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, September 11, 1912
Coroner's Inquest Ligonier Valley Wreck
Held Friday to Place Responsibility for Wreck on Wilpen Branch Of L.V.R.R. July 5, 1912
Responsibility Placed On Railroad Company By Jury
The next witness, Frank Noel, stated as follows: That he is car distributor for L.V.R.R. Co.; that he received a phone notice from H. H. Knox, conductor of the freight train, from Wilpen asking permission to come on to Ligonier before the passenger train went out; that after consulting Mr. Senft the request was granted and Knox was ordered over the phone to come on to Ligonier; that he received the request at 3:11; that Minich started to tell Conductor Kuhn to hold the Wilpen passenger train until freight got in; that he, Mr. Senft and Mr. Minich went down stairs and separated; that he went out north side of
station and in a short time saw passenger train leave for Wilpen and that he tried to signal for it to stop but failed to get it to do so, but he thought perhaps it was gong out to siding near town to let freight pass; never knew of passenger train being held for freight before.
Russell Minich was the next witness and he stated that he had worked for the company about 7 years; that he was now Mr. Senft's assistant; talked over the request of Knox and
heard what Noel said to Knox over the phone. He went down and out to train and to baggage car and leaned over a truck before car door and that Conductor Kuhn was standing inside of car door; that he told Kuhn to hold train until freight got in; that Kuhn said something that sounded like all right; that he then went into the car up close to Kuhn and said to him the second time to hold the train but got no answer.
Wm. Fortney, the man who handles the baggage at the station, said he was on the truck between Minich and Kuhn; heard Minich tell Kuhn to hold the train but did not hear the latter reply; was not looking at either of them.
J. W. Clopp, freight agent, testified that he was in the baggage car when Minich came in to get mail; that he heard Minich say to Kuhn to hold the train until freight got in; the latter made no answer; that he was standing about 4 feet from Minich and that Minich was about 2 feet from Kuhn; did not know whether Kuhn heard the order or not.
John Kuhns, an employe of the road for 17 years, testified he heard Minich tell Kuhn do not take out Wilpen train till freight comes in; did not see Kuhn and do not know who he said it to; saw Kuhn later.
Ed Rathmell, baggage master, stated train came from Latrobe about 3:15; started out to Wilpen in about 10 minutes; said he did not hear the orders to the conductor and that he thought that Noel was only saluting him and not giving a signal to stop.
John Jones, a brakeman, said he was standing near Kuhn and that he didn't see Minich. However, Jones testified that he told Kuhn the freight train was in the way, but that Kuhn replied, "To hl with the freight rain; get that car out here."
Knox Asked For Orders
Conductor H. H. Knox, who has been employed by the company for the past 7 years, was the next witness. He said he called headquarters from the office of the Shenango Furnace Co. at 3:08 p.m. He located Noel and told him that the freight was on the main track at Wilpen; requested permission to come ahead of the passenger train because they were late, short of water and anxious to finish their run. He also asked to have Chas. Naugle on hand at the Ligonier depot when he arrived. His train left Wilpen at 3:30. At time of wreck the approximate speed of the train was 25 miles per hour. Geo. Byers, the fireman, he says, gave the first sign that they were striking the passenger train. Byers yelled, "My God, there's the coach!" Knox said that he had never run a freight on passenger time before and that he had worked on the Wilpen branch for over 3 years.
Squire E. G. Nicely described the coming together of the trains as he saw the wreck from the state road quarter of mile away. He said he thought the freight was running 40
miles and hour. He was the first to notify Ligonier doctors and people of the wreck.
Kuhn Claims Did Not Hear Order
The next and last witness called was Conductor C. H. Kuhn who was sitting in a reclining chair and was wheeled to the coroner's table. He said he had been employed with the Ligonier road 31 years, 26 of which he was conductor. He told of his duties and the way the road was run. Since freight was heavy he had made the Wilpen run.
Kuhn was very positive that he did not hear Minich tell him to remain until Knox came down with his train. He also declared he did not say to hell with the freight train, which Jones testified was the language he used.
Kuhn said he was writing, fixing up his order, that he did not see Minich out side or in the car and did not hear him speak but later on in the yard he understood him to say go ahead, if Naugle, who hauled the freight to Latrobe was not in the way. And with that understanding he started.
Kuhn and others claimed that the train had only been backed up ahead of the engine on
this and one or two other occasions. It could have been turned by going around the "Y," Kuhn and others testified.
Kuhn left the stand at 5:15 and the jury retired and rendered their verdict about an hour later.
After 7 o'clock the attorneys and others from a distance were taken to Latrobe over the
Ligonier Valley railroad by special train.
The number of deaths caused by the wreck are 23 with about 20 injured.
The owners of the railroad have through their attorneys been able ton effect settlement with the friends of a number of the death victims of the wreck and efforts are being made to secure amicable settlements with as many more as possible.