The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-05-17
ASLEEP AT HIS POST,
ToWERMAN's NEGLECT CAUSES a
CATAsTROPHE.
SEVEN LIVES WERE LOST.
One Section of n Freight Was standing
still, and the Other, Taking on More
speed TO Garry It Up Grade, Coliided
with Terrific Force-Engineer and Fire
man Killed.

Philadelphia, Pa, Especial. Through
the negligence OF towerman. who lay
asleep at his post, disastrous aud fatal
freight train wreck occurred here In a tun-
mel on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
An engineer and fireman were killed, and
five unknown tramps are supposed TO be
dead in the wreck. The property loss is
estimated at $1s5,000. The man who was
responsible for the accident, Frank Lam
tell, surrendered himself to G. o. o. Bent,
superintendent In the employ Of the Baltl-
more and Ohio Railroad Company. He is
now under arrest.
The known dead are George Laub, engi-
neer, and George Hinchman, fireman, both
of this city. Their bodies and those of the
tramps are buried beneath the wrecked cars,
and cannot be recovered until the fire which
followed the collision Is extinguished.
About thirty llremen OF the city fire depart
ment were either burned or overcome by
smoke while lighting the flames None OF
them, however, was seriously injured.
The tunnel runs under Twenty-flfth street
from Callowhill street to Falrmount Park, a
distance of $500 feet. 1t is semi-eircular,
and the tracks are upgrade from the Cal
lowhill street entrance.
Every night train known as the New
York freight express leaves. here for New
York. The train was made up In two sec
tions, the first section containing forty-three
cars. When It reached the tunnel the engine
was unable to pull 1t up the grade, and sew
enteen cars were detached and left standing
about midway in the tunnel while the others
were drawn through.
1t was the duty of the tower operator, Lam
tell, to set red signal on the semaphore at
the Callowhill street entrance to the tun-
mel. Being asleep. as he admits he failed
to do this, leaving the white light in view.
AT 1l;s0 O'Clock the second section of the
freight comprising thirty-eight cars, APP
preached at the rate of thirty miles an hour.
Engineer Laub, seeing the white signal gave
the locomotive extra speed in order to carry
the train up the grade. The rapidly moving
train collided with the standing cars in the
tunnel with terrific force.
Fire Immediately broke out, and three oil
cars, each containing 1000 gallons OF oil, ex-
ploded. Soon the wreckage was mass OF
flames.
Owing TO the heat and smoke and gaseous
air in the tunnel the firemen entered the tun-
mel only short distance without being over
come. Holes were dug in the street to make
vents, and the roof of the tunnel was blasted
but to no avail. The bodies of the engineer
and the fireman and the five tramps who
were said to be ON the train have doubtless
been cremated.
Shortly after the collision Lamtell disap-
peared and could not be found, until he gave
himself up late. When questioned he said
81 did it. Why the white signal remained in
place do not know, but it was there, and
the train went through as usual.
II was asleep or doing, and why can
not say, exceptthat feel myself overworked
but am ready to stand the censure and take
what comes to me. have no excuse to
Offer"