The times., 1899-01-25
A COLLISION OF TRAINS
Pennsylvania Freight Yards
the Scene of a Wreck.
ENGINEER BADLY INJURED
Miraculous Escape of the Passen-
Eers-Express Locomotive Totally
Demolished by an Explosion
Pullman and Dny Coaches Henped
in COnfusiOn-TrnHc Delayed.

What might have been a serious wreck
with fatalities occurred shortly before II
O'Clock last night in the Jersey yards of
the corner Of Second and X Streets south
east. AS 1t was. the disaster, which was
caused by collision between an outgo-
ing passenger train and n number of Pu l.
man coaches. which were being changed
about by a shifting engine. resulted in
serious injury to one man. and did damage
to the extent of several thousands of do
lars to the company's rolling stock.
The injured man is Engineer Thomas
w. Bowen. of the outbound passenger
train. who was badly crushed about the
legs and scalded by escaping steam. He
was taken to Providence Hospital in No.
patrol wagon. where it was found neces-
sary at late hour to amputate his right
leg above the knee. He is not expected to
die.
The outgoing passenger train is known
as No. 31S and leaves the city at 1910
O'Clock for Harrisburg Pa, by way of
Baltimore. 1t arrives at Second and X
Streets. the scene of the collision, five min
utes later. The train of cars being shifted
was composed almost entirely of Pullman
coaches, which were being moved by en-
gine No. 1874, with Engineer James Isaacs
and Conductor NJ. Frye in charge. II was
their endeavor to switch their train TO the
north-bound track and afterward transfer
it to the depot at Sixth and B Streets
Just as the empty Pullmans were put in
motion by the shifter the Harrisburg ex-
press approached along Virginia Avenue
with its three coaches and two PuIlmans,
and was nearing the New Jersey Avenue
crossing. The light at this crossing signi-
fled that all ahead was clear and Engineer
Bowen allowed his train to continue, Civ
ing it little more speed as the limits of
the city were approached. The shifter was
moving in the same direction as the ex-
press and running parallel to the main
tracks several hundred yards ahead of the
latter.
Engineer Isaacs. who was in control of
the engine, evidently thought the track
was clear and. being unconscious of the
approach OF the express. permitted his en-
gine to enter the switch and cross to the
outgoing track, upon which the express
was coming.
As the third Pullman attached to the
shifter was about to pass to the main track
the engine of the express crashed into its
side toppling it over Engineer Bowen
was not expecting the shifting train to
cross to his track, and was only a few
yards behind when it entered the switch
1t was impossible for him to stop and his
engine scraped along the sides of three
cars of the other train. turning them on
their sides one after another.
When the head Pullman. which was at
tached to the shifter, was reached the re-
slstance was so great that the engine at
tached to the express was derailed and
thrown on its side The engineer and
Fireman c. l.. Lewis. of the express were
unable to Jump. and were caught under
their engine when it turned. When the
engine was thrown over the boiler ex-
ploded. and the kissing steam and the
noise OF the collision awakened the people
living in the vicinity OF the freight yard
and soon brought many spectators to the
scene OF the accident.
The engineer was extracted from the de-
bris and removed to Providence Hospital
in the Fifth precinct ambulance The fire.
man sustained a bad cut above the left eve
when the engine toppled over. but was
not otherwise hurt. John Ware. the flag
man OF the express, was injured internally.
but not seriously.
None OF the passengers was injured and
they regard their escape as being almost
miracle. The wrecking train which was
in the yards was hurried to the scene. and
the TWO Pullmans and two of the passen-
ger coaches or the express. with their pas
sengers. were moved back to the Sixth
Street depot. The passenger coach at
tached to the express engine was slightly
damaged and had to be left on the scene
until it could be removed by the wrecking
crew.
report OF the wreck was telephoned To
police headquarters soon after the trains
collided and an emergency call brought out
all the police ambulances and the Emer-
gency Hospital van. They were not need
ed. as the wreck failed to result in the loss
of life which it was at first surmised would
be the case, considering the manner in
which the trains plunged together
Traffic on the road was suspended until
the broken cars and the engine could be
moved. which was not until an early hour
this morning The wreck prevented the
departure of the midnight express. which
leaves the depot at 1l:iO o'clock for New
York.