The evening world. Newspaper, January 28, 1903, Page 2

HE WORLD: WEDN Pea a Pes, ESDAY EVENING, ANUARY 6. 1908. EVES THE DIRE TRAGEDIES OF THE W ROTHER OF THE ENGINEER WHO CAUSED THIS WRECK ~ KILLED 15 VICTIMS IN ANOTHER. James H. Davis, the dying engineer of the Philadelphia Alyer, lived with his wife and family at No, 1555 Selzer street, iladelphia. He is a brother of John T. Davis, the engineer “of the excursion train which collided with a milk train at Hat- field, a small station on the Bethlehem Branch of the Philadel- phia and Reading Railroad, on Sept. 2, 1900, killing fifteen pas- | gengers and injuring fifty. John T. Davis was severly injured in this wreck, but after remaining several months in the hospital finally recovered, Like his brother, he was blamed for the ac- ‘cident by the officials of the road, who stated that he failed to | obey signals. red. I got down off the platform and walked up and down alongside the year car, waiting for the return of the trainman. After a little bit the whistle of our locomoive sounded and the trainman came running back down the track, swinging his Jantern. I climbed up on the rear platform, ~ put he ran abead a car or two before our train got in motion. fac “As I climbed up on the platform 1 saw away around the curve the headlight of the Philadelphia express, It was coming at terrific speed, and ft instantly occurred to me that we were in the way, as we were on the express track, But I supposed, of course, that the train would stop as soon fs it got around the curve, BORE DOWN WITH AWFUL SPEED. “To my surprise and horror, tle Philadelphia express straightened out after the curve and bore down on us with undiminished speed. I opened the rear door of the car and shouted for the passengers to jump for their lives. As I did so our train began to move. I sprang from the platform and ran. Scarcely had I taken ten paces when the crash came. I turned around and saw the locomotive of the Philadelphia train ploughing through the rear coaches of the train I had just left.” At the moment of collision a fast train from Philadelphia came along on am adjoining track, running at a high rate of speed. Passengers who were cars of the Bound Brook train were killed by the train from the south. There were two trains In collision and another passing on a track but a few _ feet away. 4 Residents of Westfield, who had seen the collision, came quickly to Offer aseistance to the injured. Among the first to reach the scene was Mrs. Harkeson, whose house was a few yards from the scene of the wreck, She volunteered to make a hospital of her home, and the first of ' the injured extricated from the wreckage were carried there. ENGINEER DELIRIOUS OVER THE WRECK. d Engineer Davis was taken to the hospital in Plainfield. After his state- ment to tne policeman he was unable to say anything more. He was alive this afternoon, but {s not expected to last many hours. He {s delirious and _ raves of the wreck. Prosecutor English, of Union County, N. J., took charge of the investi- @ation into the cause of the wreck to-day. The first thing brought to his attention was the fact that coal stoves were used in the cars of the Bound Brook Express and that these stoves set fire to the wreckage, causing the death of many of the passengers. “That feature wes the first 1 heard,” said Mr. English, “If I mistake tiot, there 1s a law in this State against coal stoves in passenger cars, and if-I find that the law was violated in this instance I shall not spare the erg. It is unquestionably the wurst wreck that has ever happened in a Jersey and there was criminal negligence on the part of somebody. T shall leave no stone unturned to find the gullty persons and punish them to the full extent of the law.” _ DOCTORS PRAISE HEROISM OF WOMEN. Dr. R. R. Sinclair, of Westfield, was near the scene of the accident in his automobile and was one of the first to reach the scene. He led a party of rescuers into the burning ruins and assisted half a dozen passengers to safety before the flames drove him back. He then turned his attention to the injured. “It was one of the most horribie affairs that I have ever seen,” said Dr. Sinclair. ‘The cries of the imprisoned passengers are still ringing !n my ears. It was maddening to have to stand there and not be able to offer any assistance to people who were being burned up almost before your eyes. “The destruction done by the