The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-10


rear cars OF the excursion train. and taken
to Bound Brook. The injured were put in
the cars of the local train. Twenty-one
were taken to Plainheld Hospital, while
the less seriously injured went on to Jer-
sey City and New York
Engineer Prendergast, who weighed al
most 800 pounds jumped too late for he
was caught under his engine, and for
three hours lay pnioned in frightful
agony. When at last 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 nothing like
what it was had it not been for the fact
that at Mauch Chunk the baggage car of
the excursion train was found TO have
hot box and was taken off, thus leav-
ing the crowded day coach next 30 the
engine. If this coach had retained the po-
sition it held when the train eft Shamo-
KIN probably only few lives would have
been lost.
Wrong Orders Given.
Engineer Rick of the local was found on
the tracks so badly injured that little hope
was entertained of his recovery. Despite
the blood that flowed from his mouth Rick
gurgled out:
Some one gave wrong orders. I know
how it happened, but l can't speak now"
In this connection. w. o. Sprigg, the
superintendent of the Easton, and Amboy
division of the Lehigh Valley, said:
''The accident is evidently due to a blum
der in orders"
General Passenger Agent Lee had no ex-
PLANTATION 30 make.
On this section of the Lehigh Valley
the block system is not in use. The train
dispatcher at Easton, who has charge Of
the territory is said to have wired the
operation at South Plainfield TO bet No. Il,
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 West-bound
train was allowed on it's track and from
everything that could be learned the coll
lision was plainly due to a mistake in or
ders. and to no negligence of the train
crews.
Signalman Brennan, at West Dunellon,
who threw up his hands as the local pass
ed, has no wire, and nothing to do with the
dispatchng of trains. DR.. Brakely OF
DunellOn was one of the first on the scene.
He said:
Getting Out the Dead.
eve got into the overturned car and
groped among the debris for the dead.
/
twisted iron were mixed up in an inde-
scribable mess. The wounded, most OF
| them suffering from broken legs, were
| jammed together at the rear end. The
dead we got out piecemeal Among the
ruins We found baby about four months
! old, In long clothes. We thought it was
dead. and laid it on the bank beside the
half-dozen other mangled bodies We had
extricated. Just as l was leaving I no
tced signs of life. The baby was alive,
and a careful examination showed it had
! only bruise on the head. We put il in
the cars for Plainfield."
This baby belonged to Mrs. Mary Par
reca of Mount Carmel, who was accom-
panied on the train by her husband, two
| young sons and the infant in question.
/ Mrs. Parreca said:
Il was nursing the baby when the whis-
tie began to blow. My husband started
| 10 open the window. Then l was thrown
| to the back of the car and lost conscious
/ ness My baby was gone. almost went
frantic when I awoke, but at last 1 found
my child peacefully sleeping in the other
train AMI apparently none the worse for
! the experience"
Made BOnfres of Debris.
! Almost all the dead were killed instant
| ly AS the daylight began to die huge
! bonfres made of the car debris were
1
! the glare of their flames the Wrecking
/ crews worked their ponderous derricks.
/ Both engines were complete wrecks. They
/ were dragged along by ropes attached TO
| other engines. The track will probably be
! clear by tomorrow.
l.. S. Walter, a lawyer of Mount Car
mel, was pinned in the debris of the front
| car for two hours Despite the fact that
/ he was seriously if not fatally, injured,
4 a Of ha
/ rescuers to other sufferers, and from his
! point of vantage superintended their eff
! forts When finally taken out Mr.. Walter
! was carried to a nearby vacant house
! where he was cared for
! The vicinity of the railroad crossing
| where the trains crashed is somewhat de-
! serted. The occupants of the houses near
/ by did everything in their power to as
| sist the wounded. When the dead ar
/ rived at Bound Brook, eight were left in
/ the car that brought them from the scene
/ of the accident, and five were laid out for
| the coroner In the freight shed close by.
! The wreck in the early morning was the
! third freight wreck which has taken place
within a week on that part of the Lehigh
| Valley Line between Bound Brook and
| Newmarket.
Many of the persons who were on the
| wrecked train, were brought to New York
! this afternoon. For the most part they
were able to take care of themselves, and
! went to the hotels.
/ Harry 3utland was the operator at
| South Plainheld, and it was he who gave
! the signal for the local TO proceed But
/ land stated that he received no orders to
hold the train and as the track ahead
was supposed to be clear. he allowed the
| train to go up on the single track.
Five of the Wounded Dead.
New York, Jan. 1O.-The New York
Herald says that five wounded in the Le-
high collision at Dunellon, N. j., died
during the night, making the total dead IS.