The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-07

on Siding While Two Passenger
Trains Passed, But Pulled His Train
On Main Track Too Soons
PoAstown. Pa, April 1.-Two men
we're killed and more than dozen IN
jured by a head-on collision on the
Schuylkill division Of the PennsylVa
mia Railroad. Philadelphia express
No. 4OS crashed into extra freight No
40l at the upper passing siding, tele-
scoping a passenger coach ana piling
freight cars 10 a height of 20 feet.
The dead: Andrew Fagley, engineer
or express. of Pottsville; Sigmund
Hursh travelling saleman, OF Balti-
more.
The more seriously injured were
hurried to the POttstown Hospital in
ambulances. while the cuts OF those
less seriously hurt we're dressed by
local physicians. who hurried TO the
scene, Workmen from neighborins
iron mills assisted in getting the
wounded ont OF the forward coach.
which had been telescoped by the tank
Of the express engine.
The body of Engineer Fagley was
FIRST recovered. crushed beyond recog
milton blythe cab. which had toppled
over on him Hursh, who was an
agent for a Baltimore liquor house
was caught In one of the forward seats
and crushed where he sat.
The forward coach, which was well
filled with passengers, was smashed
by the heavy tank being forced
through IT, Many OF the passengers
were caught in their seats. and tn
rescuers had to pull them from the de-
bris.
Nearly all the occupants OF the for
ward coach We're cut by flying glass
and splnters. Among them was Mrs.
John Farley. OF New York city who
was on her way from eading with her
husband and four children.
Although pinned in by the seat, Mrs.
Farley held her baby high above her
head and passed her 10 the husband
after the crash Mrs Farley had one
leg injured and may be hurt inter
nally.
The wreck. It is charged was caus.
sd by Engineer John Fleishchutz Of
the freight. disregarding orders. The
line between Pottstown and Reading
is a single track one with passing
siding just above POttstown.
The engineer had orders 10 await
the passing OF two passenger trains
No. 20G and 10 40S. After the former
had passed Engineer Fleischutz. think
ing both trains had passed. it is said
pulled on the main track
Both engines were wrecked, a pas
scnger coach telescoped ami seven
battleship coal cars piled to a height
of 20 feet
The passengers we're transferred
here 70 Reading Railway trains, and
those who were able TO travel We're
conveyed on 10 Philadelphia. Among
those who came through was Thomas
B. Maguire. Of 1850 Belmont avenue
Philadelphia. He had just been re-
leased from the Pottsville Hospital.
and was on his way to the Presbytcr
ian Hospital. Philadelphia.
Mr.. Mcguire is a survivor of three
railroad wrecks. and is Injured in
measure 10 the excitement that fol
lows the crash of locomotives and
cars.
"This was the great surprise OF my
life" he said. I've were hitting it up
at a pretty good speed when the crash
came. was sitting In the front end
of the smoker. and when I came TO
was lying on the floor in the middle
of the car. There were about - men
in our car and all Of them were
thrown TO the aisle
"Our car was the last on the train.
and those further ahead were shaken
ND more than in the smoker. There
was great excitement following the
wreck. Doctors were running here
and there. and women were screaming
and begging men 10 search for their
children. who had been caught in the
telescoped cars. II was a terrible
sight"
Mrs John Farley, who lives al No.
1GS Beard street. New York. was taken
to the Merchants Hotel after her in
juries had been dressed.
Her constant inquiry was for her III !
tie baby Edith She told OF her eX-
periences as follows:
"The train was nearing POttstown.'
she said, when a sudden jerk was felt
and baby and ! were thrown forward.
The crash came soon afterwards and
felt myself being squeezed between
the seats. first thought Of my baby
and saw my husband in the aisle,
where he had jumped when the trains
came together
81 held her to him. He seized little
Edith and tried to raise me, but ! was
fastened down. The car filled with
steam and the cries Of the passengers
were awful. Then the trainmen and
others came and wrenched through the
wreckage.
"The other children were seated oD-
posite me, ana wnen the crash came
they were thrown into the aisle. saw
they were unhurt, but my first impulse
was to save my baby"
.---.-
Emperor Williams Health Excellent.
Berlin, April 1.-The North German
Gazette. a government organ, denies
the rumors printed in London and cir
culated in the United States, that the
health of Emneror William Is such