Ligonier Valley Rail Road Newspaper Articles
We have compiled over 1,400 newspaper articles that mention the Ligonier Valley Railroad, or related subjects. The articles were originally published starting in 1873 and our collection runs through 1995. Enjoy!
Latrobe Bulletin
Monday, July 8, 1912
Sad Scene Witnessed As Bodies of Wreck Victims Are Borne To the Grave.
Many Funerals Held In Ligonier and In Latrobe Yesterday and Today
Brakeman Koontz Heard Nothing
Francis Koontz, a freight brakeman, who was credited, by rumor, with having heard an order that the passenger train be held for six minutes, delivered to Conductor Kuhn, was seen, and he declared that he knew nothing about it that he had heard no orders delivered.
Fortney Declined to Make Statement
A man named Fortney, declared, by rumor, to have been one of three supposed to have heard an order delivered, was asked the question direct, as to whether or not he had heard, as rumored. He hesitated, but finally said that he did not wish to make any statement.
Engineer Ordered to Pull Out
Engineer Thomas Dunlap would say nothing as to the causes leading up to the wreck, further than that he had received the signal to pull out.
"I was running about 12 miles and hour," he went on, " and as quickly as I saw the freight rushing towards me, I realized what was in store, and I thought of the lives that were at stake. I threw on the air, and some say that I blew the whistle three times. My engine was quivering in the very act of reversing, when the crash came. I was jarred from my seat and my hand was jerked from the throttle. Looking around I saw a terrible sight, the dead and dying lying on both sides of the track, while up on the tender of my own engine lay the bodies of three men who had been tossed ahead by the freight.
Missed the Train By Chance
Intermingled with the almost countless tales descriptive of incidents which occurred in connection with the wreck, and in the telling of which, tongues and pens have been kept busy, numerous experiences were to be heard, Saturday and yesterday, from those who,
by the merest chance, had missed being on the train. One man, named Rhody, of
Ligonier township, had arrived in Ligonier, Friday afternoon, together with his wife and all his children, and they had discussed the question of whether to go home on the train or to drive. The decision had been reached, finally, that driving would be preferable, and the man secured a horse and carriage. Many others, accustomed, as a rule, to make use of the afternoon branch train, did not start upon the fatal journey only because of something unusual serving to effect a change in their plans.
Consul Visits the Scene
The Hungarian Consul, stationed in Pittsburgh, was in Latrobe, yesterday afternoon, he
having come to look after the interests of his people. He said that his government would want him to make an investigation as to the wreck, only in as far as his own countrymen were involved. He intended looking after the comfort of the widows and the children of the Austro-Hungarians who had been killed or injured, and also announced that the notifying of relatives living in their native land would be one of his duties.
Grave Diggers Almost Exhausted
The burial of the bodies of the little Rhoddy children was delayed for more than an hour after the time set for the interment, this morning, the grave diggers, almost exhausted with long toiling in the sun, having struck a large rock in making the excavation, and having been unable, despite heroic efforts, to get the grave done in time.
Effecting Settlements
It is reported that an agent started in, yesterday, to try and effect settlements with the relatives of the dead, as well as with those who were injured. One rumor is that a man who lost his wife in the wreck was offered a sum slightly under $1,000, together with the payment of all expenses, if he would sign a release. It is said that he declined to sign. Circulars were distributed among some of those in attendance at the funerals yesterday afternoon, advising those who had lost relatives not to settle. It is supposed that the circulars had been sent out by attorneys, located in Pittsburgh, and making a specialty of claims against corporations.
Though nearly all of Ligonier's resident physicians were absent from the town when the news of the wreck reached it, last Friday afternoon, there was present as a visitor at the home of her father one who was able to render valiant service to the injured, Dr. Effie Dunlap, the daughter of Engineer Thomas Dunlap, having but recently returned from
completing a term of service in a Philadelphia hospital, following her graduation from a Philadelphia college of medicine. Dr. Dunlap was one of the first to reach the scene of the injured, and together with Drs. Barkley and Keltz, the only other two physicians available at first, she bandaged up many a wound and eased many a hurt.