1892 — Sep 8, construction worker and passenger trains collide ~Eckenrode Mills, PA– 14

–14 Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.
–14 Philadelphia Inquirer. “Fourteen Were Killed. The Wreck on the Clearfield…” 9-19-1892, p. 1.
–14 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 95.

Narrative Information

Eastern State Journal, NY: “1892….September….8. 14 deaths in a collision on the Clearfield and Cambria railroad, near Altoona, Pa.” (“History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1.)

Simonds: “….Sept. 7, Pennsylvania, near Eckenrode Mills, collision, 14 killed…” (The American Date Book. 1902, p. 95.)

Newspaper (at the time):

Sep 9: “An awful accident occurred on the Cambris & Clearfield railroad at 6 o’clock last evening [8th] which resulted in the death of nine men, while many others were injured. A construction train carrying nearly one hundred laborers, principally Italians employed by a railroad contractor, was going at a high rate of speed in the direction of Cresson when it met the northbound passenger train in the first cut north of Eckenrode’s mill, sixteen miles from Cresson. The passenger train was going at full speed and the two rushed together on the single track.

“The work train was in charge of Conductor G. E. E. Dunn and Engineer G. S. Yoder, both formerly of the middle division of the railroad, and the passenger engine was manned by Engineer C. W. Ferry, of this city [Altoona], and Fireman R. Parish, of Gallitzin. Conductor James C. McDermott, of this city, had charge of the train. The engineer and fireman of the passenger train remained in the cab and were crushed and scalded to death. The shock of the collision broke the front cars on the construction train and six men were killed and a number of others more or less injured. One of these died this morning. The killed are:

Engineer C. W. Ferry, 1707 Fourteenth avenue, this city.
Fireman Raymond Parish, of Gallitzin.
Samuel Rowland, timekeeper for the railroad contractor. His home is in Minersville,
Schuylkill county.
Three Italians, one Swede and an American, whose names, in the absence of the contractor,
were not obtained at the railroad offices in this city.
Alex. Gadollee, a clerk, whose home was in New Holland, Pa.

“A small boy, son of one of the bosses of the laborers, had his leg cut off, and is now at Bradley’s station. The other injured were taken to Ebensburg, and this morning two of them, Italians, were brought to the Altoona hospital.

“Brakeman Nelson, of the passenger train, was slightly hurt, but all others on the train escaped uninjured.

“The railroad officers in this city could give no information today as to the cause of the accident, other than that the crew of the work train had violated orders in not waiting at Patton station until the passenger train had passed. In investigation is now being made….” (Altoona Mirror. “Nine Men Killed Yesterday Evening on the Cambria & Clearfield Railroad.” 9-9-1892, p. 1.)

Sep 9: “Altoona, Pa., Sept. 9. – Engineer Yoder and Fireman Dunn, of the work train, charged with violating orders and causing the wreck on the Clearfield & Cambria railroad last night, disappeared after the accident and have not been seen since. The conductor also disappeared but came back today. He said they ran away, fearing vengeance of the friends of the Italians killed. Diligent search is being made for the missing men….” (Bradford Era, PA. “Nine Were Killed.” 9-10-1892, p. 1.)

Sep 9: “Johnstown, Sept. 9. – The wreck on the Clearfield and Cambrian Branch last night was far worse than reported. Fourteen men lost their lives instead of eight, as reported. Eleven of the number are Italians.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Fourteen Were Killed. The Wreck on the Clearfield Worse Than First Reported.” 9-19-1892, p. 1.)

Sources

Altoona Mirror. “Nine Men Killed Yesterday Evening on the Cambria & Clearfield Railroad.” 9-9-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-evening-mirror-sep-09-1892-p-1/

Bradford Era, PA. “Nine Were Killed In the Accident in the Clearfield & Cambria Wreck.” 9-10-1892, p.1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bradford-era-sep-10-1892-p-1/

Eastern State Journal, White Plains, NY. “History of 1892 – The Chronological Record of a Memorable Year….Demons of Destruction.” 12-31-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/white-plains-eastern-state-journal-dec-31-1892-p-1/

Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Fourteen Were Killed. The Wreck on the Clearfield Worse Than First Reported.” 9-19-1892, p. 1. Accessed 2-14-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-sep-10-1892-p-1/

Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. Google digital preview accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JuiSjvd5owAC