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At a Terrible Railroad Accident at Exeter Near Reading on Friday Night. An awful railroad accident occurred at Exeter, just below Heading on Friday night. ‘Twenty-nine persons were killed and many injured. The following is a list of the killed and Injured: Beatty, Samuel, Conshohocken Coulston, Captain John B., Norristown Camm, William C., Norristown Custer, Lucien J., Pottstown Ebeboltz, Captain N. C., Downingtown Fillman, Isaac, Norristown Helows, Norman, Norristown Hartfod, H. C., 6839 Saybrook avenue, Philadelphia Hunsberger, H. L., West Conshohocken Johnson, John, near Phoenixville Jenkins W.©., Norristown Kunts, John ©., Norristown Laverty, L., Harrisburg Lawn, Michael, Germantown Leaf, Captain Charles, Fort Washington Lewis, William, Norristown Markley, J. W., 1006 Orleans, Street Philadelphia Schall, George, Norristown Shelly, E. E.,Matboro Staller, William, Norristown Sower, Frank D., Norristown McCarter, William, Norristown Street. Captain Charles T., 188 North Twenty-second street, Philadelphia Silogluf, John, Norristown Taylor, Joseph, Norristown Thompson, H. H., Norristown Wentz, Henry, Norristown White, Charles, Norristown Yoder, Daniel H., Pottstown INJURED AT READING HOSPITALS Thaddeus 8, Adie, Norristown, Jeweler, compound fracture of both legs and wriss, broken. George Cluney, aged 4 years, 118 Chain street, Norristown, arm and jaw bone fractured, William Friedeborn, aged 50 years, Norristown, scalp almost torn off, 42| Stitches being required, Il. A. Ashenfelter, aged 64 years, 161 West Washington lane, Norristown, frac tured chest bone, serious. George W. Lewis, aged 40 years, 1023 Willian street, Norrstown, fractured jaw bone and lacerated ankle. Henry K. Stauffer, West Main street, Norristown, body bruises and cuts. Dr Benton Silvis, Reading, chest injured and collar bone broken, HOMEOPATHY HOSPITAL, READING George W Holmes, aged 57 years, Nor ristown, compound communicated frac ture of the left leg below the knee; arter ies in right wrist badly cut. His leg was amputated on Saturday morning. Condi tion serious. ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, READING Robert Brierly, 1728 Marshall street, Philadelphia, fracture of right clavicle, three scalp wounds, badly cut about the face. CHARITY HOSPITAL, NORRISTOWN The injured at Charity Hospital are 48 follows: Amandus Garges, 60 years old, Norris town, badly bruised about the head and body; condition eritical. Benjamin 8. Alderfor, of Collegeville, left low fractured. John M. Engle, 60 years old, Upper Merion township, sprained shoulder and, badly broke, John Earl, 62 years, West Consho ‘hocken, head and chest Injured, condition critical, Albert Harkness, aged 42, Philadelphia, employed in the Custom House, believed to be injured Internally. Joseph Edwards, aged 56, Germantown, seriously Injured about chest and body. Harrison Robbins, aged a0, Philadel phia, brotked about head and arms. J. K. Virtue, aged 35, Philadelphia, cut about head, both arms broken; con dition regarded as serious. Freak Harrington, aged 86, Philadel phia, collar bone fractured, face cut, in jured internally, in a serious condition. Francis Taggert, 59 years old, Weat Chester, compound fracture of left Jegg. Miss Anna Magacourg, aged 24, of Ash land, scalp wound and head badly lacer ated. John S. Jones, of Norristown and J. M. Foose, of Harrisburg, slightly Injured, were discharged. INJURED AT THEIR HOMES Less seriously injured, who are at their homes, include the following: Norristown—L. G. Stritzinger, H. B. Tyson, B Terry Tyson, Amos G. Grady, Nathan O'Neill, Pascal Walters, Harry Kautz, Christian Meek, M. Fillmore Jones, T. J. Baker, Edward Smith, Charles H. Shaw, Henry Pagel, William M. Sullivan Charles Maddis, Conshohocken J. Harry Leister, Phoenixville Nathan O'Neill, Norristown Harry Orrell, Philadelphia Pasco Walters, East Swedeland Special Otler Kirkpatrick, Philadel plain, head out, 4,T. Johnson, 3224 North Thirteenth street, Philadelphia, brulhes. Counciman George W. Kucker, Phila delphia, lojury of leg. James M. Doran, Phoenixville Harris Fetterman, Philadelphia Geo. W. Shaffner, Philadelphia B. Barney, Philadelphia F. W. Beaver, Philadelphia F. T. Steinback, Camden, N. J. A. 8. Leedom, West Conshohocken The official account of the accident, ag itated by General Superintendent 8 A. §welgard, is as follows: “Engine 574, running as second section of train No. 18, carrying excursionista re turning from Harrisburg collided with the rear end of first section at Exeter station, six miles south of Reading, at 845 Fri day evening. The last car of the first sec tion was the