The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-03-07
WRECK AND FIRE
WIPE OUT TRAIN
Crash On B. 6 0. Riva's Accident
to Pennsys Flyer.
ALL SURVIVE BUT THE ENGINEER
Train Was Making Forty Mics an Hour
When II Jumped tire Track Near Con-
nellsvillc, Pa.-Just Missed Rolling
Down a Fifty-foot Embankment TO
Watcr-Wreck Catches Fire.

Pittsburg, Pa. Especially Train
No. 40, on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, running 40 miles an hour,
was wrecked at Indian Creek, six
miles east of Connellsville, 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 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 he 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 a COM
bination smoking and baggage car,
! two day coaches and the private car
of superintendent Finney After
| leaving the rails the train ran for
zoe feet along the ties and was
thrown into the ditch at the foot of
! the mountains, where the wreck2ge
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
moro or less cut and bruised.
Cars Piled On Locomotive.
There we're Al passengers on the
train, Including a 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 Is min
utes lost early in the trip. The trair
was making about 40 miles an hour
Suddenly, the whole train swayec
and with much jarring and cracking
left the rails.
Fortunately, the train took
course northwest from the track, anC
after running over 200 feet along th'
ties, plunged into the ditch. TIT
four cars piled in a heap almost al
rectly over the engine. The passen
gers were thrown and tossed abou
like packages. ScreamSg and fight
ing desperately, they managed to
break the windows of the cars ant
gain places of safety just as all th'
cars became ignited from the en-
gine and commenced to burn fiercely
Within a few moments all hat
gotten out. While they stood abou
in a dazed condition, hardly realiz
ing their miraculous escape, the,
were attracted by the cries of Engi
neer Irwin. Several of the passen
gers accompanied by Superintendent
Finney and the other railroad of
fcials, ran to the engineers rescue.
Watched Flames Reach Engineer.
Their efforts were accelerated b
Irwin's pathetic pleading. and ever
possible attempt was made to libeI
: ate the engineer, who was Tight
wedged under the wrecked engine
but without success. The flame
quickly burned their way toward tn
, doomed man, and soon it was appaI
ent that he would be crematet
Within a short time the flames reach
ed the engineer. There were a fe'
piercing screams and all was over.
, Relief trains were dispatched froI
. this city and the injured brought
the hOsDitals here