The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-12
REAR END COLLISION.
Two Lives Lost in B. and o.
Tunnel Near Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, May u, 1s00-Frank
Dantel, a tower operator in the employ OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany, stationed at the entrance Of the
tunnel under Twenty-ffth street, just
outside Of Fairmount Park. slept at his
post AS a result a disastrous rear-end
freight trains collision occurred early this
morning in the tunnel, causing the death
Of Engineer George Loeb, and Fireman
George Hinehman, and it is believed, five
traps who were stealing a ride. Fire fol-
lowed the wreck and dozen or more fire.
men were injured while fighting the
flames and are now in the hospitals.
All Of the dead are still buried in the
wreckage and the fire department has
been unable thus far to extinguish the
flames which are slowly consuming the
smashed cars. Operator Lantel has dis
appeared and the police are looking for
him.
The accident occurred shortly after mid
night. The vicinity of the tunnel early
today was the scene of wild excitement.
No one could approach nearer than with
in 200 feet of either opening owing to the
volume of flames and smoke which issued
therefrom. The fast New York bound
express freight train of SO cars reached
the tunnel on time and is slowed down SO
that some of the cars could be shifted.
The second section of the same train,
composed of SO cars was due about ten
minute later.
1t was Towerman LantePs duty to signal
the second section that the first had stop
ed in the tunnel. This Lantel did not do.
having, it is said, fallen asleep. The
second section approached the tunnel at
a rapid rate of speed and crashed with
full force into the first section. Engineer
Loeb and Fireman Hinchman. of the
second section were Immediately crushed
to death, and the cars piled in an indis-
criminate heap began to burn. Four oil
cars exploded adding to the horror of the
situation and feeding the flames.
At this hour firemen are still at work
endeavoring to extinguish the blaze. No
attempt has yet been made to secure the
bodies of the dead. The loss to the COM
pany is estimated at $4,000.
Four firemen. most seriously injured.
are:-
John Jordan, inhaling gas. may die.
John Ackerman, badly burned about
hands and face, and internal injuries
Joseph Davis, seriously burned by blaz-
ing oil.
Charles Rau. badly burned about the
| face and body.
Twenty additional firemen have been
| treated for minor injuries.
| Each of the oil cars contained about
| 1000 gallons of the fluid. and the burning
| oil spread with great rapidity to the oil
cars. The point where the collision oe-
Cured is about midway in the tunnel. The
latter is about % feet long and extends
along Twenty-f1fth street to the edge Of
Fairmount Park, close to the famous
/ Washington monument at the Green
street Park entrance. The iremen are ex-
periencing the greatest difficulty in fight
/ ing the fire. Dense volumes of smoke
poured from both ends of tunnel and from
/ holes which had been cut from the
| street, through the roof and the firemen
| can penetrate but short distance be-
! fore they are forced to return. Several
| attempts have been made to reach the
| spot where the bodies are believed to be
| located but without success. and it is the
! opinion that they have been burned be-
! yond hope of being identified.
| Day Watchman George ]. Robertson is
| authority for the statement that Opera
| tor Lansel was asleep at his post.