rear locomotive was awful, It ripped and tore and hacked human bodies into shreds, Never have I seen bodies so mangled, There was work there for all the physicians for miles around, ‘The wreck had its heroes, too, I saw women, delicate and refined, doing service that trained nurses might stagger at. And men accomplishing superhuman tasks jn tearing away the wreckage to reach the imprisoned on It was the most awful night in my whole life, and I pray God that I may never witness such another,” About the wreck the ghouls had come with the rescuers, In several instances they were detected in searching the bodies of the dead and dying. ’ The men seized clubs and drove them away, but all were too busy trying » © eave life to stop and hold the wretches prisoners. ‘ “HACKED OFF LIMB TO SAVE VICTIM. While the wreckage was burning flercely Frank Pierce, of Elizabeth, and James Hannon, of Fanwood, who had already carried many of the in- jured from the demolished cars, climbed into the wreckage of the third car ‘a from the rear and found a man whose leg had been caught under a aide of the car and a wheel, The fire had reached the !mprisoned foot and had burned the shoe away, the victim suffering intensely. The two rescuers tried to lift the wreckage from the foot. They could not, In a few minutes mbrbthe man would be burned to death. *‘ *e ‘They hesitated a moment, asked the man a few questions and then with dii'axe they deliberately cut the imprisoned foot off above the ankle and carried the man from the wreck. The doctors said his life would be saved. That was but one of the thrilling scenes of rescue, Jacob W. Wall, of ) Westfield, was assisting in the work of rescue when he was stopped by an injured man who had been pinned under a beam. It was impossible to litt the beam. The man pleaded that he be killed, He said he was dying, and that it would be an act of mercy to put him out of his misery. Wall had come with a@ flask of whiskey, and of this he ‘Was ebout to give the man a sip, when the victim dropped from his elbow and was dead. Almost the same scene was enacted further on. A man whose legs had ¢rushed, and whose facial features were concealed by the blood, begged * on be Wall to kill him. He did not care how death came, 80 long as it came ¥ 4 ly. He died while being carried out of the wreck, As the injured were carried into the homes near the track they were at d to by the women of the various houses, who tore up their househo!d to make bandages, who washed the wounds and did their best to re- juifering. VICTIMS WERE BURNED TO DEATH, one messages were sent to all nearby towns for doctors and other With the doctors came the Westfield Volunteer Fire Brigade, hey Were soon reinforced by fire engines from Plainfield, But by tho engines commenced the play of water on the wreck many ‘had been burned to death. A resident of Westfleld who had rescue of many of the injured said that most of the deaths Ib thoss who are now dead had been only injured by the actual “But they had been pinned and fenced in eo that it tor them to get out themselves or for the rescuers were alive when the flames reached them, and the ” oy one thrown out of the cars to the south by the locomotive that ploughed into the) TWO OF THE SIGNALS SET TO WARN ENGINEER —__ DAVIS OF DANGER AHEAD, WHICH HE IGNORED. “So Siow’ i | it int - Vi Danger’ THE DEAD. CHANDON, ROWLAND, seventeen years old, No, 17 Bast Ninth street, Plainfield, CUMMINGS, THOMAS, Putnam avenue, Plainfield; former famous Yale quar ter-back; ons leg was severed. FLYNN, EDWARD, No. % West oFurth street, Plainfleld; employee of H. R. Claflin Company, New York. HILES, ELIAS, No. 2 A4t Sixth street, Plainfield, 7HAM, FREDERICK, Plainfield, N. J. HAND, HARRY G., son of Justice of the Peace I. Hand, Plainflold, a clerk in New York City. HAPPERSETT, ROBERT, of No, 922 Putnam avenue, Plainfleld, N. J.; connected with Bradstreets’ New York office LINBERGHR, MISS LENA, of No. 616 Park avenue, Plainfield, N. J. MAHANN, HARRY 1. of No, 211 East Fifth street, Plainfield, B PATTERSON, HARVEY, twenty-three years old, Dunellen; one leg cut off; died at Muhlenberg tal, Plainfield, PHILLIPS, RALE ieteen years old, Madison avenue, Plainfleld, REED, GRORGE E., Clinton avenue, Plainfield. , ROGERS, HENRY, Plainfield, N. J. SHANDO, R. By No, 27 Kast Ninth street, Plainfield, N. J. THAYDR, C. T., Watchung avenue, Plainfleld, secretary to Senator T. C. Platt, At