Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-18
CRUSHED IN A COLLISION
A Rrishtful Accident on the Reading
Railroad, at Exeter, Pa.
PERSONS KILLED
The Number of Those Injured
is Very Large.
THE STORY OF THE ENGINEER

disastrous in the history of the com
pany. The number of killed is at
least %.
THE DEAD.
The dead are: Frank ID. Shaner, Of
Norristown: ex-Postmaster George w.
Schall, of Norristown; Capt. s. 7.
Stirk, of Philadelphia; Miss Annie
McGraw, of Ashland: Harry Hunch-
berger, of Gulf Mills; Frank Sewers,
of Norristown George H. Anders, of
Norristown; Samuel Beatty, of Consho-
hoclxen; Hiram Shelly, of Hatbore;
Thomas Lees, of Philadelphia; William
Cramm, of Norristown; - Holmes:
two men, unidentified; - Taylor;
man, not identified; another, supposed
to be G. ii. Hartman, of Philadelphia;
John johnson, of Mt. Carmel; man,
supposed to be Lewis Fisher; William
Stahler, Of Norristown; man, not
identified; another, supposed to be
Daniel Yoder, of Pottstown; another,
supposed to be G. u. Laverty, of Har-
risburg; man, not identified; another,
supposed to be William L. Keen, of
Norristown Capt. George H. Coulston,
of Norristown; Lucien j. Custer, of
Pottstown.
THE INJURED.
The injured are: George w. Holmes,
Of Norristown; H. Z. Johnston, of
Philadelphia Edward Smith, of
Norristown Charles White. of Norris
town: John johnson, of Mont Glare I;
Nathan O'Neill, of Norristown Harry
Kautz, of Norristown; Robert Brierly,
| of Pottstown; Patsy Kern,sof Norris
| town; Paschal Walters. OF Swedeland !;
| Harry Jacobs, of Norristown; Henry
+. Leister, Of Phcenixville; I. H..
| Adle, of Norristown; L. b. Nander-
slice, of Phpnixville; Thaddeus S.
Adle, of Norristown; Charles Maths,
Of Conshohocken: David Carney, Of
Norristown; Special Officer Kirk
patrick, of Philadelphia; William
Friedborn, of Norristown; BENJAMIN
Silvis, Of Reading; George w. Lewis,
of Norristown; A. j. Ashenfelder, OF
Norristown; Harry Stauffer, of Norris
town.
Fast express train No. IL, which
ordinarily runs through from Reading
to Pottstown without stop, was held
up at Exeter by coal train. which
was using the cross-over switch there.
While standing there, awaiting orders,
special through train, running from
Harrisburg to Philadelphia, on account
of Hartranft Day, and laden with ex.
cursionists, came along, and crashed
into the roar cars of No. II. wrecking
two day coaches and Pullman, ane
crushing the lives out OF many of theil
occupants. The special was running
as second section Of No. IL, allowing
the latter about a minutes headway
and the engineer, it is presumed, die
not see the red light, which was dis
played at the Exeter Station whil'
giving orders to No. II. AT any rate
the great engine came along under
full head OF steam and, with the ter
rifle momentum which the weight of ;
heavily laden train behind it woulS
naturally impart, crashed into the rea
of the waiting train. The rear da.
coach, the Pullman ahead and the da,
coach forward of the Pullman were re
duced to splinters. The day coacl
behind the smoker and the smoke
itself escaped comparatively uniniured
and were later brought down the roa
and run into Philadelphia. The engin
and these two cars, with several bag
: gage cars. constituting what was lei
J of No. 12, were brought to this place
] arriving about 0.30 O'Clock. On ther
/ were u number of people who wer
> slightly injured. Some of the dead an
: wounded were taken to Norristown, o
{ q special train sent down from Reao
ing for that purpose Excellent servic
I was rendered by the members OF Cc
/ It, of Norristown, in assisting tn
y nurses sent down from the Readin
Hospital.
STORY OF A PASSENGER.
Robert S. Brierly, an appraiser j
pF In n
!, ternal Revenue Department, was seate
3 in the through Cur, en- route from Hal
!. risburg to Philadelphia. To q reprl
= sentative of The Associated Press Mi
), Brierly, who was seen at ST. Joseph
q Hospital this morning, swathed
Z bandages, said: "We left Reading
:, very happy and iovial mood, ohattir
y = and laughing. When the train stoppe
: Mt Exeter, we were somewhat surprised
having expected that We were on q
express train. We found out in
i moment that we were held up II
" orders, and kept on chatting. Sut
4 denly, | cannot tell how, there was
n roaring sound, shrek, as though
r hundred persons in impending dang
"a were shouting for their lives. ! startt
Il to turn around, and the next instal
ii there was fearful crash that sha
ia never forget as long as memory sery
k me, and then | knew no more until
r felt some one carrying me from u
ii car. 1t was an experience that left
mark upon me-" pointing to his !
juries. He sustained q fracture of Il
left clayicle, a bad cut on the side
" his head and number of severe Gu
ID on his face. The second finger of b
g. right hand is also badly lacerated.
2. WHO is REsPoNsIBLE?
IN A leading question asked IS ''Wl
or is responsible. - There are ma
y theories, but here is plain stateme
=. of facts:
Ve When the express left Reading, Ia
evening. Engineer Lindermuth W
told that coal train had pass
g. Exeter, and that it was thought
10 would clear him at Monocacy, nearb
:. - SO that he could pass. The train W
y, 10 minutes late in getting away fro
II hero, and carried green lights on
II II engine, to give warning. that a secoi
- section was coming. This special tra
~ was in charge of New York diyisi
~ crew, the engineer, Charles Ahl, bel
no young man who was familiar wi
tho main line. The passengers We
mostly from Norristown, and had be
lr- at Harrisburg, attending the unyeili
ut of the Hartranft monument.
Ten minutes after the regular ira