through coach from Marrin burg to Philadelphia, and ahead of it was a Pullman parlor car. Engine 574 tele scoped the Harrisburg coach its entire length and stopped with front of engine in the Pullman car. The front end of this Pullman car was also crushed in by the car ahead. The first car of the second section was damaged to some extent, as was the car next to it, the engine second section was badly damaged. “The prime cause of the accident was the pulling out of a drawbar on con train which was taking side track at Birdaboro, to allow train No. 12 to pass on account of this drawbar having pulled out consid erable time was consumed in coupling up the coal train and It did not clear. “The block was against train No. 12 at Exeter, three miles north of Blrdaboro. Train No. 12 with engine and tight cam, left, Reading three minutes late and ran by the block at Exeter the entire length of the train, but immediately backed the length of the train while the conductor was receiving his orders at the telegraph ofice. The block ahead then, being clear the train started, and just as it was leaving the second section collided with the rear of the train. “Relief trains and physicians were at once sent from Reading to the point of wreck and all that could be was done for the injured the most of whom living at this end of the line, were taken to Norristown by special train with physicians and nur ses In attendance, others were taken to Reading and received proper attention. The dead was taken to Reading and pre pared for Burial by undertakers The In quest will be held at Reading, A thorough Investigation as to who, if any one, 18 to blame is now being made. AN ACCOUNT OF THE ACCIDENT Ex-Burgess White who was in the apr ial or rear train, escupied a seat in the sec ond car when the crash came. ‘To relieve the monotony of the Journey he moved about the car chatting with many of his ac quaintainces. At the start he was one of a group of four. Of these three o one was killed, two tojored. Leaving this trip he took a swat with Jobn Earl, of Conshohocken, and Captain Coulston. The latter was killed. At the time of the collision he was in conversation with Hen ry C. Wentz and Patrick Curran, farther down the aisle. Of thesc one was killed the other seriously injured. Many reports fixed Mr. Wentz as in the front ear of the special. Mr. White corrects this. He says he is positive ate. Wentz was one of the few persons in the second car to lose his life. When the body of John Kuntz, who was probably killed in the rear car of the for ward train, was found, someone cried out “That is John H. White.” “No its not, said Mc White, who had just arrived on the scene, and be it was who fixed the identity of the body. The greatest carnage was, necessarily, to the front car of the special and rear car of the express, both of which, in their wrecked condition, overlapped the collid ing locomotive. Neither car was crowded, but that any escaped seems marvellous, and of the few who did Peter Vo Hoy and Henry Pagel are living by the narrowest possible margin. They entered the for ward car of the second train soon after leaving Reading to chat with Fire Chief Slingluff, with whom they were intiunate y as fireman, both being assistants to the Chief. Mr. Hoy dropped into the fourth seat from the front, at the aide of Chief Stingluff, with whom he was talking util the crash interrupted their conversation, leaving the car in darkness. Mr Paget was in the front seat, with nothing but a car window between him and the Louwmo tive tender. His recollection of the occur rence is a terrific jolt, in which he slid from the seat. His first inpulse was to call for Mr. Hoy. The latter replied, “ya here, all right, but I guess you and I are the only five persons in the car.” “Where is the Chief?” asked Mr. Pagel. Grouping about in the darkness, Mr. Hoy found Mr. Silugluff's hand. “Here he is, he said, “light a match.” With the feeble lamination afforded by burping matches, Hoy and Pagel read on the pallid features of their fire chief that life was extinct. A car seat rested on his eck. Prying up the seat with a piece of timber they extricated his body and lay it along the ventilator in the roof of the car, the roof resting almost perpendicularly on its edge. Realizing that should the deviis take fire a death more horrible than that which had visited their chief would confront them. Hoy and Paget prepared for a has ty exit should flames break out. With an arm of a chair they shattered a window pane and called to persons outside the car to assist them remove the dead with whom they were hemmed in by walls of debris. A short distance from where Chief