Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-20
Result Of Awful Disaster Near
Harrisburg, Pa
MANY WERE BURNED TO DEATH

GNuN
Samuel shubert, the New York
theatrical manager.
Max Stettheimer. New York manu-
facturer
Thomas Lewis. Pullman conductor.
Philadelphia
Charles Bisinni. Philadelphia.
Miss Yetta Robinson. Cleveland.
V. L. Crabbe Pittsburg.
Paul Bright Pittsburg.
George Zeigler. PittsburE.
James r. Phillips. Pittsburg
Albert Crosby. Philadelphia. conduc-
tor Of express.
Rudolphus Martina, Italian infant.
New York
Mrs Robert C. Dougherty. PhfladeI-
phia
c. kaufman. Altoona
G. F. Silverman. Philadelphia
Il X. Thomas. Philadelphia. engi-
Eeer Of express.
Mr.. Anderson. PittsburE
Six unidentified bodies.
The Pennsylvania railroad ofHcials
gave out a list OF 1874 persons who
were injured. 106 being treated al hos
pitfalls OF elsewhere
How the Wreck Occurred.
There are various stories OF how the
wreck occurred. but the Official ve~-
s!oH is as follows.
The engine on the east-bound freight
train was tagged by the crew OF a
shifting engine ahead on the same
track. The engineer quickly put on his
air brakes. and the train. an unusualiy
long one came 10 a sudden halt. The
strain on the air valves was a severe
enc. and one OF the connecting air
hose IN the middle OF the train blew
cut This caused the middle OF the
train 20 buckle" and the damaged
cars fell over on the passenger tracks
Jusl az this happened the Cleveland
express came laundering ND and side
aviped" the wreck. The express WAS
stopped within It's own length. and the
third sleeper was opposite the wrecked
ears. Before any one could leave the
passenger tEain, which was not very
badly damaged. few slight explosions
occurred, and tsSh HtFS Sis one Eren
1AAs bnd roar that shook the earth.
The whole thing occurred within The
short period OK few seconds. 4 scene
Of horror followed the blowing IN az
the dynamite. The passenger cars and
some OF the freight cars instantly took
IRE. As the reverberstions OF the ter
Tine explosion died away in the hills
across the SusQuehanna river. the
agonizing cries Of the injured could he
heard. Men and women came tumhlipr
and climbing from the car windows or
crAvled from under the wreckaee No
one for the moment seemed 10 know
what 10 do. and many OF the passen-
gers, momentArily seized with terror
ran wildly about the fields on the north
side % the railroad or waded into the
ehAlinw waters OF the river. W.
2gEslls1 lbs uilroad on ss:rSh
ReAlitins their r-.-,y Es9 AS assss "
81 IIsssszcShins oIhers the frightened
DEx9ItS%ts turned u and began the
fescue Of the living AS they ap-
proached the wreck another explosion
occurred. which sent them scurryinp
away. Fearing that the entire freight
train might be loaded with dynamite
no one dared 70 near the wreck.
Finally the railroad men who knew the
contents OF the burning freight train
led the way and the uninjured passen a.
gers followed.
The work OF rescue was at drSt slow
and II seemed as though the flames
would envelop the entire express trair
before those who were pinned beneSfi
the heavy wreckage could be freed
Everywhere there came shrieks 70,
help, and the frantic rescuers workeS
with willing hands Scores of tbos,
who were trapped in their sleetTn,
berths or pinioned under wrecks
were taken out and laid in the field
badly hurt The men fought hard [.
reach other victims. and many wer
taken from the mass OF broken WOO,
and twisted iron just as the fam 2
touched their naked forms, burnfn
some OF them quite severely. The ad
vancing fire drove the rescuers bac
as they were about 10 take Others froa
the wreck, and the unfortunates me,
and women, were soon enveloped Il
the flames. The cries of the dying WI
heaTt-rendlpg 10 the extreme bnt moth
ing could be done for them. Many Q
those willing to help. but unable 1
Go so. had to turn away from the hoT
rible scene. An alarm OF FIRE was ser
In, but when the nremen reached IA
scene the flames had done their wor
% far as the victims in the wreck wer
concerned. The entire train was cor
sumed by IRE.
Lying on the tracks was the dea
body of Mrs. Robert G.. Dougherty. {
Philadelphia. with her husband and I
ycar-old son standing guard and silent
~ weeping over the body. Mr. Dough
erty was grief-stricken, but his youn
son cheered him up with the words
r.a 81 l.