The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-10
COCO 900 GO &C g @ 900

sion train that all the deaths and most
of the casualties occurred. The other
cars, though their occupants were
badly shaken up, stayed on the track
and were in condition to be hauled off
The baggage car in front of the local
train was rather badly smashed up.
From Dunellen, Boundbrook and
other places surgeons were quickly
summoned. They came over the Cen
trail Railroad of New Jersey, whose
tracks run parallel with the Lehigh at
this point, about 400 yards distant.
! Wrecking trains were quickly on hand.
! AS the dead were taken from the
demolished car they We're put in the
rear car of the excursion train and
taken to BOundbrook, where a Coroner s
inquest was held tonight. The in
jured were put in the cars of the local
train. Twenty-one were taken to
the Plainfield hospital, while the less
seriously injured were sent on to Jer-
sey City and New York.
Engineer Prendergast, who weighs
almost 800 pounds, jumped too late. He
was caught under his engine and for
three hours lay in frightful agony.
/ When at last a huge crane lifted the
iron off his body he was found so badly
injured that he is expected to die
The loss of life inflicted upon his
train would probably have been moth
ing like it was had it not been for the
fact that at Mauchchunk the baggage
car OF the excursion train was found
to have a hot box and was taken off
thus leaving the crowded day coach
next to the engine. If this coach had
remained in the position it had when
the train left Shamokin probably only
a few lives would have been lost.
Engineer Rick of the local was found
on the track so badly injured that lit
tie hopes are entertained of his recov-
! cry. Despite the blood that flowed
from his mouth Rick gurgled out:
Some one gave wrong orders. l know
how it happened, but l cannot speak
/ now"
/ In this connection w. o. Sprigg. the
superintendent of the Easton division
/ of the Lehigh, said: The accident is
/ evidently due to a blunder in orders"
! The train dispatcher at Easton, who
/ has charge of the territory, is said to
have wired to the operator at South
/ Plainfield to let number II, the local
/ come through, but later there came a
| message from Easton to hold all west
! bound traffic.
1t is alleged that the latter message
was overlooked. Some say it was not
/ handed to the operator, but whichever
way it was the westbound train was
/ allowed on its track, and from every
thing that could be learned the col
liSlOn was plainly que TO d mistake IT
orders and to no negligence of the train
crews.
DR.. Brakeley of Dunellen was one OF
the first on the scene. He said:
1--WE got into the overturned car anC
CROPPED among the debris for the dead
| Teeth, arms, brains, splintered wooc
and twisted iron were mixed up in ar
| indescribable mass. The wounded most
Of them suffering from broken legs
were all damned together at the real
end. The dead we got out piecemeal
Among the ruins we found a baby
about months old, without clothes
We thought it was dead and laid it OF
the bank beside the half-dozen Cthel
mangled bodies we had extricated
Just as 1 was leaving l noticed signs
of life. The baby was alive, and a care
full examination showed it had sus
tanned only bruise on the head. We
put 1t in the car for Plainfield."
This baby belonged to Mrs MARY
Parreca of Mount Carmel, who was ac
companied on the train by her hus
band, two young sons and the infant il
| question.
AS the daylight began to die hug,
bonfires made of the car debris wer,
lighted by the side of the track anC
by the glare of their flames the wreck
ing crews worked their ponderous der
| TiplIS