The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-05-16
WONDER THAT ANY ESCAPED
FROM HARRISBURG WRECK
Every Car in Passenger Train Wrecked and De-
stroyed by Fire. Bodies Burned Beyond
Recognition Only Ten identified.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATION OF THE ACCIDENT

Harrisburg, May 11.-Nineteen per-
sons are positively known to have
been killed and more than hundred
were injured at 1898 this morning by
an explosion of car of dynamite,
which wrecked the Cleveland and Gin
cinnati express in South Harrisburg.
Ten of the dead victims have been
identified and nine are so badly
burned and mutilated that 1t Is likely
some of them will never be identified.
Three of the injured are in dying
condition at midnight. They are:
- Stottlemeyer, Philadelphia.
AL Crosby, conductor, of Parkton.
Joseph Eberly, New York.
1t is explained by the railroad Off
cials that the accident was caused by
the sudden stopping of the eastbound
freight train. The air hose burst
when the brakes were applied, some of
the cars buckled. One car was thrown
across the passenger track by this just
as the express dashed along. One OF
the cars Of the freight contained
cargo of dynamite, otherwise, 1t is
said, perhaps no lives would have been
lost, as 1.-The express was stopped before
1t had gone its own length.
In the car next the derailed freight
car was the cargo of dynamite, and
this was exploded by the concussion,
carrying death and injury to practi-
cally everybody on the train. While
some of the injured are hurt seriously,
many of them escaped with slight cuts
and bruises.
The following official statement was
given out from the Office of Supt. w.
b. McCaeb of the Pennsylvania rail-
road this evening:
'Tt will be impossible to state how
many lives have been lost. Ten bodies
have been identified, and nine we have
been unable to identify. We have
heard reports of missing people and
received many kilograms inquiring
about passengers on the train, but as
we have been unable to identify all of
the bodies it would be impossible to
tell what the number of fatalities
will be-
Harrisburg, Pa, May 11.-That any
body escaped alive from the wreck of
the Cleveland Cincinnati express, on
the Pennsylvania railroad, in South
Harrisburg this morning is one of the
wonders of the railroad service. The
shock when the car of dynamite ex-
ploded was felt distinctly for miles.
Every car in the passenger train was
wrecked and nearly all of the wreck
age was consumed by fire, which
completed the work Of the dynamite.
OF the eighteen known dead, only
ten have been identified, the awful
effect of the explosion and fire, render
ing identification impossible.
Every passenger car was completely
destroyed and from nearly every one
the charred Bodies of men, women or
children were extracted Four bodies
were taken from beneath the passen-
ger engine after 1t had been lifted up
by the powerful wrecking machine,
The charred bodies of passengers, burn
ed beyond recognition, were found in
nearly every car and 1t appeared that
many had never risen from their sleep
in the berths.
Railroad men claim that there were
number of bodies so badly burned
that nothing is left of their bodies but
ashes, and that the fate of some of the
passengers may never be known.
At one of the temporary morgues, al
No. 1913 Chestnut street, was one of the
most gruesome sights ever witnessed
In this city. Twelve charred Jumps
Df what was left of human beings
we're laid side by side on the floor
There was not whole body in thu
group.
A. Thalheimer, of New York, who 1!
connected with the Lyric theatre, ant
Mr.. Samuel Shubert, the theatrica
manager, were in the same car. Mr.
Shubert is badly burned on the fac'
and legs and his body is mass o
bruises but he will recover. Doctors
McGowan, Walters and Klugh at
tended him at the Commonwealth
hotel, where he was taken as speedil.
as possible. Mr.. Thalheimer is also q
the Commonwealth, and is cut abou
the face and hands. He is also Gu
about the feet, where he broke tn
windows to get out.
Robert Pitcairn, superintendent o
the western division of the Pennsyl
vania railroad arrived on a specia
train this afternoon. He was notifie
of the disastrous wreck and of tn
presence of his son-in-law. e. l.. Crab
be on the train Immediately after tn
crash. He arrived after the death G
Mr.. Crabbe His daughter, who
made q widow cby the accident, arriv
O.Aa N,a fad n