The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-01-09
WRECK OF THE FAST MAIL.
Two Persons Killed and 35 Injured
Some Seriously.

The first serious wreck on the Western
Maryland Railroad, for many years, and
the only one in which passenger was kill
ed, occurred Jan 3, near the Blue Noun
tain House, aud was caused by the breaking
of rail. The train, known as the Fast
Mail, left Hagerstown at t. 10 Sunday at
ternoon, and was midway between Edge
mont and the Blue Mountain House when
the accident took place.
Mandel Sener, reporter of the Balti
more Sun, was on the train, and furnished
the following report to that paper:
The fast mail train on the Western Mary
land railroad which left Hagerstown this af
ternoon at f. 10 o'clock for Baltimore was
wrecked on the mountain midway between
Edgemont and the Blue Mountain House,
about u miles from Hagerstown, by a broken
rail. The rear coach. containing about 40
passengers. rolled down the mountain, turn
ing over twice The coach landed on its top,
the trucks crashing through the floor.
Many of those injured were hurt by broken
glass, splintered tmbers and loosened car
seats.
One woman was killed instantly and one
child so badly injured that she died Sunday
night in Hagerstown. About 35 persons were
injured, number of them only slightly. It
is not known what caused the rail to break,
but il is supposed the below-zero weather that
prevailed on the mountain caused the steel TO
contract so violently as to make 1t too brittle
to bear the weight of the cars.
The train was in charge of Conductor Geo.
Fl. Sheets. of Williamsport. son of Jesse
Sheets. formerly of Westminster, but now
ticket agent al Walbrook; engineer ). b.
Price and Brakeman Shock, of Baltimore,
who was injured. but not seriously. The train
was made up of one engine, mail car car, bag
gage car and two coaches. The rear coach
was occupied by many ladies, the one ahead
being the smoker.
AT the point where the wreck occurred there
is steep grade and the train was not running
at a very rapid speed, estimated not over 20
miles An hour The car that rolled down the
embankment was ground in splnters and how
any of the occupants escaped IS marvel
The smoker was derhiled, bat did not roll over.
The rear trucks were knocked from under n.
The engine and the mail aud baggage cars
went on to Highfeld, three miles east, and.
after hooking TO two passenger coaches re-
turned to the scene Of the wreck aud took on
board about dozen of the injured, aud. with
the uniniured passengers, proceeded to Baiu
more.
As soon as the agent at Hagerstown was no
tilted he dispatched several physicians on q
special to the wreck.
Most Of the injured persons were put in cabs
and hauled 10 the Railroad Young Mems
Christian Hospital, Hagerstown.
Mrs. Sener, mother OF the little gir who
died, had been spending the Christmas hoh
DAYS with her two children with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Beniamin Beck, at Chewsviile
and had taken the fast mail for their home 10
n "a 4fF1uraA 1
Harerstown stopped at Chewsville. where
Mrs. Sener aud her little sou got of. Mrs.
Sener was able TO walk with assistance. Her
little daughter was taken to Hagerstown and
the surgeons performed the operation Of ire
phining.
Mr.. Besore, Of Waynesboro, nearly BLEED 20
death before the flow Of blood could he check
ed.
Miss Catherine GAmhrill, who was slightly
hurt about the back, Is a daughter OF Steven
Gambril. of Laurel, Nd, and niece Of Geo.
T. Gambrill. Of the milling firm Of this city.
She is also niece Of Senator Arthur z. Cor
man. Miss Gambril bad been visiting the
family of Judge Alvey, N Hsgerstowu-
Herman Snaler, of Baltimore, who was
among the injured, is brother OF Walter g.
Snader. nf Westminster. Md
Mrs. Emma Harbaugh. whose home j. IN
Wayuesboro, Pa, but who is employed IA
Baltimore, gave graphic description Of The
accident:
"Ihad Just pulled off my rubbers and placrd
them near me. said Mrs. Harbaugh, 'shen
felt the car jump. and almost immediately
il seemed to me, it began to turn over aud
over. Everything happened so rapidly that
| did not realize the danger uulil the coach
struck the bottom OF the embankment with
crash.
so quickly did the coach iurn over that
was not thrown OUT Of my seat, and when we
landed Al the bottom my rubeers we're siiH
near me. The truck crashed through the ear
end the screaming and grooming was some
thing horrible. man cut through the win-
dow near me with an AK and | crawied out.
| saw soule people going M steep bank aud
| thought | eoaia get up that way, too. did
not realize al the time that had been hurI,
although the blood was running down over
my shoulders from the wound IN my head
II managed To crawl part of the way up The
bank, when | became exhausted Aed would
have been compelled to 60 down. but some
men at the top OF the bank tied two natl bags
io.lhe end of rope and threw them dewn 10
me, and | caught the rope aud was pulled up.
b. this time the exertion had caused NY head
10 bleed worse and realized that ny biz MAS
also injured.
There was "a doctor there, bet didu't see
him. | managed to bandage up my head and
send telegram to my mother IN Wayuesboro
tina, | was not badly hurt.
The ear was crushed SO that il was inpus-
sible t. tell IL il landed on the top or side. A
number &c people were caught under il and
had to be cut free. | think nearly everyone
was injured aud most Of them we're going
around bleeding from cuts on their heads aud
faces.
A member Of the crew said that be bad cx-
amined the portion Of the track where the
train left H. He found that a piece Of the nail
on the inside Of the curve had broken eff. hui
that the derailment bad occurred on the oHt.
side rail. This be considered remarkable aud
could not account for ii. The portion Of rail
had been broken completely out, Just as
though il bad chipped off and the suggestion
was made that the weather might have had
something to do with il. No attempt was
made 10 account for il by the road officials IN
the absence Oh more complete details
ALI those on the train commended Brake
man Shock warmly. declaring that the way
in which he worked for Two hours in his iuluF
ed condition was nothing short Of heroic. The
quick action and clear headed foresight Of
Conductor Sheets was highly commended.
THE DEAD.
Mrs WIN. T. Mansley, Of Wilmington. Del.
AnG hatheFlne DECK ScHeF. years niu, ud@Su-
Ter OF Mr. and Mrs. Mande Senes. 1913 West
Fayeite street, Baltimore.
THE INJURED.
Miss Zade Kemp, KimbaIi, Va, head cut
and body bruised.
Miss Eva Morgan, Bissell, Nd, hip hurt
and head cut.
Edward Martin. Hagersto~n, hand, leg and
arms cut.
Coleman Anderson, WilIiamsport, Nd, leg,
arm aud head cut.
Charles d. Besore, Waynesboro. Pa, hand
cut aud left side hurt.
Herman 5. Snader, 1924 East Twentieth
street, Baltimore; head cut and wrist sprained.
Emory Baker, Grimes Station, Md, right
arm broken and head cut
George Markell, Hagerstown, head cut and
injured internally.
Charles Markell, Hagerslowu, head cut.
Miss Edith Rowland. daughter 81 }. l..
Rowland broker, Of Baltimore: back hurt.
She was returning from wish TO her aunt,
Mrs. George Nj. Stonebraker, Hagerstown.
S. Burkhart Emmert. Hsgerstown. scalp
wound
Mrs. Carrie Sener, wife Of Mandel Sener.
of the city staff of the Sun, head cut aud
bruised about the body. Both her children.
a boy and girl. were injured. The girl died
at the hospital in Hagerstown.
Miss Jessie Grove, Hagerstown, badly cut
and bruised; able TO go to her home after her
iniurias ware drassad