Evening star., 1943-09-07
Congressional
Continued From First Page.)

but all the dead and most of the
injured were in the seventh and
eighth coaches.
Passengers Pinned for Hours.
Passengers were buried under the
debris from which many of the liv-
ing were not released until hours
later. Some were thrown through
windows; galley workers in the
diner were scalded. One woman lay
in the wreckage for six hours, calmly
telling rescuers take your time, I
can stand it."
Robert Calvert, of Birmingham,
Ala, veteran of the fighting in
| North Africa. who was walking in
the aisle of the third car, said some
thing hit him in the stomach and
ut seemed million people were
on top of me. couldn't get my
breath. I thought, this is it. 1 will
die now"
Earlier, Chief Deputy Coroner
Matthew Ross had estimated the
dead would total $50. 81.
Trains Rerouted.
Traffic on the mainline was still
blocked early today, but freight and
through passenger trains were re-
routed around the city on a cutoff
extending from Trenton, N. j., to
Coatesville. Pa, 30 miles west of
Philadelphia, and on other railroad
lines.
Army guards with fixed bayonets
and submachine guns headed a
crowd away from the wreckage
Stretcher bearers had difficulty get
ting the dead and injured through
the thousands who earlier had
gathered at the scene, which is in
a crowded business and industrial
section, three miles east OF the
North Philadelphia station.
All available ambulances went to
the scene, and hundreds of air.
raid wardens were modified to help
police, firemen, soldiers and sailors
in rescue work. Hospitals pleaded
for registered nurses and blood
donors.
The last person to be taken alive
from the wreckage, Mrs. Christina
Nix, %, of Jackson Heights, Long
Island. died in hospital in mid
morning.
A physician had amputated her
leg to free her from the wreckage,
in which she lay six hours with her
head and torso outside sheared
coach and both legs held firmly
inside.
1t was she who said Take your
time. l can stand it,"
Rescuers Cut Through Wreckage.
There are dead people in here
all around me-" she moaned to a
physician, who administered a drug
to relieve the pain. A marine who
had occupied the seat with Mrs. Nix
lay dead nearby.
For hours rescuers cut through
the wreckage with acetylene torches
before Mrs. Nix could be removed
and taken to hospital. During
that time she was given several
transfusions but not once, witnesses
ooANt AiA oilC
In the same car rescue workers
saw the bodies of a man and q
woman, the mans arm protectively
around the woman's shoulders.
Bailey Beard, 81, the Congress.
sional Limited's head waiter and 6
veteran OF 26 years of service with
the Pennsylvania on the Washing.
ton-New York run, was in the diner
which was midway of the train
when he was thrown to the foo
by severe jolt.
There were about SO people in tn,
diner at the time, Beard said, abou
half of them women. A terrifi,
crash whipped the diner sideway
and threw half a dozen passenger
through the windows.
Coffee and hot water and dishes
few all over the galley" he related
and men working there were badl.
scaIded.
When the car finally stopped
Beard was lying on the floor be
meath three tables.
mere was panic everywhere, n
said. Women we're screaming a
,, the top of their lungs. The mel
in the galley were screaming from
,. the pain of the scalding."
Beard extricated himself and wa
helped outside by rescue workers. H
|, was badly battered about the hea
and body and suffered leg injurie.
At Frankford Hospital, wher
: hundreds Of people went in respons
s to plea for blood donations,
! woman, her clothing torn to shred
her face covered with blood an
/; dirt, helped carry the inert body 9
her husband into the emergenc
room. An inferno made q quic
E examination and waived the body
!. an improyised morgue. The wit
S was taken to another room for treat
G ment before her name was given.
e The first Of the previously un
e identified bodies claimed at tn
!: morgue was identified nine houl
d later by Charles Chaney of Alex
8 andria. Va. as that OF his wifi
s Helen. Mr.. Cfaney hurried hei
E from Virginia after hearing OF tt
q. III. ~ LII