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 17, 1912
Injured Improving
Good Hopes For All
Recollections of Ligonier Valley Railroad Wreck Still Vivid
Condition Of Injured As Reported By Doctor
Twelve days after the terrible wreck on the Wilpen branch of the L.V.R.R. How short and yet how long the time! What vivid recollections even now cross our minds! Life, death, injured, dying, dead such are the things that have happened. Yet most of us have something to be thankful for. As a result of the wreck 23 people have passed to the great beyond. Of the more than 30 injured all are improving and will likely get well. Everybody is grateful for this and all possible is being done by the railroad authorities and by the friends of the injured that they may receive every attention and be made as comfortable as possible. Good hopes are entertained for the speedy recovery of nearly all the injured.
Of the seriously injured who are yet possibly in danger they are Miss Esther Mathews, the professional nurse; C. H. Kuhn, the passenger conductor; William Campbell, a brakeman; Bernetta Andrews, one of the little girls on the outing; Mary Ellen Peters, another of outing party, and Dr. J. B. Johnson, at his home in Ligonier. The above are the seriously injured. Good reports are received from them all as they are steadily improving. Those who were slightly injured are improving nicely and those at the hospitals will soon be home. Dr. C. A. Hamill left Ligonier Sunday evening for the home of his wife's parents, Pittsburgh, to be gone several days, the chief object of his going being to get away from the talk and excitement regarding the wreck.
Latrobe Hospital Sarah Edsall, Ligonier, R.D. 1, scalp wounds and body bruises; Mary Helen Peters, Ligonier, fractures of left leg; Bessie Hoon, Ligonier, cuts on face
and injury to limbs; Alice Ritenour, Bolivar, R. D., injury to chest and fracture and laceration of leg; John Smida, Wilpen, body bruises and injury to limbs; Frank Bohla, Wilpen, fracture of leg, contusion of toes; Mike Hudock, Wilpen, fracture of left thigh, deep cuts and contusions of legs; Anthony Astriua, Ligonier, injury to chest and limbs, body bruises; Mike Danovich, Wilpen, fracture of leg below knee, contusion of head; Philip Hallow, Wilpen, laceration of scalp, cuts on face and around ear; Bernard Gray, Fort Palmer, concussion of brain, head and face wounds; Tom Stevok Jennerstown, body bruises, injury to chest and back. All are improving.
The following were discharged from the Latrobe hospital: Billy Brownfield, Ligonier; Isaac H. Lloyd, John Disandres, Angelo Eugena, Wilpen.
The following died in the Latrobe hospital: Mary Elizabeth Rhody, Ligonier, July 5; Mathew Neport, Wilpen, July 5; John Overton, Wilpen, July 6, Smith E. Beatty, Ligonier, July 9.
In hospital, 13; discharged, 4; dead 4.
West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh Wm. Campbell, Ligonier, cerebral concussion, fracture of ribs; Bernetta Andrews, fractures of limbs, injury to body; Bernard Caffino, Wilpen, injury to back and shoulders; Raymond Ankney, Ligonier, R.D., fracture of leg
near ankle joint.
All are improving.
Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh Chas. Kuhn, Ligonier, fractures of right arm, right leg below knee and left ankle joint; Harry Knox, Ligonier, laceration of scalp, injury to left hip joint, expects to be home this week; Esther Matthews, fracture of arm and right leg, injury to eyes. All above improving.
John Fulgenzio, 21 years, Italian, Wilpen, cuts above right eye and body bruises, able to walk around.
Mary Rodella, 38 years, Austrian, Wilpen, cuts on left leg below knee, body bruises, in bed.
Mike Maglio, 22 years, Austrian, Wilpen, body bruises, injury to chest and spine, able to walk. All above getting well.
Much has been written and said about this terrible disastrous wreck and all sorts of stories told as to the cause and who is to blame for the disaster. State Marshall Dohoney has rendered an extensive report which has been published in many of the papers. It was based on information he got while here a short time in going out to the place where the wreck occurred and in asking a few questions of two or three railroad employes and others. He states facts already known in reference to the freight train meeting the passenger train which was being backed up on the same track, as to the wounded and
dead, the telephoning to H. H. Knox to come on with the freight train and the conveying of the order to C. H. Kuhn to hold the passenger train which was likely misunderstood or forgotten and other known facts regarding the wreck. A thorough investigation of the matter will be made to find out the cause or causes leading up to this terrible wreck. The sworn testimony of all who know anything about it will enable the authorities to place the responsibility where it properly belongs.