No. 49 Broadway, TOMLINSON, HAROLD W., No, % Vernon avenue, South Plainfield, N. J. WILLIAMS, EDGAR W., thirty-elght years old, lawyer, at No. 135 Broadway, New York; home, Plainfield. WALDRON, CRAIG, No 42 Weet Fourth atroet, Plainflel4. WILLIAMS, H. W., No. 34) Kast Sixth street, Plainfield. ‘Three unidentified bodies at the Morgue in Plainfleld THE MISSING CUMMINGS, HENRY, Platunheld, N. J; brother of Thomas Cummings, who was Killed. DALLEY, CHARLES 8. Insurance broker, Whitehouse, N. J HOPPERSET, R. V 992 Putnam avenue, Plainfeld. LINBARGER, LENA, No. 516 Park avenue, Plainfeld MAHAN, MAMIE, No. 187 Martine avenue, Plainfield. MABTLOY, FRANK, Plainfield, NJ. THE INJURED. LBHRT, Miss KITTY. APGAR, ROY M,, Plainileld; severely injured about head, ARTHUR, L1ZZI®, Plainfleld, N. J.; badly burned. BALCH, Mrs. ADELAIDE, Watchung avenue, Plainfield; both legs broken and body crushed. BLLATCH, Mrs. ANNA, Westfield, Internal Injuries; may dle. ‘BRADFORD, ROY, Park avenue, Plainfleld, N. J.; injured on face and head. N J.; fracture both arms and tight leg; BROKAW, F. M., Plalnfleld; slightly eut and bruised. BROKAW, CORA; daughter of E. M. Brokaw; slightly injured, BUSSLER, ainfeld. UCASE, ALB: Somerville, N, J.; lacerations on hands and body, NNIB, Mauch Chunk avenue, Plainfield, N, J.; CANAVOE, Miss FJ body and badly cut Pram CLARK, WILLIAM; Plainfiold: compound fracture leg and fracture other thigh. CUMMING, Mrs. D.: Plainfield; injuries to head and Mody, CANOVER, Mixs FANNIE, Pluiniield; body and face badly cut, CHANDLER, GEORGE, Plainfield; spine injured. CLARK, JAMES F., Philadelphia, CLARK, IDA B.; Plainfleld, CORINNE, JOSHPH . CRAWFORD, CARRIE, twenty-two, Linden avenue, Plaingeld; injured in- ternally. DEAD, MISSING AND INJURED IN THE AWFUL WRECK. $$$ —_____ CUTTEN, Miss LIZZi®, Bradford avenue, Plainfield; severe scalp wounds. DAVIS, JAMES F., Philadelphia, engineer of Philadelphia flyer; will die. DARIN, W. H., Piainfleld; body crushed. DUNN, WILLIAM, Plainfie right leg broken, face cut. DUNHAM, CARL, Lincoln, N, J.; leg cut. EVERETT, MILDRED, Plainfield: injured internally. EVERETT, Miss GRACE, No. 23 Somerset street, Plainfield; concussion of brain, uncongctous. EVERETT, J. E., Park avenue, Plainfield; dying in Muhlenberg Hospital. FREEMAN, J. H.,, Plainfield; so badly injured about head and body that he cannot recover FORCE, GEORGE, Plainficld; cut about head. FORD, GEORGE, twenty-three years old. Plainfield; leg broken. FREDERICKS, WILSON, Dunellen; scalded. FREDERICKS, U, 8., Plainfield, N. J.; burns on body; will die. GBPDDPS, WILLIAM, Dunellen; both legs broken, GEORGE, HOWARD A.,, compound fracture of leg, scalp Injured. GEORGE, EDGAIL brother of Nowurd, slightly injured HAMPYON, K. R,, 137 West Highty-thind street, New York; brused and scalded, HANN, HARRY, Plainfield; scalded. HARRIS, Mrs. LOUIS, Montclair; cut and bruised. HARRIS, Miss, face cut; taken with her mother to Eligabeth; thence home. HONBEYMAN, E, MAXWELL, Plainfield; sprain from jumping and cuts. KR. M., Westfield, N. 4.; washes in head amd body: wit die, J ’, Dunellen. IRVING, PERCY, Dunellen; legs crushed. JOYCE, K., Craig place, Plainfield; leg broken, KELLER, Miss LIZZI1®. Plainfield; scalp torn off. KURNAN, FRED, Plainfield; log crushed, body bruised. KANNEN, FREDIERICK, Mauch Chunk avenue, Plainfield, N. J.; body and face badly cut. LAWSON, WALTER, Plaintleld, o| ; Injured about head. LINE, MARY, No, 745 Bast Front st . Plainfleld. LINE, A., 25 East Front street, Plainfleld; scalp wound, back hurt. LOCKE, FRANK, twenty-two, Fairview avenue, Plainfield; badly hurt. LONGWORTHY, CHARLBES, Plainfield; many injuries on body, LYON, MARY, Plainfield; body bruises. M'CARTHY, SAMUEL, fireman on the Philadelphia fyer; street, Philadelphia; badly scalded. M'CARTHY, BAM L, of Langansville, Pa., fireman of Royal Blue fiyer; badly scalded. 