Norwich bulletin., 1912-07-06

r persons were killed and thirty injured, number fatally. as result of wreck at $40 this afternoon on the Ligonier Valley railroad at Wilpen
 An overloaded passenger coach, pushed by an engine, was struck by double header freight train of coal cars, crushing the coach like paper ana spreading death and injury to all but one aboard the train.
 Only one passenger escaped without injury.
 The accident occurred at the fair grounds at Wilpen, one and a half miles from Ligonier, at summer re- sort.
 Impact Was Terrific. <. The passenger train had started from Ligonier It consists of an en- zine and coach, the engine pushing the coach. The freight train was made up of many coal cars and was being pulled by two heavy locomotives.
 The impact was terrific. The pas senger coach was practically laid open and the passengers either crushed or thrown through the air.
 It was the first fatal accident. it is said, in the history of the Ligonier road for the past forty years.
 Cause of Wreck Undetermined.
 The accident occurred on a branch road, running from this place to Li- gonier, which is owned by the Mellon interests of Pittsburgh. It had been reported that the line was controlled by the Pennsylvania railroad.
 It will take an investigation to de- termine the cause of the wreck. To- night there seems no person in posi- tion to even suggest a cause
 Victims Returning After Holiday.
 The passenger train, consisting of the lone coach, carried many persons who had enjoyed a holiday over the Fourth of July at Ligonier. a summer resort. Without a moments warning the heavy freight plowed into It, splitting the coach into. bits. The victims crushed or killed instantly, were thrown in all directions. A num- Der were sent flying ahead only to fall before the onrushing engines.
 Couple Lose Three Daughters.
 Many of the passengers were women and children. Two incidents are pa thetic. Miss Esther Matthews. a nurse employed by an official of the road. was taking a party of six children to a woods near Wilpen for a picnic. Two of the tots were crushed to death, the other badly hurt. Miss Mathews con- dition Is critical The second incident Is the grief of Mir. and Mrs Henry RhOddy. Their three young daughters, Louise. Elizabeth and Mary, were kill ed. Mir. Rhoddy, a well known busl- ness man. and his wife are frantic to- night and under the care of physi- 1 clans.
 Only Train on Line.
 George Hubley, who was killed. is a son of Grant Hubley secretary of the Oil Well Supply company of Pitts burgh. He is IS years old He was graduated recently as a civil engineer and was on his way to join an engi- neering corps of the Pennsylvania state highway department and take up the work of his first position. Almost every home in LigOnier was affected by the accident. The railroad is an outlet for the mines of the Wilpen | Coal company. The passenger train wrecked today was the only one in operation. It made two trips a day over the line. which was ten miles in length. Up to today not a life had been lost in any manner, and this was made the boast of the officials.
 List of the Dead.
 The dead
 Mrs. Harry Dillon and baby of Will pen. crushed to death
 William Campbell of Wilpen.
 Frank McConnaughey of Ligonler, engineer, scalded to death George Byers of Ligonier, fireman. crushed and scalded
 Louise Rhoddy, age 8. of McCance, crushed
 Elizabeth Rhoddy, 1S. sister.
 John M. Ankney of Ligonier, fire man, died on way 10 hospital. Mrs. M. Essee of Wilpen.
 Thomas Murr of Latrobe, head crushed
 George Tosh of wilpen, body crush ed.
 Mike Hudock of wilpen, side crush ed.
 Frank overtou, TO- wilpen. mutilat- ed.
 Mrs. John Overton. mother of Frank 1 died on train bound for Pittsbure. Unidentified boy, 12
 Two unidentified foreigners. badly 1 crushed
 George Hubley of Pittsburr. civil engineer body crushed.
 Matthew Nieponit of Pittsburs. crushed Mary Rhodey. Iigonier. Frank B. Beatty, engineer.
 Prominent Men Injured.
 A majority of the injured. thirty in all, were residents along the Wilpcn | branch. They were brought to hos 1 pltal here or sent to hospitals at Pitts burg when 1t was found they were in a critical condition. Among them were.
 Dr. J. B. Johnson of Ligonier hurt internally will probably die
 Dr. c. 4 Hamill of Ligonier. crush ed. may die.
 Miss Esther IT. Matthews. nurse. employed at the home of George Senft of Ligonier, president of the Ligonier Valley railroad waiter Serena of McKeesport, clerk In a bank at that place, in precari- ouS condition.
 Passenger Coach Crowded.
 The injuries of the others were all severe, consisting of broken legs, arms and eontusiOns.
 The train was well crowded. every seal In the lone coach being occupied Wllh persons returning from Fourth ol July holiday The freight engines ploushed through the wooden coach as IT it were paper
 Coach Ripped to Pieces.
 The coach was ripped to pieces All the occupants Were hurled to the road bed. Some fell in the path cf the on ] rushing engines, while others were partly imbedded in the cinders and crushed stones beside the rails The first engine of the freight train stop ped soen after tearing through the