The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-06-20
EIGHTEEN KILLED IN WRECK
Worst Disaster in History Of the Wes-
tern Maryland R. R.
TWO TRAINS IN COLLISION
The Accident HanpeI,ed Near Pa
tapsco-Besidcs the Killed. Score
More We're acknowledgements
for the Wreck Not Fixcd--Tseiicf
Train Takes Injured to Baltimore

Baltimore, June 17-By far the worst
wreck in the history Of the Western
Maryland Railroad occurred this even
ing at a point about quarter Of
mile from Patapsco, a small station
between Washington and Finks5urg.
At least eighteen people are believed
to have been killed, and score morel
injured.
Passenger train No. 81, westbouni.
was running at q very high rate OIL
speed when, at the point named, ii
crashed into double header freight,ran
ming east All three of the engines
were reduced to scrap iron, the express
and baggage cars of the passenger were
smashed, and a number of the freight
cars were splinfered. The passenger
coaches sustained little injury almost
without exception their occupants cs-
caped with nothing worse than bad
shaking up. TIE fatalities and inju-
ries were to the crews of the engines,
and to workmen employed by the rail-
road. 1t is a remarkable coincidence
| that these latter should have been at
work repairing the damage caused by
recent small freight wreck that &C.
Cured at Mount Hope station, near
this city. They were on their way to
their homes in small towns along the
l w. 10. ND fn
Not being regular passengers, they had
boarded the baggage car and engine
lWhen the crash came the more fOrtu-
mate, who were on the engine, jumped
lor were thrown from the trains and
lwere only injured.
Those in the baggage car were terri
bly, mangled and the crews OF all three
lengines were killed. Their bodies are
all believed to be under the wreckage
tof the engines Just before the first re-
lief train bringing injured to the nos
pitals of this city left the scene I'M
wreckage about these began to burn.
The first relief train to reach her'
brought eleven badly injured, and ON
who had died on the trip. Those taksI
from the wreck dead were taken u
Westminster. A dozen ambulance
lawaited the arrival of the relief tra'l
, | at Union station, and hurried the IN
+ tiured to hospitals as fast as they coult
be taken from the cars. The poln
at which the accident occurred is s.
l situated that news of the wreck wa
/. slow reaching Baltimore. AS soon
, the news arrived the railroad compan
lsent relief trains and as many physl
clans as could be gathered together.
Although all the help that can pos
: sibly be used is at hand, there ar
t dead and injured yet under the wreck
AGE Those known to be dead thu
| far are:
George B. Covell, of Hagersto"r
engineer on passenger train.
S John J. Sledger, fireman, of the pas
, | senger train.
Shoemaker, of Hagerstown, fremai
Wright, Hagerstown, Md.' ehsiiiee
[ of one of the freight engines.
John Grouse, of TaneytoWn, Nd ell
e gineer of one of the freight trains.
|, Derr, conductor of freight train.
e The following repair gang:
n James Groshen, ThurmOnt.
L Charles Kelley, Thurmont.
Willie Sweeney, Thurmont
IS Mcclellan Sweeney, Thurmont.
e Frank Sweeney, Thurmont.
II Harry Sweeney, brother or McCie
e Ian Sweeney, Thurmont.
= Charles T. Miller, Thurmont.
= Guy Lynn, Middleburg.
L One unknown man.
1t No one can be found tonight wlllin
ie to say who was responsible for u
le disaster, although it seems TO ha'
n been the fault of the crew in charge
Is the freight The wreck occurred Oh
ii curve where the Patapsco river
'e crossed. The passenger train was ru