The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-03-08
WRECK AND FIRE ST. f. 1. 4
!. /. WIPE OUT TRAIN
Crash On B. 6 0. Rivals Accident
to PennSys Flyer.
ALL SURVIVE BUT THE ENGINEER.
Train Was Making Forty Miles an Hour
When 1t Jumped the Track Near Con-
nellsvillc, Pa.-Just Missed Rolling
Down a Fifty-foot Embankment to
Water-Wreck Catches Fire.

Pittsburg, Pa. (SpeciaD Train
No. 40, on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, running 40 miles an hour,
was wrecked at Indian Creek, six
miles east of Connellsvil1e, Pa. The
engineer was killed and many pas
sengers injured.
Fortunately the train left the rails
to the left and was ditched at the
foot of the mountains. To the right
was a 50-foot embankment and
water.
The wreckage then took fire, and
the entire train, including the private
car of Robert j. Finney, superintend-
ent of the Pittsburg division was
burned. 1t was one of the most re-
markable accidents on record, in so
far as only one person was killed.
1t is said to be even more marvellous
than the wreck on the Pennsylvania
Special on the Pennsylvania Railroad
at Mineral Point.
Ran 200 Feet On Ties.
The train was westbound and Is
minutes late 1t consisted of COM
bination smoking and baggage car,
two day coaches and the private car
of Superintendent Finney. After
leaving the rails the train ran for
200 feet along the ties and was
thrown into the ditch at the foot OF
the mountains, where the wreckage
was completely burned.
The engineer was killed, the fire.
man fatally injured and the baggage
master, express messenger, conduc-
tor and six passengers were seriously
injured. About 80 passengers were
more or less cut and bruised.
Cars Piled On Locomotive.
There were Al passengers on the
train, including party of Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad officials who were
on a tour of inspection. When the
train was three miles east of Indian
Creek the engineer began to speed
in an endeavor to make up IL min
utes lost early in the trip. The train
was making about 40 miles an hour.
Suddenly, the whole train swayed
and with much Earring and cracking,
left the rails.
Fortunately, the train took a
course northwest from the track, and
after running over 200 feet along the
ties, plunged into the ditch. The
four cars piled in a heap almost d.
rectly over the engine. The passen-
gers were thrown and tossed about
like packages. Screaming and fight
ing desperately, they managed to
break the windows of the cars and
gain places of safety just as all the
cars became ignited from the en-
CINE and commenced to burn fiercely.
Within a few moments all had
gotten out. While they stood about
in a dazed condition, hardly realiz-
ing their miraculous escape, they
were attracted by the cries of Engi-
neer Irwin. Several of the passen-
gers accompanied by Superintendent
Finney and the other railroad Of
ficials, ran to the engineers rescue.
Watched Flames Reach Engineer.
Their efforts were accelerated by
Twins pathetic pleading, and every
possible attempt was made to llber-
ate the engineer, who was tightly
wedged under the wrecked engine,
but without success. The flames
quickly burned their way toward the
doomed man, and soon it was appar-
ent that he would be cremated.
Within a short time the flames reach
ed the engineer There were few
piercing screams and all was over.
Relief trains were dispatched from
this city and the injured brought to
the hospitals here.