3, A. M.. Netherwood, N J.; scalded, ‘H, WILLIAM, Plainfield. No. 29% Omten QUENBAU, AUGUSTUS L., Plainfield; bruised about body and head. RADFORD, ROY, Park avenue, Plainfield; hurt about face. RUNYON, HOWARD J., Rahwoy Road, Plainfield; cut about head and body. RYAN, MARY, Plainfleld; injured about head . REIGHTON, EVEXEMT, of Pisinfeld: both toms cut of and badly scalded; will die, SARGENT, Miss. SARGC SIMONSON, STRYKER, HOWARD, of Ruriian, NJ, bruised and hands spra‘ie« SIMPSON, WILLIAM; cut and crushed. SMITH, FREDPRICK, Plainfield, VANDEVENTER, WILLIAM, Plainfield; cut about body and face. WALAH, Mra. MARY, Piainfleld; scalded, WEGEFARTH, G. A., Grand Optra-House, Philadelphia; cuts on head and body. WIIBON, FREDERICK, Dunellen; scalded. from the wreck are charred and burnt so that they appear almost as unrece ognizable skeletons, their individual identity ever to remain a secret. As the dead were taken from the wreck the bodies were placed in a row along the side of the tracks, and there the rain fell on them until they were covered by the sympathetic women, Explosion of Engine Endangered Rescuerers. Adding to the horror of the scene the locomotive of the Philadelphia Flyer commenced to sputter after tearing through the human freight, and when it had blown out several pipes it finally exploded, scattering its parts {in all directions and blinding the whole wreck with steam, When the steym had cleared the fire was emitting a dense black smoke which hindered the work of rescue, From the mass of smoke and steam-clouded wreckage the flames’ burst, and then from them came the heart-rending cries of the Impaled and imprisoned. Some of those who ran to the rescue say they heard these cries when they Were fully half a mile from the wreck. Each cry was a shriek of death. And from the scene of the wreck come stories of many heroes, Besides jthe women there were men and boys who dared the flames and tottering walls jof cars to rusn fn and puli out some pleading victim, James Hannon, six- ‘teen years ola, worked quietly and was not noticed until he had disappeared. But while thore his coat was off, and time after time he rushed into the | Maines, sometines passing through them, each time coming out with an in- ———————_——_- body was burned and seaided in a horrible manner. “Most of the dead, when taken out, were without legs, arme and ears, and the features were beyond recognition, One victim, a very iarge had neither arms nor legs, and his head was burned almost to a crisp. bunoh of keys ani a watch chain found in his charred clothing were placed in an envelope and fastened to the remains.” dead published his morning, called up The Evening oWrld on the tele- information that he is very much alive. Mr.-Fawcett says that he was in Boston last night and did not know that he Was considered dead until he returned to this city to-day and saw the newspkpers, At the scene of the wreck to-day it was Stated that the ratiroad com- pany had violated the New Jersey law -y carrying coal stoves in the cars. This was not true, however, as there is no law on the Jersey statute books regulating the heating of o: the railroads having free scope in the matter according to their ideas of safety or economy. HEROIC WOMAN TELLS HOW SHE SCARED GHOULS. The most thrilling and at the same time the most heartrending story of the wreck is told by Mrs, Emma Harkeson, wife of a New York electri- clan, whose home adjoins the scene of the tragedy. She said; Jured person. or perhaps a dead one. On several such trips his clothes ‘caught fire and he stopped only long enough to rubt he flames out with his | blistered hands and dive back into the wreck again. About him the tornrentod and suffering vietims who had been hope- leesly crushed under the wreckage were crying and begging to be saved {or to be killed at once and put out of their agony. Once he said to a man wic was doing the same kind of work “This is pretty teugh, tan't ie? Then 4 man who had been crushed by an axle across his chest begged | the boy to Nit him in the head with an fron bar, “Lean't sland this any lovger," cried the boy, as he dashed out of the wreck Gnd Gisappuared dowa the irack, PASSENGERS IN HEAP MET DEATH. Lee Pearsall, who lives in Westfield and is a member of the New York’ Cotton Exchange, was at the scene of the wreck soon after the collision oveurred, In degeribing the scene he ald: ‘It was the most horrible sight 1 ever witnessed, Most of the killed were in the ast car of the local train, and whon thé locomotive of the through exprese crashed into this car the paseengers Were thrown into a heap on top of each other toward the front of the car, where (hey were either scalded or burned to death, “One woman was thrown on the locomotive of the through express “IL was expecting my husband home on the Easton express, the train that was telescoped. When it was time for the train I went into the back yard with my dog and stood there to see the train