The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-29
SEVENTY PEOPLE ARE KILLED
 IN ATLANTIC CITY GAR WRECK
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ID


 the Meadow wreck of July 30, 1S96 sent about eighty people to d sudden death this afternoon, catching them like rats in a trap. The cars of the electric train of the West Jersey and Seashore rail- road lines, due here at 2:3O o'clock, jumped the track on the trestle bridge over the 'Thoroughfare, and arm of the sea which separates Atlantic city from the mainland, and before any one could get out, they were hurled to watery grave. The trestle is about fifteen feet above the water and the drop to the water required several seconds, giv- ing time for the passengers, men, wom- en and children to see and calculate their fate.
 The entire city was thrown into a state of great excitement when the news reached town. Fully 5000 people crowded the Meadows and the trestle, many rela- lives and friends crying out in despair, asking for loved ones Chief of Police Maxwell had a cordon of police strung around the death circle, and Chief Black of the fire department called out his men on an emergency call, and made them police temporarily.
 Seven bodies had been recovered up to : o'clock tonight, and the wrecking train is now at work trying to hoist the sub merged cars from the water where fully seventy bodies must be entombed. The accident was due to a rail turning ln." It appears that the rail which was an outside one on the right hand side coming down, must have been out of plumb about an eighth of an inch. The sharp fiange of the electric train caught this and twisted it inward. Had it spread instead of twist ing inward, the accident never would have happened.
 Twist ThoWs Car. This twist threw the first car off the track and into the water. The result was that the second and third cars were drag ged with 1t and while the third ear was l descending the rear portion struck piece of the abutment hung for q short time, and then slid into the water. But this brief stop saved several lives, A numbet of men and a few women leaped out of windows and the rear door. either into the water or caught hold of a post and were rescued.
 It was stated that fully eighty to one hundred passengers were aboard, mostly all crowded into the first and second cars. These are entombed Among the passen- gers were twenty men of the Royal Artll- lery band, who were on their way here ! from Philadelphia.
 One or two bodies of the bandmen were recovered early in the afternoon.
 John Dougherty Philadelphia, was ! severely injured. He broke his way through the window and escaped after be- ing in the water
 w, D. Taylor. electrician, Camden, N, | J., injured severely.
 | George McGee, Philadelphia, injured. John Taylor of Camden was among | those who went over with the cars, but ! he kicked his way through window of 1 the rear car and swan to the piling of the | bridge, where he held fast and was res- l cued by J. E. Deford, railroad man. who ] was nearby when the accident happened. Charles Kessler, a merchant, was the ! first on deck and displayed a cool head. 1 He secured an axe, jumped on top Of the ! submerged car and began to hack the roof to liberate the imprisoned passengers. l The task was a difficult one and he was | unable to rescue many. He managed to 1 get some women out and above water
 Warned of Evil. l c. C. Smith of Newark and k. J. Kelly of Jeffersonyile, N Y, who were pas sengers on the train, got off at Pleasant | vile for no other reason than that some thing told them to change their minds | about coming to Atlantic City. They 1 heard of the accident afterwards and 1 were thankful that they did not remain on board.
 About fifteen people who got off al l Pleasantvlle said fully eighty passengers were on the train, great many women ! John Eads of this city, parlor car man 1 was on the train and escaped by crawling i through Il window of the rear car and swimming ashore
 i The man who attends the bridge, ir l speaking of the accident, declared thai l the bridge had been opened about thirty | minutes before the train came along. \ l yacht passed through. He says he saw that the bridge was properly closed, anc ! that the tracks were inspected. He can l not explain why the rails turned as they i did.
 Among the dead at the hospital was al 1 unidentified woman wearing a wedding l ring mariN1 "T. P. F. to l. N. G." ant two diamond rings and a pearl ring. Sh'
 is apparently about 30 years of age. Hel | body now lies at the Crowley morgue. 1 A man lying at the hospital named Vim cent, residence unknown, has fractured skull. He is in dying condition.
 Oreste Ray Meatiele, supposed to be resident of Atlantic City, is also at th' hospital badly Injured.
 Coroner Gaskill personally hurried t' 1 the scene and made a minute inVestiga ton of the twisted track and the terri tory, and will summon a jury tomorrow l to hold an inquest. Prosecutor r. Pleas ant Abbott was also on the ground t
 
 part of the railroad company.
 Friends Are Anxious.
 At the big hotels where friends and rel atives are staying, there is much anXiet, as the, people are not sure whether thei relatives caught the train down or hay
 delayed their visit.
 One rescue crew at work on top of tn submerged car described a mans jewele'
 hand sticking through the ventlator O
 the car They worked heroically and sue
 ceeded in drawing it through the aper ture 1t has not yet been identified.
 J. $. Deford railroad man, saw
 man clingng to the trestle cryng fo
 help mad succeeded in crawling alonl
 the edge of the bridge and reaching dow pulled him up safely The man was GU and bruised, but declined to give hi name.
 The wrecking train will work all nigh
 trying to hoist the submerged cars.
 When the rear car of the train caugh ! on the abutment of the bridge, where hung poised for minute, there was
 frantic rush of the passengers for tn rear door. Probably a score more go i out and as the car plunged over tn 1 edge others leaped into the water. Tb last car that went over the bridge fe upon the others and slowly slipped off int the water The moments delay, however gave several passengers the opportunit i to leap into the water before the car wa | finally submerged.
 Motorman Sticks to Post.
 Motorman Scott stuck to his post an, l went down with his train. Conducto Curtis also perished. The third trainman 1 Rrakeran Wood proyed himself Il hero