The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-27
B, ( 0. DISASTER
BEG0T HEROES
Stories of the Wreck Come
to Light.
EIGHTY-FOUR DEAD
Streets of ConneIIsviIie Packed---a
Few of the Dead Still Unidenti-
fied---Many of the Victims
Robbed.--Supt. Twins
Theory.
Try the Associated Press. J

Connellsville, Pa, Dec. 24.-The sum-
ming up of the results of last nights
wreck of the Duouesne Limited on the
Baltimore and Ohio, eight miles west of
here, shows total dead list of sixty-four
and nine injured. Today Connellsville has
been packed with curious people attracted
by the wreck. The three morgues have
found it necessary to put guards on all
doors to keep morbid spectators from
jumping into the small rooms and walk
ing over the forms of the dead. The
streets are packed and in front OF each
of the undertaking establishments hum
dreds of people are grouped eagerly wait
ing for glimpse at the dead bodies.
Friends and relatives of the victims are
coming in on every train and scenes at
the morgues are most distressing. All
but a few of the sixty-four bodies have
been identified and those who are still
unknown will be laid away in Hill Grove
Cemetery at the dawn of Christmas morn
ing.
Considerable money was found on the
persons of the unidentified and tightly
sewed in a belt on one foreigner was
found more than $500, which was placed
in the First National Bank. Sums rang
ing from $500 to $500 were found and this,
like the balance, has been put in the
bank until perhaps some time relative
may be located.
Many of the victims of the wreck have
been robbed. There are several who are
known to have had large amount of
money and jewelry on their persons. Not
l.
Of several of these, and it was plainly
visible that rings had been taken from
the fingers.
Today the wreck is pretty we'll cleared
away Coroner Arthur Nagen, of Fay
cite county, arrived in Connellsville to-
day and Immediately swore in the coro-
ner's jury The jury is now viewing the
remains and taking evidence as to the
cause of the disaster.
1t has been learned that the car which
dropped the timbers that wrecked the
train was gondola No. 30S7 of the Nickel
Plate railroad.
Superintendent j. F. Irwin. of the Bal
timore and Ohio declares the blame must
be fastened On parties who loaded the
lumber on the car. His theory is that the
stakes at the sides of the gondola were
weak and gave way under the tension of
the car when it rounded the curve. Louis
Higot, the conductor of the train, was
in the second day coach when the crash
came, and no one knows just how or
what happened to him until afterwards
ID. w. Hills, porter on one of the sleepers,
said that as soon as he could get off his
car he went forward and heard some one
shouting from the top of the bank where
he, by going forward, recognized Hilgot's
voice. He was in terrible agony, but
shouted at the top of his voice:
For Gods sake. am scal6ed to death
but some one of you get a red lamp and
flag 40 or she will be on u.s.
A story of courage and heroism seldom
equaled is told of Benjamin Nichols, stew
ard on the dining car. His name is be-
ing sung with praises by ralroaders and
the terrible slide of the engine dragged
the train whirling sideways along the
road, Nichols was in the dining car.
Before the car had made it's last lurch
Nichols had leaped and was running to-
ward the smoker, which was reduced to
a matter of twisted iron and splinters.
The crash had torn the escape-valve from
the top of lie engine and the steam was
shooting in the car upon the struggling
mass of smoking humanity.
The escaping steam was the first thing
that attracted the plucky steward
Taking off his coat he ripped and tore the
garment until it was in shreds. With this
he plugged up the pipe and shut off the
steam. Then he plunged into the suffo-
ca ting car and carried out victims until
exhausted.