pass, hoping that my husband would wave his hand at me from the car window, As the train approached it slowed down and then stopped. I noticed that one of the axles on the baggage car was on fire, “I was standing there looking for my husband, when I heard the sound of another train coming. I did not dream that an accident was imminent, as there are many tracks there and I supposed that the train which I heard coming would pass safely. “The Philadelphia flyer came along at a terrific speed, I hardly real- ized what had happened until the trains were piled in an awful mass of debris and dead and dying men and women. “The rapidly moving locomotive ploughed entirely through the rear car of the stalled express train which was densely packed with passengers, The two cars directly in front were telescoped, 1 do not see how a single person in the rear car could possibly escape, as the body of the car was directly under the botler of the locomotive and was subjected to the terrible heat of the locomotive, which set the debris on fire, FLAMES ROAST DEAD AND DYING. “The'Hames epread to the broken cars ahead and dead and dying were] dently leaped, for be was Mr. Hughes Fawcett, of Plainfleld, whose name appears in the list of phone from his office at No. $0 Nassau street, this afternoon, conveying the B. & OS FAMOUS BLUE FLYEK 9, | ERRONEOUSLY MENTIONED, BALTIMORE, M4., Jan, 28, To the Editor of the Evening World: The morning papers credit the Baltimore & Ohio with the wreck on the Jersey Central. We would be much pleased if you will eliminate this feature of it from your afternoon paper, as the Baltimore & Ohio is not in any way responsible, no one of its trains being involved. T understend the accident happened between a Jersey Central and Philadelphia and Reading train, bound for Philadelphia. Our evenirg trains leave New York at 5 and 7 P. M. We clave enough troubles of our own without being charged with those of others. ‘ J. H. MADDY, for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co, SS SETS ES a a a NS OEY windows and the most awful groans and screams I ever hears came fronr the wreck, mingled with the hiss of escaping steam. Men and women howled and moaned and the few who were able to escape ran about as if distracted. I was frantic with agony for the safety of my husband, whom I feared was in the wreck and was either dead or was being roasted. “T hurried over to the wreck and directed those who were removing the dead and injured to take them into my house. Fifteen persons were car- ried into my rooms. Eight of them died there or were dead when carried {n, Othera that were dead were laid in the yard, there being no room for their bodies inside the place. “Then followed a scene that does not seem possible in a civilized com- ‘munity. I hope never to see the like again, and I wish that what I have to tell were not true. “About one hundred laborers, most of them Italians, had been employed near the scene of the wreck. Some were repairing the track, and others were digging ditches and making other excavations. When the wreck occured they flocked about the train, apparently to aid in the work of rescue. y ROBBED LIFELESS VICTIMS. “But they were not trying to aid the injured and dying; they were trying to rob the living and pilfer the dead. They were human ghoula intent only on booty. Flies were never busier around a syrup pitcher. “Not only did the ghouls rob the dead at the wreck, but they invaded my home and there pursued their awful work, They not only robbed the dead, but they carried off what was portable of my effects. There was so much excitement that for a time they worked without molestation. ~: “But the !Itallans were not the only ones who were robbing the dead. I saw a young man who lives in Westfield, and whom I could identify, taking valuables from a dead man in my home. I took a revolver from bureau drawer and drove the man from the house. He slunk away with- out a word. Then I drove a number of Italians out at the point of the revolver, I prevented the robbery of two dead bodies lying at my front door, “It {8 impossible. for meto adequately describe the scene at the wreck. Men, women and children were roasted on the boiler of the locomotive as if it were a huge gridiron.” MOST DREADFUL SIGHT OF THE WRECK WAS THIS. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 28.