Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-03-16
THE RAILROAD ACCIDENT

The 3. r. & p through-train or flyer
as it is generally called. passed through
Butler few minutes late, last Satur-
day evening. The engineer attempted
to make up the lost time between But
Ter and Gallery, and he ran his big en-
CINE little too fast. 1t hit the curve,
a short distance below the Bessemer
crossing, a little too hard, and 1t left
the rails, plowed over the ties for few
rods, and then jammed its nose into the
rocky bank, wrecking itself and the
train.
The engineer reversed his lever,
whistled, and then jumped to the right,
rolling into the creek; the fireman
Jumped to the left, was hit by the ten
der and had an arm and leg broken,
while another engineer, who was IN the
cab and was learning the route, was
thrown under the wheels and instantly
killed.
The baggage and express car was
buried down the embankment, and
landed with one end in the creek; the
clerks and messenger saving themselves
from injury by the flying parcels by
hanging to the safety rod, but they were
all well bumped. The mail car and the
coaches remained on the track, but the
chair car crushed into the end OF the
day coach, from which the passengers
had to crawl out of the windows, and IN
the rear end of which some Butler peo-
ple had narrow escape. 81. Q. john
stor was pinned to the floor by door,
and when he was released, sent the trsf
news of the wreck to Butler.
The B. g. o. accommodation, which
followed the flyer was tagged in time,
and brought the passengers and wound
ed hack 10 Butler. Fireman Hertel
was taken to the Hospital and is doing
well. The wrecking crews were sent
for, and Engineer Ford Wilkes body
was not released till towards 10 clock.
when it was prepared for burial and
shipped to Du Bois. where he had
wife and eight children The cars and
the big engine. excepting the baggage
car were all lifted upon the track and
hauled away.
An investigation of the causes of the
accident began, Tuesday. The fireman
thinks they were running too fast, ano
said the tender left the track first; En-
gineer Logan said he was running al
the usual speed, and cannot account fol
the accident excepting on the loose tire
theory. :.
A reported feature Of the accident il
that the pony-wheels and their truck
became detached from the engine anc
ran down the track almost to Renfrew
If this is true it would indicate that tht
king-bolt of the truck had snapped, ano
both that and the dislocation OF the tire
of the driving wheel would indicate
loo great speed upon entering The
curve.
The regular engineer for this trair
from Du Bois to Pittsburg is VIM. Ri
ley of Butler, but he was at home at
tending sick child, and this was U. >
G.. Logan's first trip as an engineer o.
this train over this section, while Mr.
Wilkes was in the cab learning th'
route.
Deputy Coroner T. J. Dodds and
Jury held an inquest on the matter and
are all Of the opinion that the train wal
running too fast when it hit the curve
The curve there is what is called an
degree curve, the outside rail is Sinche'
higher than the inside, and the rails arr
feet OF inches apart. or II inches more
than upon straight track. Engineer
are forbidden by the rules of road t
make up lost time, but they all (nearly
ALI do it. Since the strengthening Of
the trestle the B. r. 81 p. has been us
ing its big engines on this division.