When the grim reaper rode the rails. - Trains Magazine

Here is a newspaper article published right after the wreck.  This is published as having been scanned, so there are some weird typos, but it is clear enough to read.  Interestingly, it blames the collision on the Meadow Tower operator for lining up for two trains to cross at the same time—something that would be physically impossible.  Blaming the operator must have been an early conclusion arrived at by error.

However, the operator was blamed for lining up for the excursion train when it rang in rather than lining up for the Reading train which was due, but had not yet rung in.  I supposed that it was believed that the operator knew where the Reading train was, and that it was shortly due.    

It certainly was a dramatic wreck to have one passenger train slice right through the first car of another passenger train. 

It seems somewhat of a coincidence this was intended to be the last run of the engineer who ran past the stop signal and was killed.  He was going to quit the railroad after this last run.  The gravity of the accident also killed the engineer’s wife who was not even there.  She was instantly killed by the shock of the news of what happened to her husband.   

**************************************************** 

TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT IN NEW JERSEY.

An Excursion Train Run Into at a Crossing by a Fast Express,

Wrecking the Latter's Engine and Five Passenger Cars.

Forty People Kiled, So Far as Known, and Eighty Others Badly Injured— The Operator at the Tower Near the Crossing Responsible for the Accident, Having Left the Signals Open for the Trains to Pass.

ATLANTIC CITY (N. J.). July 30. —A terrible railroad catastrophe took place on the Meadows about two miles out of this city shortly after 6:30 o'clock this afternoon, resulting in the death oi forty-two people, so far as can be learned, and the injuring of eighty others.

A train left here consisting" of seven cars over the West Jersey Railroad, bearing a special excursion of Red Men and their friends of Bridgeton, N. J., and Salem, and had reached the crossing of the Reading Railroad, "when it was struck by the 5:40 down express from Philadelphia, demolishing two cars and telescoping the two following. The engine of the Beading train became a total wreck, killing the engineer and fatally injuring the fireman, and the car following was also thrown from the track and many of its occupants killed.*

It is thought that William Thorlow, the operator at the block tower near the crossing, was to blame for the accident.

Leaving this city the tracks of the West Jersey road run parallel to those of the Camden and Atlantic until after they cross the draw-t ridge, when they switch off to the south, crossing the Reading at an obtuse angle. John Gretaer, the engineer of the West Jersey train, saw the Reading train approaching the crossing at a swift speed, but as the signals were open for him to proceed on his way he continued. 3iis engine had barely cleared the track c>f the Reading when the locomotive of the latter train, which left Philadelphia at 5:40 p. m.. struck the first car full in the center, throwing it far < B the track into a ditch near by and v. as completely submerged. The second car of the West Jersey train was also carried into the ditch, the third and fourth being telescoped. The enpine of the Reading train was thrown to the other side of the track, carrying with it the first coach.

A few minutes after the collision, to add to the \orror of the situation, the boiler of the Reading locomotive exploded, scalding several to death and casting its boiling spray over many of the injured passengers.

As soon as the news reached this city it spread broadcast, and thousands of people flocked to the scene. The road leading to the place of the collision was a constant procession of hacks, 'buses and bicycles and all kinds of vehicles, while thousands of pedestrians hurried tilong the path to render what assistance they could or-to satisfy their curiosity.

Darkness quickly fell, and the work of rescuing the injured and dead bodies was carried out under the glare of huge bonfires. It was a grewsome sight presented to onlookers as the mangled and burnt forms of the dead were carried from the wreckage which bound them and laid side by side on the gravel bank near the track, with no other pall than th~ few old newspapers gathered from the passengers.

The injured were quickly gathered ttopether and carried by train and magon to the Atlantic City Hospital, where six of them died shortly after their arrival. The old excursion house at the foot of Mississippi avenue was converted Into a morgue, and thither She dead were takers At a late hour to-night there were twenty-nine bodies laid out there, none of which had been identified.

This city was terribly excited over tty of the excursion house and the City Hospital, as well as the mad leading to the scene of the accident, were packed with people anxious to learn the tidings.

The Brighton and Salem excursionists who escaped injury were brought back to this city and sent home on a apeotal train several hours later in the evening.

James Hoyt. Secretary of the Dejartment of Public Safety.immediately upon learning the extent of the catastrophe, telegraphed fur the Philadelphia emergency corps, 160 of whom i» Bponded and hurried to this city on a special train, which left Philadelphia at 10:4 a o'clock. These surgeons materially aided the volunteer corps of this city, which embraced alm«>st very phy*fctan at present within its eon--3.!..-s. Many of the injured were taken to hotels after the City Hospital became overcrowded. About thirty of the injured had their wounds dressed and were able to proceed Dn their way

It is expected that fully a dozen of those now lying in the hospital will not survive their injuries.

