Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1888 — WRECKED AND BLOWN UP. [ARTICLE]

WRECKED AND BLOWN UP.

A Collision Explodes a Carload of Powder . With Frightfully Fatal Results. Between 10 and 11 o’clock Sunday night a terrible accident occurred on the Philadelphia & Reading railroadnear Mt. Carmel, Pa. A freight train consisting of seventy-five cars became disconnected by the breaking of a coupling, and the engine and three cars ran half a mile before the crew discovered that the train was divided. The first section awaited the arrival of thp second at the foot of a heavy grade and the two brakemen losing control of the second section, it dashed into the first, causing an explosion in the third car, which was loaded with Dupont powder. At the scene of the accident the railroad runs along a hill, at the bottom of which stood two rows of houses occupied by the Philadelphia & Reading coal and iron company’s employee. On the hillside stood a little cottage, occupied by John Quinn and family of four children, two boys and two girls. l‘ne force of the explosion wrecked the buildings, seventeen in all, and the stoves eet fire to the ruins. Quinn and hie two little girls were burned to death. The two bays escaped with burns. Bimon Kerwick’s family consisted of Mary and Wilie Cavanaugh, adopted children, age 1 respectively eight and fourteen yeare; Daniel Kerwick, aged eight; Alice Kerwick, aged five, and his wife and new born Mr. Kerwick carried his wife from the burning building, but the children were burned to death. Thirty persons were injured, many of them seriously. In all twelve cars were destroyed and seventeen houses with their furniture. All the windows in the Locust Gap churches and schools were broken anathe doors blown off. In Mt. Carmel large store windows were broken. The total loss is estimated at $75,000.