Sling luff's body lay they found F. D. Sower. “Are you hurt?” asked Mr. Hoy. “You, Dam badly hurt,” replied Mr. Sowers, feebly, “Take me out of this.” Cutting the whistle cord, they fed it about the boy, and, throwing the ends to Peraone on top the wreck, the body was passed through the window, the vital spark having fled during their hurried prepara tons for carrying out the dying man's last request. Mr. Slingluffs body was gotten through the window in pretty much the same manner as that employed in Mr. Sower's case, ONLY SAY AN ROUND. Besides Hey and Pagel, only five per sons are known to have escaped alive from the forward car of the rear train. They are CA. Cox, Lyshon Thomas Jr., Har ry Kautz, James Hooven and M. Fillmore Jones. Although Mr. Hoy was seated with Mr. Slingluff, the latter's arm resting on the shoulder of Mr. Hoy, the latter escaped without a scratch. The burden of the conversation between Mr. Stingraff and Mr. Hoy was fire depart. Met matters, with apecial reference to the declaration by the former that he felt that he had seen enough active fire ser view and would sever his connection with the department with the expiration of his term as chief. That he was thoroughly resolved on such action is evidenced by his repeated references, during the trip, to his Intention to decline a re-election. Mr. Pagel, notwithstanding the fact that he was In the flat seat In the end of the car that telescoped the locomotive, escaped with slight injuries. MOURNING IN NORRISTOWN, Nearly every business place in Norris town is decorated with morning cloth and flags or at half mast The especial dis play is on the houses of the Montgomery, Humane, Norris, Fairmount and Hancock Fire Companies of the firet company five members were killed, and of the BeC ond five more. The fire chief of the entire department was also among those killed, and for his family the expression of grief is great. He was an influential citizen and most highly thought of. Nearly every child upon the street knew Chief Stingluff. His imposing stature was present at every fire, and the members of the department , have grown to love him. Imagine, there fore, their grief and sorrow, Mesere. George W. Rodgers, Esq., Frank L. Smith, T.B. Smith, J. W. Bick el, W. J. Wells, Samuel Pagel and Con gressman IT. P Wanger, the Committee appointed at the town meeting, held to Norristown on Saturday evening decided Upon a resolution which states that in re cognition of the terrible calamity which has befallen our town, we resolve that Wednesday, May 17, 1899, be set as a day when our citizens may express in some public manner their sorrow for the great aMuction: that air stores, offices sandal PIECES OF WURHESS TH Closed that day and evening, that the public schools be closed, that flags at half mast draped with other insignia of mourning be displayed; that a public meeting be held in the evening in City Hall at 8 o’clock for memorial ser vices. The reason for setting apart Wednes day as the day for general bereavement is because the majority of the funerals will be held upon that day. An effort was made to have all the funerals occr on the same day, Wednesday, but this was im possible because some of the bodies were so badly mangled that It would be impos sible to keep them that long The funerals will take place as follows: On Tuesday those of Colonel George Sehail, Joseph Taylor, John Kuntz, Isaac Fillman, and William Statler; on Weid nesday, those of Chief John Slingloff, Will iam Lewis, Norman Holmes, Charles White, Samuel McCarter, J Henry Couls ton, F. D. Sowers, Willian Cann and Henry Thompson; on Thursday, Hentz. No preparations havens yet been made for the burial of Mr. Jenkins, the most recent unfortunate, but It will probably occur on Wednesday. The majority of the funerals will be private, but the Interment of Mr. Siboging will be public and will be a display of grandeur. No less than 500 people are ex pected to parade, Including the local fire companies, Hutchinson Commandery, re presentatives from the state Firemen's Union and from the thremien of Weat Chea ter. The pall bearers, will be Bassatant ‘fire chiefs, of whom P. V. Hoy and Harry Vagel were seated will him at the time of his death, WEST CONSHUHOCKEN On ‘Tuesday the Montgomery Insure ance, Trust and Safe Depoalt Up. elected the following Directors: John N. Jacobs, Anthony H. Seipt, Samuel 8. Kohn, Issue cher Johnson, J. Percy Chain, J. Evans Isett, George W. Steiner, EB, L. Hauliman, fl. M. Brownback, John 8. Heebner, John Stingiut, Jobe J. Corson, William Stahe ter, Samuel Dresher, Reese P. Davis, A. Lougaker and John Faber Miller. Forty Hours devotion is being held