The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-05-18

Inc clearance card was handed TO
the brakeman by operator Lesher,
and as the tranmen walked out ofthe
station Conductor Brommell observed
the second tram rounding the curve
and bearing down upon the express.
He saw at once that a collision was
inevitable. Brommell sprang upon his
train and gave the signal to go ahead,
thinking he might thus lessen the force
of the collision, but it was of no use.
Engineer Orrell, whose tram was
going at the rate of about. fifty miles
an honr, saw the red lights of the ex-
press train ahead. He quickly shut off |
steam and applied brakes: The mo-
mentum OF his train, however, was so |
great that he found it would be impos-
sible to avert a crash, and after check
ing the speed as much as the space
would permit, hardly a quarter of a |
mile, he and his fireman leaped for
their lives, a few seconds later the
engine struck the rear car of the ex-
press with such force as to plow clear
through the coach and forcing the
wreck partly into the Pullman
car ahead.
The engines of the second train
telescoped the coach in its rear the
entire length. reducing it to splinters,
and badly smashed the next car. 1t
was in the former that most of the
passengers were killed. Several in the
other, including the Pullman, were
also killed.
The hear,rending scenes that at
tended the smash-up-the shouts of
men and women, the wild screaming
OF passengers from the debris, the
bruised and mangled bodies taken
from the pile of splinters, the piteous
cry of the injured for assistance can
scarcely be described. The crash of
the two trains was heard at Stonetown,
two miles away, and the whole popu-
lation made a dash for the Exeter
station to inquire into the cause. DIR.
Rittenhouse, who resides at Exeter,
but practices in Reading, was the first
physician on the scene and worked as
best he could until help arrived from
Reading. His vile also rendered val
liable service to the injured. Farmers
in the neighborhood turned out ant
! gave what assistance was in their pow
E er in bringing out the dead, who were
r carried into the barroom of William
e Lutz's tavern and laid upon the floor
J, MIR. Lutz gave up all his bedding anC
e bed clothing with which to give relic
e to the injured or cover the dead
). Some of the dead and Injured wer'
S also carried into H. B. Levan's stor
q adjoining the hotel. His stock of mus
e lin was also depleted in furnishing
y bandages for the injured.
n Some of the bodies were foun
!. down the steep enbapkment under
'f bridge crossing railroad. 1t was in
r possible to carry them up, so the
it were placed upon wagon and pulle
=. by willing hands around to a roa
n that led to the improvised morgue.
l. Following is complete list of tn
l. dead:
II, John Slingluff, Norristown: chief {
~ fire department, and president Mon
IL gomery National Bank.
{ Colonel George Schall, Nortistowl
'e ex-postmaster; and cousin of Gener
:, George w. Schall, who was also c
Ill the train, but escaped uninjured.
u Charles {. Leaf Fort Washington
IL Pa; warrant clerk in Auditor G enc
nc ais Department, Harrisburg.
''S William Stahler, wealthy reside
of Norrstown. Lots of checks ar
SIS notes found in his pocketbook, pa
d. able to William Stahler.
er Henry c. Wentz, a wealthy re
es estate man of Norristown.
he Captain John H. Coulston, of Nc
RS. rIstown; veteran of the fifty-hl
el, Regiment Pennsylvania volunteers.
gi- John Johnson, Mont Glare.
g. H. A. Thompson, Norristown; c
al, cleaner of the Philadelphia and Rea
&C ing Railway Company.
en- Samuel McCarty, Norristown.
or Fl. l.. Hartford, Norristown; ide
oal tilted by ring with initials H. l.. H..
be William Cramm, Norristown.
I'm Joseph c, Taylor, colored, por
aln in hotel at Norristown.
*, Elmer E. Shelley, Hatboro, ag
INT 80, sampler in Appraisers sto
De- Philadelphia Custom House.
lu- Frank d. Sower, wealthy reside
he of Norristown.
zen ]. f. Fillman, Norristown.
he George Holmes, Norristown.
TX William M. Keen, Norristown.
lg- Daniel H. Yoder, Pottstown.
lch G. l.. Laverty, Harrisburg.
re- Edward Norman Holmes, aged
I'm Norristown.
Lucian J. Custer, aged I9 yea
of student, Pottstown.
nd Harry Hunsberger, Gulf Mills.
md Thomas Lees, Philadelphia.
be William Lewis, Norrlstown.
ck CaDtain Jacobs NOrristOWn