The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-19
KILLED IN 4 COLLISION,
Excursion to atlantic City Runs Into
the Rear Of a Milk Train.
SCORES OF PASSENGERS, INJURED
Excursion Train Was Bound For Allan
tic City by Way or Philadelphia -
Milk Train Didn't Get Out Of the Way
and the Special Train Dashed Into 1t
.I,ist Of tho Dsad-Csuses OF Dlsa ster.

Allentown, Penn. (SpeciaD. In q
railroad collision at Hatfield, Mont
gomery County, on the North Pennsyl-
yania branch Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad, between an excur-
sion train, with between 700 and 800
persons on board, and 4 milk train
standing at the station, nine persons
were killed outright and five of those
hurt died soon after of injuries. The
list of wounded numbers between
forty and fifty, all well known
citizens, principally Of this city and
Of South Bethlehem. A dense los
prevailed at the time. The milk tram
was late, and this branch of the rail-
road is operated without the block slg-
nal system. Responsibility for the ac-
cident is attributed to these three clr-
cumstances. The list Of the dead Is:
Thomas Day, twenty-nine years DID,
Allentown; Charles McGonigle, TWEEN
ty-three years old, Allentown; Ira Ell
rot South Bethlehem; William Ehret
South Bethlehem, brother of Ira En-
rot. Annie Sheridan, South Bethlehem;
Robert Miller, South Bethlehem'
Richard Bachman, South Refinement
Joe Modon, twenty-five years; South
bethlehem; Hugh McGovern, South
bethlehem; Nlllam Blackburn, AMP
ler: Harvey Lands, Hatfield; Mamie
Kahlen, Telford; Gotlieb Palm, Tel
ford; Fred Kahlen, Telford.
The Atlantic City excursion traln
left Bethlehem in three sections q re"
minutes after o'clock q. N. Ihree-
Quarters of an hour later the first sec,
ton, composed Of a locomotive anu
ten cars, crowded with passengers,
while running at q. speed OF torly
miles an hour, crashed into the rear
of q train composed Of four milk cars
and q passenger car, standing IN rront
of the little station at Hatfield. ~,
The momentum of the excursion
train was so great that the train
ahead of it was driven almost 3oo
feet. The locomotive OF the excursion
train was thrown across the nortn
and south tracks. about 200 feet from
the railroad station, where 1t 1eli Oh
it's side. ,,
Three of the cars it was drawing
were torn from their trucks ana tne
ends crushed like egg shells. carrying
deaf and suffering to the passengers
The fourth and fifth coaches were
partly derailed and the remaining n'e
remained intact.
AS soon as the passengers reailzeo
that there had been a smash-up tney
rushed out Of the car doors and many
clambered through the WINDOWS;
Dozeus of passengers were wounueu
by splinters and fragments OF giass.
Others ran about calling ror tnelr
friends. and a scene Of confusion en-,
sued. Many of the wounded, pinioned
down ,by seats and timbers, were
groaning or crying out in pain. ,,
Residents Of Hatfield became avoi-
unteer corps for giving first aid to the
injured. Not only were the houses
thrown oren to the injured, but the
owners tors up their bed sheets ana
linen curtains and table covers TO rur-
nish bandages for the wounded.
The dead were dug out OF the rem
nants of the front cars Of the excur-
sion train, and the rear car OF the
milk train and carried to lawn op-
posite the station.
Telephone and telegraph messen'
gers brought twenty physicians from
Hatfield, Lansdale and nearby VII
lages. The injured were cared for, q
special train was made up, and those
most seriously hurt were sent to ST
Luke's Hospital, South Bethlehem.
Others were conveyed in this train 10
their homes in Bethlehem and Alien
town.