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!
Ligonier Echo
Wednesday, July 10, 1912
KILLED WERE 23, INJURED 30
Most Terrible Disaster in History of Westmoreland County Railroading Occurred on Wilpen Branch of L.V.R.R. at Morningside Race Track Friday Afternoon. Double Header Freight Train Crashed Into Passenger Train at Sharp Curve Near Ligonier
Children And Nurse On An Outing Among The Victims Of Wreck
Terrible Scenes Witnessed Dead, Dying and Injured Prompt Relief to Sufferers Many Taken to Hospitals Funerals of Victims Held Sunday and Monday
A frightful and most terrible wreck, the worst ever known in the history of Westmoreland county railroading, occurred last Friday afternoon, July 5, 1912, at about 3:30 on the Wilpen branch of the Ligonier Valley Railroad. The results were appalling and the scenes at the wreck beyond description. Men, women and children are numbered as the victims in the list of dead and injured in frightful collision that took place at the only curve on the branch between Ligonier and Wilpen at the edge of the race track on the Morningside farm about one and one-half miles north of Ligonier.
The wreck was caused by a heavy coal train of cars drawn by two engines, No. 7 and
No. 14, of the L.V.R.R. coming down grade from the mines toward Ligonier at a fast rate of speed and the regular passenger train which runs out to Wilpen and return every afternoon, leaving town at 3:20 and which was being backed up at rate of about twelve miles an hour, coming together at above mentioned curve. There wasn't a moment from the time the two trains caught sight of each other until the engines of the freight train had plowed through the passenger coach of the other train, reducing it to kindling and hurling the occupants in every direction, dead, mangled, dying and injured. Not a single person of the passenger train escaped injury so far as known. The scene was terrible to behold. Men, women and children were scattered about under the wreckage, the engines and cars and along the track, dead, dying and injured. From them a cry of distress went up that was heart rending. The crew of the engine of the passenger train escaped injury, as the tender and engine were not damaged.
As soon as the alarm was given people of the town and country rushed to the place of the wreck and rendered all the assistance possible. Up o the present time 23 are dead and 30 injured as a result of the terrible wreck. A list of the dead and injured is given with this article. Many of the injured are yet in a dangerous condition and it is feared others will die.
Among the victims of the disaster was Miss Esther Mathews, a professional nurse and for past three months a private nurse for Mr. Geo. Senft, general manager of the L.V.R.R. and Mary Elizabeth Rhody and her sister, Sarah Louise, Bernetta Andrews, Many Helen Peters and William Brownfield, who were in her care and going out to gather flowers and enjoy the evening and they were all happy in expectation of a happy afternoon when the crash came.
The last death to occur was that of Smith C. Beatty, engineer, who died yesterday at the Latrobe hospital. A number of the injuries were slight and in a short time the patients will be well again.
The first man to give the alarm in town of the wreck was E. G. Nicely, J.P., who was training a horse on the race track at the time and rushed to Ligonier and spread the news. D. A. Geeting started at once with his auto and got Dr. J. W. Barkley in with him and he was the first doctor to arrive. A very short time after W. J. Potts secured a man with an auto to take him and Dr. J. T. Ambrose out to the wreck. Mr. Potts had bandages along as also had the doctors. Mr. Potts and others assisted in doing all they could for the comfort of the injured. Mr. Boyer, proprietor of the Breniser hotel, was out with his car and helped all he could to bring in to town and care for the wounded. There were a number of other cars that were rushed out at once and all did heroic work in aiding. Many people went to the scene of the wreck as speedily as possible and rendered all the help they could. Drs. Ambrose, Barkley and Beltz were the only physicians in town at the time but they did all they could to relieve the suffering. Dr. C. D. Ambrose was at encampment at Mt. Gretna and Dr. McAdoo at Stahlstown. All who aided in any way are to be praised for their noble work. Doctors from Latrobe soon arrived and rendered assistance. The equal of the excitement was never seen in Ligonier before and is hoped never will occur again.
The railroad people did all that could be done to relieve the suffering and transport them to Latrobe hospital and to Pittsburg hospitals.
Fifteen bodies of those killed were taken to the Lowry undertaking rooms where they
were prepared for burial.
The management of the L.V.R.R. has always been most careful and since its first train in 1877 to this unfortunate wreck numbered only two killed. Mr. Geo. Senft, the general manager, has been untiring in his efforts to protect the people and in the handling of the big picnic crowds no serious accidents every happened, and he very much laments this terrible accident.
The two engines of the freight train were badly wrecked, especially one. The other was hurled from the track and lay crosswise to the track against a large hickory tree, the other remained near the track with the wheels of the passenger car jammed under it. The sides of the passenger coach were hurled one to each side of the freight train, the top also
hurled forward on top of several people who were more or less injured. The remainder of the coach was scattered all around in small pieces.
The Derry wreck train of the P.R.R. came over same evening and worked all night and
Saturday until 4 o'clock in the afternoon to remove the wreckage and clear the track for traffic.
Last Sunday there were three funerals in Ligonier and four burials, as Mrs. Dillon and child were placed in same casket. The others were F. F. McConnaughey and Geo. Byers. On Monday there were three of the dead transferred to their last resting places. They were Mary Elizabeth Rhody, Sarah Louis Rhody and John Ankney. These sad obsequies were attended by a very large concourse of mourning and sympathizing relatives and friends and the deepest sorrow is felt for those who have been bereaved of dear ones and many tokens of sympathy were shown in acts of kindness, the gift of flowers and words of comfort. Many of the school children of town contributed toward securing flowers for the Rhody children and other unfortunates.
List of Dead and Injured
Deaths
JOHN ANKNEY, aged 35 years, 10 months and 13 days, of Ligonier, owned property on Church street; fireman of freight engine No. 7, of which S. C. Beatty was engineer; both legs crushed, being run over by tender, hurt about body, scar on head; died on way to Latrobe hospital, returned to his home same night. He is survived by his widow and his parents, Mr. And Mrs. C. C. Ankney, of Latrobe, and 3 brothers and 4 sisters B. G., of
Beatty, C. W. and McKinley, of Latrobe, Mrs. S. F. Dysart, of Huntington; Mrs. Frank Wilt, of Ligonier, and Melda and Zula, Latrobe. Funeral was held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, service in United Evangelical Church, conducted by his pastor, Rev. N. Frank Boyer, assisted by Rev. W. A. Sites, of Latrobe U. B. Church, and Rev. C. E. Ludwig. Interment in Valley cemetery. Cont...