—Many Philadelphians who were passengers: on the express train arrived to-day and related their experiences. M, M. Reinhard, a salesman, told.this story: “IT was in a day coach of the express. My car was the second in tha train. We were going at least sixty miles an hour when I felt a terrific shock and was thrown from my seat, as were all the other passengers in the car. The first shock was followec by a second almost as hard as the first, and when we came to a stop there were on each side of our car the split halves of another car that we had literally ploughed through. “Before I could get out a train from Philadelphia passed in the opposite direction, on the far track, ploughing through the wreckage of our train and the one we had run into. The wreckage was thrown back upon us and caught fire, SNOW SAVES BLAZING MAN. “I saw a man on top of the car beside me, his clothing wrapped im flames. He jumped to the ground and extinguished the flames by rolling in the snow. “When we went to help {n the rescue work we were greatly hampered Uy our inability to release the axes which the railroad company has in cases for use on Buch occasions. Our engine was jammed into the third car from the rear of the train we had run into.” , Samuel H. Scribner, manager of the Star Theatre, was in a parlor car , when the crash came and, with a dozen other passengers, was tossed inte a heap with the chairs in the front end of the car, He immediately jumpea into the relief work and in describing the scenes he saw could not fing words equal to the occasion, He said: RELIEF TRAIN WAS SLOW. “after removing all within reach from the wreckage, we carried them) to nearby houses. Local physicians from Westfield arrived on the scene early, but it was an hour before a relief train arrived from Plainfleld with doctors and nurses. Most of the injured were taken to Plainfield. I saw three bodies in the kitchen of & house near by, They were men. Then £ saw a woman's body outside terribly mutilated. Over beside the tracks lay three or four other bodies of men. Altogether I counted seven dead. “] saw a man’s body hanging over the bell of the express engine, but § don't know whether he was dead or alive.” Charles Herman said: “phe accident occurred at 6.35 P. M. I know this definitely, because & had just looked at my watch an instant before the shock came. I was Bite ting in the rear seat of the Jast parlor car writing a letter. The force of the collision threw me the length of the car and I fell into a tangled mass of passengers, At least half a dozen men were on top of me, “We promptly organised a relief corps and started to do what we coul@ for the injured. The locomotive had completely telescoped the three cars of the Haston train. The wreckage was forced high up into and this fact led to what wos undoubtedly the most horrible sight collision. THREE BURNED WHILE OTHERS LOOKED an { on, '\ “Three persons inextricably wedged in the burning wood slowly burtie® to death, while the other passengers, looking on in horrified silence, were unable to render them any aid, We then quickly tore the seats from the cars, piled them up against the wreckage and strove to rescue all of the living we could, “Beveral of the escapes were remarkable. Two men were sitting tow gether in the same . One escaped with only a slight cut on the sary, the other was terribly mangled and cannot live, i “A husband and wife 0 altting together were thrown high in the, alr and alighted on top of a car, When we reached them the woman was holding up the man, She was virtually uninjured, but he was in @ very bad way, and I do not think he will pull through, “There were a number of women and girls in the telescoped cars, and, we gave them our first attention, We carried them gently up the bank, spread overcoats to protect them from the snow and secured for them the attention of the few doctors who happened to be present, In the excitement it was MiMcult to ascertain the cause of the catastro- - put the general feeling seemed to be that the engineer of our traim ‘Tue Waston train, which was loaded with passengers re~ phe, naible. Feetbryen business, was for some unknown reason flagged to stop three-. quartere of a mile outside of Westfield, ; ® t “Our ebginesr must have disregarded the red Hghts which should have een hin signal that the (rack was not clear. Before the crash came he not seriously injured, but the fireman hung and was terribly tora about the stomach. Wat unable to tall.” ; i t Be ‘I == err