Mrs. Edward Farr, the wife of the Heading engineer who met death while performing his duty, and was found with one hand on the throttle cmd the other on the brake, when informed of the accident and her husband's tragic death, was unable to withstand the shock and fell to the lloor dead.

The list of the identified dead Is: Mr. and Mrs. Trenchard, Bridgeton; Edward Farr. engineer of the Reading Train Atlantic City; Samuel Thorn, baggagemaster, Pennsylvania Railroad, Atlantic City; P. S. Murphy. Millville. N. J.; J. D. Johnson; I). Bonghas, Bridgeton; O. B. Taylor; P. R. Goldsmith and wife. Bridgeton; Samuel Smith. Atlantic City; D. E. Wood, Philadelphia; John Greiner, Brldg :mi Charles Ackler, Salem; Charles lie(,.ar. Bridgeton; Franklin Dubois, [Woodruff; Mrs. J. Earnest. Bridgeton. ( Following is a list of the injured:

Mrs. M. Keiger, Elmer, N. J., back badly hurt and head cut; Jacob Johnson, Shirley, N. J., head hurt, wife supposed to be dead and child badly hurt; Stanley A. Wensell, Alloway. N. J., scalp nearly torn off; Fred Sheeney, Bridget on, back hurt and internal injury; Mrs. S. Johnson, Shirley, N. J., shoulder, head and breast bruised; Mary Shimp, Freesboro, N. J., head cuit; William Baughn, Bridgeton, back hurt and head severely cut; Chas. C. Rinck, Bridgeton, badly cut about head, small child saved; Violet Alfred, Bridgeton, face and nose fractured; Mrs. L/aura Pierce, Bridgeton, badly cut about head and body bruised; William Simpkins, Salem, head lacerated; Mason Worth, 823 North Twelfth street, Philadelphia, back Injured; Albert Trainor, Bridgeton, head cut; William Houghton, Zeeley, Bridgeton, head cut; Chester Burger, Bridgeton, hip injured; Howard Woodlawn, Bridgeton, arm broken; ex-Judge Hitchman, Bridgeton, internal injuries; Mrs. Hitchman, his wife, concussion of brain; Mrs. E. A. Abbott, Bridgeton, back broken; David Freize, address unknown, neck dislocated; Mrs. Job Rega, Elmer, N. V., bruised and hurt about head; Albert Taylor, Bridgeton, three scalp wounds; Jacob Hilton, Bridgeton, bruised badly about head; Thomas F. Morrell, Bridgeton, broken leg and internal injuries; Harry Watson, Yorkiton, N. J., leg broken and head injured; Lizzie Ruter, Bridgeton, contusion of back; Charles W. Homer, fractured leg and internal injuries; Frank Morrell, East Orange, N. J., dislocated shoulder and bruised head; Wesley Lee, Bridgeton, internal injuries; Fred D. Chenway, Bridgeton, internal injuries; Mrs. Faunce Fralinger, Pennsylvania, broken leg, have to be amputated; John S. Kelley, Camden, compound fracture of arm, internal injuries, probably fatal; Samuel Multz, Bridgeton; W. R. Spaulding, guest of Royal College, Howard; Howard Smalley, Bridgeton; W. C. Hamsley and wife, Bridgeton; Mrs. E. A. Abbott, Rhodeston, N. J.; Lizzie Smalley, Bridgeton; C. D. Fraser and wife, Bridgeton; Irwin Dubois.

Charles C. Rinick of Bridgton, who was in the excursion party, was in one of the chair cars. He escaped with severe bruises, and so far as his agitation would permit told the story of his experience. "Wh< n we saw that a collision was unavoidable," be said, "the scene in our car was terrific. Women fainted and men rushed In mad panic for the door, but it came almost before we had time to think. One car was cut right in two, and the other portion of it left the track and tumbled over. Every car was crowded, and It is horrible to think of the numbers who must be lying under those ruins.

' The roof of one of the cars In a mass, and everybody in that car was burled under it. It simply dropped on top of the people. I know positively of two in our car who were killed. They « era Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bell of Bridgeton. Their daughter was in another car further back, and was not hurt. I don't know who is to blame. When we were about two miles out from Atlanta City, N. J., we came to a stop out in the Meadows and stayed there for several minutes, but I do not know why. I think there must have been fully eighty killed. The only person with me was my sixyi ar-old son, and he was not hurt, thank God."