and another ear contained
mrnibers of the Montgomery Hose
Company. of Norristown.
The other four ears had regular pas
4engers. including about twenty survi-
-ors of the Fifty-lirst Pennsylvania
.oluntccrs. Hartfrandt's old command.
l pon recovering from The effects Of
the shock those who escaped injury. or
who had been injured hut slightly, sci
10 work to rescue their more unfOrtu-
nate fellow messengers