Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-10

taken to Plainfleid Hospital while the less
seriously went on TO Jersey City, ana
New York.
Engineer Pendergast, who weighs al
most 300 pounds, jumped too late. Tor ne
was caught under hts engine, and Tor
three hours lay pinioned In frightiui
agony. When at last huge crane lifted
the iron of 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 IKE
n was had 1t not been for the fact that
at Mauch Chunk the beggage-car OF the
excursion train was found TO have hot
box. and was taken of. thus leaving the
day-coach next to the engine.
"soAfE ONE GAVE WRONG ORDERS"
II this coach had retained the position
II held when the train left Shamokin,
probably only few lives would have been
lost. Engineer Rick, Of the local. was
found on the tracks, so badly injured that
little hope was entertained OF MS re-
covery. Despite the blood that flowed
from his mouth, Rick gurgled out, Some
one gave wrong orders. l know how IL
happened. but ! can't speak now.
In this connection. w. o. Strigg. the
superintendent OF the Easton and AmDoy
Division Of the Lehigh Valley. said: "Ine
accident is evidently que u d Ol"iANSi "
orders"
General -Passenger-Agent Lee hau no ca
PLANTATION 10 make.
On this section OF the Lehigh Valley the
block system is not In use. The tram
dispatcher at Easton, who has charge OF
the territory. is said TO have wired 10 the
operator AT South Plainfield to let No.
n the local. come through. but later there
carno a message from Easton TO hold all
west-bound traffic.
A MESSAGE OVERLOOKED.
II Is alleged that the latter message
was overlooked. Some say it was not
handed to the operator, but whichever
way IL was. the west-bOund train was
allowed on its track. and from every
thing that could be learned the collision
was plainly due TO a misconstrucion or
orders. and not TO negligence Of the train
crews SignaI-Man Brennon, who threw
up his arms as the train passed has no
wire. and nothing to do with the dispatch
ing of trains.
DIR. Brakely. Of Dunnelen was one OF
the first on the scene. He said: We got
into the overturned car and groped among
the debris for the dead. Teeth arms
brains. splintered wood, and twisted IRON
were mixed up in an indescribable mass
Most of the injured, suHerins from
broken legs were jammed up in the rear.
The dead we got out by piecemeai.
SAVED THE BABY.
"a babv was found i'm long clothes. We
thought II was dead and laid ii on the
hank beside the half dozen other man
gled hodies Later | noticed signs OF lie
the baby was alive, and a careful exaini-
nation showed ii had only brulse on ,he
head. We put it on the cars Tor flaih-
field d.
This babv belonged to Mrs. Par
rarect of Mt. Carmel, who was accom-
nanied on the train by her husband TWO
roung sons. and the infant in question
Che said. II was nursing the baby when
The whistle began to blow. My husband
started 70 open the window. Then l was
thrown IA the back of the car and los'
consciousness. My baby was gone. al
most went frantic when / awoke, but al
Iost found my child peacefully sleep
inc I'm the other train, and apparently
none the worse for the experience.
DEATH CAME QUICKLY.
Almost all the dead were killed Instant
lv As the daylight began 10 die huSe
tSo,eros made of the car timbers were
iighted nv the side Of the track, ana py
| tbe clare of their flames the wrecklhe
| crou,s worked their ponderous derrlcks
Poth engines were complete wrecks. 1hey
we're dragged along by ropes attached t'
other engines. The track will probably De
clear by tomorrow.
l.. 8 Walter, a lawyer, OF MI Carihei
was mined in the debris Of the 'front.' car
for two hours. Despite the tact that NJ
was seriously, If not fatally injured MI
Walter directed the attention of the res
cuers to other sufferers, and from MS
noint of vantage superintended their res
| cue. When finally taken out he was car
| rIed TO a nearby vacant house where M
was cared for
VERY KIND TREATMENT.
| The vicinity of the railroad crossing
| where the trains crashed Is somewha
| deserted. The occupants of the houses
near by did everything in their power t'
assist the wounded. When the dead ar
rived at Bound Brook eight were LETT II
the car that brought them from the scene
of the accident and five were laid out fol
the Coroner in the freight shed close by.
The wreck in the early morning was TIT
| third freight wreck which has taken placl
within a week on that part OF the Lehigl
| Valley line between Bound Brook ant
| New Market Many OF the persons wh'
| were on the wrecked train were brougn
to New York this evening. For the mos
part they were able TO take care Of them
selves. and went TO the hotels.
Harry Rutland was the operator a
South Plainfeld. and II was he who gav
the signal for the local to proceed. But
land stated that he received no orders Z
hold the train. and as the track was sup
nosed 10 be clear he allowed the train L
| on unon the single track.