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
Thursday, July 11, 1912
"Reckless" and "Inexcusable" Among The Words Used By Marshal Dohoney, In Reporting On Wreck. Mr. Senft Silent
Ample Sidings.
In this connection I desire to inform you that while the branch in question is of single track construction, it has the advantage of a "Y" at Ligonier and of ample sidings along the line which preclude any excuse for placing the passenger coach in front of the engine, and consequently, emphasize the recklessness of the practice.
You are also reminded of the manner in which the passenger conductor is said to have been ordered to hold his train until the arrival of the freight. He is among the injured in the hospital and has not thus far stated whether or not the order was received.
If this order had been given in writing and a copy thereof retained by the car dispatcher it would have probably impressed the conductor with the importance of the situation and at the same time be of value in determining, in the event of a dispute, the responsibility for the moving of the train and the resultant horror.
JOHN P. DOHONEY, Marshal.
"I have nothing to say."
That was the only reply which General Manager George Senft, of the L.V.R.R., would make this morning, when he was asked his views of the report filed by John P. Dohoney, the marshal of the State Railroad Commission, printed elsewhere in today's Bulletin. "Have you seen the report?" he was asked.
"Yes, I have read it."
"Will you say whether the marshal is correct or at error in the conclusions which he has drawn?"
"I can say nothing as to that," replied Mr. Senft.
The general manager stated that he would be unable to give out anything to the public, today, the Interstate Commerce representative being still engaged in conducting an
investigation, at it being impossible for him to speak, until they gave him leave to do so. When he speaks Mr. Senft, it is expected, will defend his system, citing its long records of freedom from accident.
Engineer Dunlap's Views.
Engineer Thomas Dunlap, who held the throttle on the ill-fated passenger train, was shown a copy of the report, and he read it through. He said that he could make no statement as to the report. All he knew was that he had received the signal from the conductor to go ahead, and he had gone.
In speaking of the fact that the passenger train was running with the coach ahead and the engine behind, the engineer said that in his estimation, the death list might have been larger had the engine been in the lead. In that event, he said, he would have been going much faster, while the result of the head-on collision would have been, probably, the rearing up of the engines, and the demolition of the coach behind.
Andrew W. Mellon Contradicts Report Concerning Agents
Contradicting the reports published to the effect that the Ligonier Valley Railroad Company had commissioned agents and attorneys to effect settlements of claims growing out of the wreck on the Wilpen branch, Mr. Andrew W. Mellon, head of the great banking house in Pittsburgh, and one of the owners of the railroad, stated, yesterday afternoon, that no steps had been taken in this direction, the chief concern of the
company, thus far, having been to investigate the circumstances leading up to the dreadful disaster and to make sure that the injured were being (given) every care and attention possible.
The owners of the road, Mr. Mellon stated, were not thinking of the financial loss, but of the loss of life, and the suffering entailed, and it was their present concern, he said, to see to it that the suffering was lightened as much as possible, no expense being
considered in this connection.
Mr. Mellon's personal representative called at the Latrobe Hospital, yesterday, and told the superintendent that the patients were to have every comfort possible. It is understood that similar word was taken to the Pittsburgh hospitals and to the homes in which the
injured are lying.