Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-05

her to the hospital. They couldn't get
the boy, however. The little fellow was
roasted to death,
One of the trainmen was burned
to death. | don't know his name. lie
was caught in the burning wooden
coach in such n way that he could not
be got free. He was being smothered to
death by. smoke. though the fire had not
reached him. There was nothing could
be done for him.
He was conscious. though he knew
he could not live much longer. Then he
saw man he knew in the crowd,
strainlng at the car, trying TO get at the
injured.
This chap, who was dying, beckoned
the railroad man over, and pointed to
his own pocket. He was too far gone
by then to talk. The other man knew
what he meant, though.
Loyal to His Employers in Death
He reached into the dying man s
pocket and got out his papers. The
poor fellows last thought was TO get his
report in properly to his employers.
The wreck occurred ut the worst
possible place. The road is very tor
tuous there. It goes through huge
bOulders, and follows winding course.
There is not wHgonroad to il, and tho
bridge across the Pennypack Creek at
this point is so narrow that an auto
mobile cannot cross It.
when the two trains met telephone
calls wcro sent all over the neighbor-
hood for help. Doctors and ambulance cs
were called. and every one with an
automobile was asked to help remove
the injured.
Among the doctors who drove over
nc fast ~ they could were Dr. j. B.
Carrell oc Newtown: F. L. McIlhat-
ton, 1vyland; +. p. Koehler, South
ampton; G.. l.. Old. Huntington VAL
ley. Thomas Reading, Hatboro, and
Paul Parker, medical student. from
Southampton.
Injured Taken to Farm House
There is an old house inst across
the creek, owned by Albert Mann. Many
Of the wounded were carried in here
and we set up dressing station.
treated n number here and all the other
doctors did, too.
''As quickly as possible the injured
were put in automobiles and sent to
the Abingdon Hospital, the nearest for
miles around. II was necessary to
carry all the wounded across the creek
Il do not know how the wreck oc-
Cured, but from what l heard the up
train from Philadelphia was late, AMI
had been ordered to wait at Huntington
Valley for the express. 1t is single
track line. The up train waited ten
minutes. according to this report, and
then started ngain. The down train
was an express. loaded with people
going to Philadelphia. The up train
ordinarily does not carry many pass
cngers. but it was crowded today and
many were standing. Many of those
aboard we're 'tive-day bOarders' from
tho George School returning to their
classes. They had been home over Sat
urday and Sunday and took this train
to be back in time for classes.
Fire Followed Collision
when the trains crashed the engine
on the train from Ncwtown reared up
and then fell backward, crushing the
car behind il and setting it a.I'.'
\ survivor, who did not give his
name. told similar story.
The train from Newtown was an
express and going fast. That is to
say, it wan running at about twenty
miles an houV as fast as il could go
over that twisting course. The engine
Of this train Scooped in under the other
one. The deaths and injuries were
mostly in the first cars Of each train.
Most Of those injured were on the train
from Newtown; the people burned to
death were principally on the train from
Philadelphia.
"Thc coach in which the bodies we're
was this first coach on the Philadelphia
train. 1t was forced right UP on top
of tine engine Of the express, and set
aiirc. The car with the people in 1t
burning to death WAS about twenty
five feet in the air.
at was terrible sight. The car
sprnng into flames, and you could hear
the groans Of the helpless victims. The
car was crowded-it was the smoker.
Some died standing up. il was i'm
possible to do anything for item. The
flames were so hot and fierce no one
could get near them. Fire companies
from nearby were sent for, but they
could not get near because there was no
road and they could not get over the
little bridge across the Pennypack.
Those wooden coaches just went up Ike
81 much old lumber.
CharTed Bodies Seen
Some of the bodies We're got out OF
this car. but many of them we're so
wedged and jammed in that IL was i'm
posSible to reach them. They could bc
seen, burned and black they could
scarcely be recognized, wcdged against
each other and standing up, or huddled
IN the seats.
There we're six coaches on the train
from Ncwtown, and the train from
PHILADELPHIA was heavy one. The
pc0ple on the rear coaches cScapcd
serious injury. They got out of the
train and trudged up the track in the
snow 10 Woodmont.'
Several injured were carried TO the
home OF Albert Mann, mentioned by
DR.. Grove. They remained there until
ambulanccs arrived.
Graphic accounts of the accident we're
given by some of the injured at the
Abingdon Hospital.
Survivor Tells OF Escape
Forrest Bellman. Of Southampton
Pa. passenger on the southbOund
train, said:
II boarded the Newtown train at
Southampton Mt 7:45 o'clock, Or
dinnrIly the Newtown train and the out
bound train from Philadelphia pass az
Southampton.
This morning the Newtown trein
did not wait, and went ahead. The
crash occurred In a deep cut, n quarter
81 mile south OF WoOdmont station.
The first indication that we had that
ANYTHING was wrong was when we were
all thrown from our seats. Jumped tc