In St. Gertrude’s Church. “County Superintendent Hoffecker ex amined the public school teachers In Bridgeport on Saturday, All passed gatia factory examinations. The entertainment to be given in Odd Fellows fall on Saturday evening by the Active Association of Gulf Lodge, No. 526, 1. O. O. F, is expected to surpass any entertainment ever given by the order. The program will be made up from outer talent, principally Philadelphia, I. Wartunby has removed from this borough to Norristown. ~The condition of Charles Riles, who was admitted to Charity Hospital, a ty phoid fever patient, over a week ago, is unimproved, ~Isaac Williams, of Phoenixville vis ited relatives In this borough on Sunday. In another column are advertised for sale 33000 of the bonds of West Consho hocken. All bids must be In by June 1st, ~Sunday will be observed as Mission ary Day at the Holiness Christian church, Donations, to be used in the advancement of Christian civilization, will be revelved. ~This borough possesses a young man who has decided to become a totalist. He will discontinue the use of tobacco, cut loose from profanity and save his money. He is under twenty years of age and Intends to be married in the near fu ture. He has been advised by older frinds with experience, not to reside with a mother-in-law, or his contemplated moral life will be a hard “row to hoe .The worsted manufacturers of Phila delphia have decided to enter the monster worsted trust which will be capitalized at $70,000,000. Thirty-six mills are now In the trust and options have been secured on others which will be included. ‘The trust will Include practically all the worst ed manufacturers in this country, Maron Worsted Company, of ough is one of those going into the trust. That many of our residents were not hurt in the Exeter disaster on Friday even ing was due to the fact that dame fortune smiled upon them, as, probably, she had never done before. As it was there was one killed and another on the hospital list, Harry Hunsberger, a barber having a shop in Mechanicsville, was so so injured that he died immediately upon be ing taken from the ruins. His face and head were unscratched, but his chest was so badly erased that death was almost in stantaneous. Hlunsberger came to this borough from Philadelphia about ten months ago and secured employment with Charles Brodell. He then opened a shop and started in business for himself in Mechanicsville. He prospered and did a creditable busi ness. On Friday morning, accompanied by Henry Bustard and Walter Mullen, of Gulf Milla, he went to Harrisburg. At the time of the collision all three were sitting close together. Mustard after recovering his senses began a search for his compan ions. Mullen was safe and unhurt, but Hlunsberger was found In a dying condition Mustard retoamed with him until he died, and then turned his body over to the au thorities. His body was sent to his home In Middletown, Va Ele was unmarried . John Earl, aged 62 years, was among the Injured. He was sitting in the same seat with his brother-in-law, Capt. Harry Coulson, of Norriston, who was killed, when the crash came. He was badly cut about head and face and lower limbs, and had one rib broken. He was taken to Charity Hospital, where his condition is not regarded as serious, and, if he won. tntes to improve as rapidly as he has up to the present time, will be dismissed from the Institution before the end of the week. Mr. Earl was only saved from death by another unfortunate victim being thrown on top of him. He is badly burnt on the chip from a cigar which the man had been smoking. When removed the man was found to have been killed. A. 8. Leedom, the well known grocer, of Front street, was also on the ill-fated train, but came out exceedingly lucky, having only a few scratches caused by pieces of flying glass and splints of broken timber. The residents of this borough and Gulf Mills, who were unhurt, did not hesitate to help in extricating the unfortunate ones who lay on all sides dead and dying, cry ing and moaning, pinned beneath the wreck helpless. Little, neglected scratches and wounds frequently result in blood-poisoning. Let ter heal them quickly with DeWitt's Witch Hazel Sulge, a thoroughly anti-scp Ue appliation with a record of always curing plies, old ulcers, sores, cuts, wounds and skin diseases. H. Maxwell Harry, W. E Supplee Bro, West Con ' shohoeken,
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Conshohocken Recorder
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, May 16, 1899
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USA 20 Feb 2026
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