SENSATIONAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2418, 29 October 1892, Page 3

SENSATIONAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

At Wilkesbarre (Pennsylvania) au extraordinary railway accident, the result of a boyish freak, and forming part of the most sensational incidents that have ever been recorded in connection w ith American railway travelling, took place on the 27th August. A special train, consisting of eight carriages, was run to Mountain Peak, a famous pleasure resort on the Central and New Jersey railway, conveying thither several hundreds of happy picnickers, who went to enjoy the day amongst the scenery on the banks of the Northern Suskqnehauna river. After the passengers left the train the carriages were placed on a siding. The engine was run a short distance ahead for the purpose of taking water. During the absence of the locomotive with the engine driver and fireman upon it, a number of boys entered the carriages and loosened the brakes. The released vehicles were soon in motion. Swifter and swifter they sped down the siding where the gradient is 06 to the mile, and by the time the main line was reached the pace was terrific. The boys jumped oil' as- soon as they had turned the brakes, so there was no one on the runaway train when the carriages were set in motion. The men on the engine comprehended the situation at a glance. The engine driver opened the valve wide and the mountains echoed with the screeching whistle of the locomotive. The fireman suggested tint the throttle should be opened and that the engine should give chase to the runaway carrriages. The engine-driver, however, declared that to resort to such an expedient would be useless, as no locomotive could catch the flyaway train at the rate at which it it was going. The only thing that could be done was to keep the whistle blowing as a danger signal to the other trains on the line. The distances across the mountain by rail is four miles, and the sound of the whistle at Mountain Peak was plainly heard at Laurel Run, on the other side of the hill. The telegraph operator there notified others along the line of the result of the freak of the boys, and most of the trains on the railway were shunted into sidings with the utmost possible alacrity. It was impossible, however to avert a catastrophe. A coal train which left Laurel Run for Mountain Peak before the signals were given, ran up the steep ascent at the rate of 10 miles an hour. Just as she approached Whisky Hill crossing an extraordinary noise was heard ahead, and in an instant the runaway carriages collided with the engine, The crash of the collision was heard three miles away. The engine driver and brakesman jumped and saved their lives, but the fireman was killed. The engine and carriages, were a complete wreck. The carriage, when the disaster occurred, were running down the incline at the rate of 80 miles an hour.