The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1899-05-20
RAILWAY DISASTER.
TWENTY EIGHT PASSENGERS KILLED
AND OVER FIFTY WOUNDED.
The Second Section of an Express Train
Crashes Into the First Train-Ceuse is
unknown---One of the Most Distressing z
Wrecks on Record.

Reading, PA collision Of pas g n
ger trains occurred on the Philadelphia
and Reading railroad at Exeter, about
six miles south of this city, Friday,
and nearly hundred people were kill
ed and injured. The number killed is
variously stated at twenty eight Fully
fifty others are injured. The regular
express tram from Pottsville for Phlla-
delphia connected at the station in
Reading with train from Harrisburg,
which was crowded with excursionists
who had been to the state capital to
witness the ceremonies in connection
with the unveiling of the Hartranft
monument. Many of the Harrisburg
passengers at Reading went aboard the
Philadelphia express, but, 1t being
found that all could not be accommo-
dated, it was decided to send an extra
train to Philadelphia, to run as the see-
ton section of the express.
At Exeter the express stopped for or
ders, and while standing still the extra
train crashed into it while moving at a
great speed Three Of the rear cars of
the express were telescoped and the
first car of the extra train was also
wrecked. The passengers in the cars
wero terribly mangled, many being
killed outright, while others had limbs
and bodies manned Word was at once
sent to Reading, and a special train
with physicians and nurses was sent to
the scene as quickly as it could posi-
bly, be put in readiness.
The cause of the disaster is still in
volved in mystery and officials of the
road are investigating in order to place
she blame The man in the signal tow
or at Exeter claims to have had the
signals properly displayed. In state
ment made Saturday, General Superin-
tendent Swigerd, of the Reading rail
road, said the prime cause, was block
of freight cars on the track, which
were taking a siding at Birdsboro, and
which compelled the express to stop at
Exeter 1t is not known as yet wheth-
or signalman was sent back TO notl-
~ the special or second section.
On account of curve the engineer
of the SPECIAL could not see the train
standing on the tracks ahead of him
until too late. The SPECIAL tore into the
express with crash and shrieks Of ag-
ony soon filled the air.
The railroad at the scene of the dis
aster runs over q hollow and the en-
bankment on which are the tracks is
about 80 feet high.
Several passengers were hurled to
the bottom of the embankment, but the
cars all renamed on the road bed The
dead and wounded were strewn in
heaps in the debris of the two cars
Little damage, however, was done to
the rest of the trains. Most of the in
jured were brought to Reading, but
many were sent to Norristown and
POttstown, and some were taken to
Philadelphia.
Philadelphia. cars of the i'll
fated second section which crashed into
the first section of the cannon ball -
express at Exeter, Friday night arriv
ed here at 415: O'Clock Saturday morn
ing. The second train was composed
of six day coaches, but three of them
were badly wrecked in the collision.
When the three cars whcih arrived
here left the scene of the wreck they
carried large number of the injured
and others who escaped injury. Some
of the injured were taken off at Potts
burg and fifteen were removed to hos
pitfalls at Norristown. When the train
arrived here there We're on board Harry
Orrell, the engineer of the second train
is fireman, w l.. Everett, both of
whom were hurt There were also on
the srain half dozen of the uninjured
passengers, all residents of this city.
Day was just breaking when the
train came to standstiIl and many
railroad men and others were waiting
it's arrival The railway employees
warmly congratulated the engineer and
fireman on their miraculous escape
from death. AS the oil-begrimed rail
readers shook hands tears came to the
ewes of many of them. Orrell had been
reported dead, but the only injury he
received was bad scalp wound. His
head was bandaged and blood covered
his face and clothing. His fireman
was slightly injured about the back.
In an interview with a reporter OF
the Associated Press Orrell said he
could not account for the accident. He
said: ''We left Reading a little late.
We were going at the rate of between
thirty-fvessand forty miles an hour, and
everything appeared to be all right.
Just before reaching Exeter there is q
curve. After we had rounded it and
had Strengthened out l was horrified tc
see loom up few hundred yards ahead
the first section. l instantly reversed
the lever, but before l could stop the
engine we went into the rear of the
train ahead with terrible crash. My
engine.ploughed through the day coach
which in turn crashed halfway through
the Pullman parlor car. The impetus
of the collision sent the parlor car hall
way through the day coach in front OF
it. did not know where | was for q
time, but finally discovered myself i'm
prisoned among twisted iron, splintered
Terrible EXPLOSION of Chlorate.