Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1890 — EIGHTY MILES AN HOUR. [ARTICLE]

EIGHTY MILES AN HOUR.

Terr.ble Accident on a Gravity Railroad at Reading, Pa. A horrible accident occurred shortly be fore 11 o'clock on the morning of the 22d' ou the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, a mountain route encircling Mount Penm 3 W feet above the city of Reading. The road was opened Jive months ago and has been doing a good business eversinee. The ears were taken from a point on the outskirts of the city to the top of the mountain, a distance of five miles. On returning the cars were allowed to go down the mountain by gravity by way of another route to the point of starting. At about 10:80 o'clock a,ear containing eighteen passengers was taken from the station to the top of the mountain. There are different stories as to the cause of the accident, but it appears that when the tower was, reached, the point where tho gravity portion of the road commences, the engine was detached, when tho car ran away while the passengers were still on board. The distance to the point of starting is live miles, and it is estimated that this was covored by the runaway car in about three minutes, the ear attaining a fearful speed, estimated at eighty miles an hour It remained on the track to the foot of the plane, going around ail the curve-, while tho passengers shrieked in their fright and several jumped off. When the ear reached the station at the foot of the p)a»o it}Wiped the track and rolled down a fifty- foot embankment, where it landed upside down, with the passengers imprisoned inside. Tho greatest excitement prevailed, and soon a large crowd gathered. Doctors and ambulances were sent for, and the dead and Injured removed. In addition to Edgar Levan and Charles Rettew. who Were killed, the others killed were Mrs. Rosa Pfeffcr. a young lady of this city’, and Miss Harriet Hinkle, of Philadelphia. The following will die: Mrs Hiram Schittler and Mrs. A. W. H, Selim el. Among the other injured are Sailie Bye and Mary Guthrie, Wilmington, both badly hurt, aud Willie Schmsor, this city both legs broken.