The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-12-30
Duquesne Limited, Running 60
Miles an Hour, Crashes Into
Pile of Timber. (
LAUREL RUN, ON B. & o.,
SCENE OF CATASTROPHE
Many Of the Victims Were Journey.
ing Homeward for christmas-Re.
lief Trains Rushed to scene-offi-
eial Statement Places Number Of
Dead at Thirty-Five.

QuCsuc iuilSus the idStcsS thiSu5u
train from Pittsburg to New York on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
ploughed into pile Of lumber at Lau-
rel Run. two miles west of Dawson, at
7:45 o'clock last night and 1t is esti-
mated that IS lives were lost and 40
or more persons injured.
The train left Pittsburg last even
ing, running a few minutes late, In
charge Of Engineer William Thornley,
of Pittsburg. The noted speed of the
train was increased at all the good
running points along the line. When
approaching Laurel Run, which is q
particularly fine piece Of road, the
train was running so miles an hour.
Suddenly the passengers were
thrown from their seats by the light
ninglike application Of the airbrakes.
and a moment later there was a ter
rife crash. Then the engine swerve1
to the left and the coaches plunged
down over the embankment to the
edge of the Youghiogheny river.
Terrible Scenes Enacted.
The minute the cars stopped rolling
there was a scene of pandemonium.
Many were pinioned beneath the
wreckage, and the screams and cries
that rent the air we're beyond descrip-
ton. Many were injured and in their
mad excitement plunged into the
river. Others, pinioned beneath the
heavy timbers, pleaded in agonized
tones for release
A great number of the passengers
we're women and children, and their
frantic efforts to save themselves
were terrifying.
So terrific was the force of the
wreck that nearly every passenger
suffered a moments Inconsistencies,
and many of the able-bodied men were
unable to assist in helping the in
jured from the wreck on account Of
having tainted.
The wrecked train consisted of a
combination baggage and smoker. two
coaches, two sleepers and dining
car. The train is scheduled to leave
the Baltimore and Ohio Water street
station at $3.50 p m. 1t makes only
two stops between Pittsburg and COY.
Observation-Disclosures and McKeespols :.
The last train to stop az Dawson Is
No. 8, which leaves PittsDurg at
o'clock and arrives there at 6:01.
Many Holiday Passengers.
A large pumber of the passengers
were commercial travellers who we're
on their way to their homes to sPenj
the holidays. This fact accounts for
SO many being in the smoking car
when the disaster occurred.
One of the first to be taken out OF
the wreck was Engineer William
Thornley, of 4905 Lytle street His
body was smashed to pulp. His fire.
man, J. ]. Cook, was terribly mangle I
and death was instantaneous. Con-
ductor L. Halgoth, Baggagemaster T.
Dorm and Brakeman Harry McClin.
took were the remainder Of the trail 1
crew, and it is likely they are num-
bered among the dead.
William G. Loree, general superin-
tendent Of the Pittsburg system, ct
once took charge of affairs. He has
jurisdiction of the trackage as far as
Cumberland.
Mr.. Loree sent orders to different
places along the line ordering all ply
sicians and medical appliances to the
scene Of the wreck In less than half
an hour after the accident he had Or
dered special trains made up at diff
ferent places to take assistance to
the dead and injured
First Official Statement.
Mr. Loree gave out an official stat,.
ment at II o'clock last night. 1t is
evident by the report that he had not
as yet received the full extent of the
accident. The report follows:
mo. IL was derailsd by running
into some switch timters, or timbers
of about that size, derailing the en-
CINE and all the cars. All the cars
were badly damaged. do not think
any of the equipment will be able to
60 away from the scene of the acct
TENT on their own wheels, except pos
sibly the Pullman cars and the diner.
The engine lies across both tracks,
the baggage car is over the bank, ths
first coach partly over the bank and
the balance of the train is badly
twisted. ! judge about IS people are
killed; at least not more than 40. All
the people killed were in the smoker.
Escaping steam from the engine went
into the first coach, scalding the peo-