Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-06-22
Terrible Railroad Accident

The worst railroad accident that
has ever happened on the Western
Maryland Railroad occurred last Sat-
urday afternoon at 6 o'clock near Pa.
| tapsco Station, about eleven miles sast
of Westminster, Nd. A double.head-
or freight train lay on q siding, with
| instructions to wait until three west
bound passenger trains had passed.
When two ofthese trains had gone by,
for some unaccountable reason the
| crew of the freight train, including
both engineers and fremen, pulled
out on the main track and started
for the next station. After gaining
iull speed the heavy train met the
third passenger on a curve, and the
three big engines came together in a
fearful crash. The three engineers
and the three fremen on the engines
were all killed, as was conductor V.
0. Deer, who was riding on one Of the
engines.
Riding in the combination car Of
the passenger train were number OF
repair hands who worked at various
places along the railroad, These men
had been picked up at several sta
tions, and were on their way home to
spend Sunday. Nearly twenty Of
them were killed, and in addition a
number of others were injured. The
death list, including those who died
aiterward from their injuries, num-
bered 26, and about a dozen others
were hurt. Every man who was kill
cd was an employee of the railroad.
No other passenger was seriously nurt,
the last act of Engineer Covell being
to throw the air brakes on the pas
senger train, thus saving many lives.
The fearful impact of the big loco
motives entirely demolished the bag.
gage car in which so many Of the
workmen were sitting, as well as the
mail car. Their occupants were scat
tered, mangled and bleeding, on eth
er side Of TIE track. in the masses Of
iron that had been the engines. were
the crushed and scalded bodies Of
engineers and fremen. The sigL.
was horrible.
Special trains bearing physicians
were soon summoned to the scene,
and the wounded were tenderly cared
for, while the dead were sent to Their
homes. Four of the victims Of the
wreck were rom Hagerstown Eng
reer l.. 7. Pee, Conductor ', Q. Der-,
Engineer John c. Grouse and Fire2a2
Wu. II MCNanee,
As a result Of the wreck, the village
. Of Catoosin Furnace and the town o.
Th1rmont, both in Frederick county,
are places of mourning and sorrow.
The dead from the two places num-
bered -, with list Of perhaps g
Injured. The victims were laborers
on their way home, and resided IN
humble homes along the railroad.
The bodies were sent home Sunday
morning, and as the train came IN sight
! silent crowd, numbering nearly halt
tbs people Of the two places, Assem-.
bIed at the depot. The distress Of
the afflicted families elected great
sympathy from all over the county,
the victims being mon in poor cir
cumstances, and IN nearly al cases
with families depending upon them
for support, A particularly distress
ing feature Of the accident is the case Of
the Sweeney family, where Mcclellan
Sweeney and bis two cons, William
and Frank, and a cousin, Harry Sween-
ey, were killed. These people lived
near Catoctim Furnace, and the am
lies are left almost destitute. \
telephone message from that place
stated that from IS TO 40 children
IN that vicinity ere fatherless as a
result Of the accident, and almost en-
tirely without means OF support.
The Postofico Department has re-
Gently been receiving complaints from
all of its rural free delivery routes