The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-06
Every Passenger but One Is
Killed or Injured.
Number of Dead Estimated at
From 21 to "a.
is HIT BY A COAL TRAIN
Many of the Passengers Are
Women and Children.
Accident Occurs on a Road Ten
Miles Long.

La Trobe, Pa, July 6.-rwenty-
one persons have been killed and 81
injured, a number fatally, as result
of a wreck on the Agonier NaneS
railroad at Wilpen.
An overloaded passenger COACH
a doubleheader freight train Of coal
a doubleheaeder freight train of coal
cars. crushing the coach like paper
and spreading death and injury TO al
but one aboard the train
The passenger train had started
from Iigonier. It consisted of an en-
gine and coach. the engine pushing
the coach. The freight train was De-
ing pulled by two heavy Iocomoelves'
The impact was terrific Tne pas
senger coach was practically laid open
and the passengers either crushed or
thrown like shot through the air.
The accident occurred on brancn
road running from this place 70 . LIS
onier, which is owned by the MelIon
renorted that the line was controlled
by the Pennsylvania railroad.
MANY Women and Children
MANY of the passengers were wom-
en- and children. Two 1ncloents al
pathetic. Miss Esther MattneWs'
nurse employed by an official OF tne
road. was taking a party of six cnll-
dI-en to q woods near Wilpen' TOT q
picnic. Two of the tots were crusneu nts
to death, the others badly hurt; MISE Me-
NTa++hewsss condition is critical Inc
second incident is the gr1H OF W. MI,
ana Mrs. Henry Rhoddy. Their three
Young daughters, Louise. ElIZdpeeA 9y-.
and Mary, were killed Mr. anooIy, q
a well known business man, Gnu III iilf nf
1,ife are frantic and under the care OF
Almost every home in Ligonier Is ar
fec+ed bv the accident, many relatives
or friends either being dead or -lnJureu-'
The railroad is an outlet TOT InS ne liiliieS
~ tbe Wilpen Coal company. The pas
sanger train wrecked was the only one
IN oneration. 1t made two trips q oay
over the line, which was ten miles III
length. - pazsar-
ger Agent Adams Of the Ligonler ~
ley railroad, the oeaIn U.s. for
Twenty-one have been accounteu Aor
h1. newspaper men, but all enorts TO
Iocate or identify any of the others nave
FAILED lust where the other six BODIES
orc is not known nor does Mr- ADAMS
b11ose1f know 1t is said that several
llIi.na1 iIa..ro,. IreTe taken home, where they
died. It is also claimed that others are
still in the wreckage-
The Dead.
MRS. HARRY DILLON AND BABH'
.of VViInen: crushed to death.
% wTIfTAM CAMPBELL, of Wilpen-
NIX MCCONNA u O11E L VI A4AoO
nier engineer; scalded to death.
GEORGE BYERS, of Ligonier, fire.
man; crushed ane scsaded.
LOUISE RHODDX, aged g. OF NC
p ETTzABETH RHoDDY. aged 13, a
sister.
TOHN MANKNEY, of Ligonier, fire.
man; died on way to hospital
MRS. MESSE, of Wilpen-
THOMAS MUIR, of La Trobe; head
q GEORGE TosH, of wilpen; body
NIKE HUDocK, of wilpen; side
crushed.
pen; mutilated-
MRS. JOHN OvERTON, mother Of
Frank; died on train bound for Pitts |
burg.
GEORGE w. HUXLEY, of Pfttsburg, |
civil engineer: body crushed.
MATTHEW NIEPONT, of Pittsburg; |
crushed
crushed.
UNIDENTIFIED BOY, aged IL
TWO UNIDENTIFIED FOREIGN
ERS badly crushed.
A majority of the injured were resi-
1ents along the WiIpen branch. Among
them were: DR.. ]. B. Johnson, of Lig-
onier. hurt internally, will probably die.
DR.. c. A Hamill, of Ligonier, crushed,
may die.
walter Serena, of McKeesport, Pa,
eank clerk, in precarious condition
The injuries of the others were all
severe, consisting of broken legs and
arms and contusions.
The train was well crowded, every
seat in the lone coach being occupied
With persons returning from a Fourth
# July holiday.
The freight engines ploughed through
he wooden coach, crushing it as it
would paper.