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, February 21, 1917
Disastrous Runaway Down Mountain Side
Three Cars On Log Road Above Kissell's Springs Dash Into Engine
Narrow Escape Of Four Men Heavy Damages To Co.
Thee was a thrilling accident occurred on the mountain about three miles above Kissell's Springs, near Waterford, Ligonier township on the log railroad leading from the Ligonier Valley Lumber Co. lumber mill to the top of the mountain. The engine, three cars with a log-loader were taken up the steep grade to top of the mountain to be loaded with logs preparatory to taking them down to Oak Grove and to the mill. While the loading goes on it has been customary to chain the car to the track to prevent is starting down the mountain side along the steep grade of the track. On Friday for some reason the chain became loose and the three cars with the log roller started slowly to move down the track, the front car being heavily loaded with logs. Dell Parson who had charge of the log loader felt something move and discovered that the train of cars had started on its rush down the mountain side. In the meantime while the logs were being loaded, the engineer, William White, and his fireman started down the track with the engine and when about a mile down the engine got off the track and White had got down and looking what was the matter. Dell looked down the track a mile ahead and saw the engine off the track and knew that meant a collision. He rushed forward and tied down the whistle attached to the loader causing a continuous shriek whistle and he then jumped from the moving train which was every moment gaining speed and momentum and escaped injury. The cars gained great speed of probably fifty miles an hour, were rushing on toward the helpless engine. The men with the engine heard the shrieks of the whistle and got away just in time to escape injury and probably death. The on rushing cars struck the engine with tremendous force smashing the engine, cars and log-loading machine smashing them to pieces and causing the logs to fly in all directions. The engine and the cars were badly damaged in the wreck. The wreckage has been cleared away and the damage is being repaired so the operations can go on as heretofore.