In the early morning hours of Friday January 25th 1895, a sleigh pulled by a team of four horses carried 17 passengers, as they returned to Selinsgrove after attending the Owl Club sleighing party and dance in Middleburg.
At the same time, a double headed freight of 36 cars, a train of the Sunbury and Lewistown Railroad, approached Kreamer Station. The train was drawn by two engines, with Mack Wertz engineer on No 113 and George Potter engineer on No 181. Harry Lutz was the conductor.
The engineers stated that they whistled for the crossing at the whistle post, approximately 250 yards before the crossing.
None of the party on the sled heard the whistle.
"My first intimation of danger was given by the light thrown on those opposite from me, by the light of the approaching train. I realized the danger and the necessity for prompt action, I caught hold of my wife's coat with my right hand and exclaimed 'oh, jump'. As I threw myself backward off of the slef, my hold slipped and Mrs Ulrich remained on the sled. Soon after I landed in the snow, the sled was struck." - Charles Ulrich
The engine crashed into the side of the sled, just back of the drivers seat.
The driver, 24 year old Charles Romig was killed instantly, as was his father Isaac. Many others were severely injured.
 |
| A Diagram of the Sleigh Labeling where the passengers sat |
According to Lumbard, who always has a tendency to be a bit verbose:
"Their driver left his home for the last time in life, as he bade his family farewell, said to one of his daughters "goodbye, until we meet again'. Did he have a presentment of what was to happen?
The drive to Middleburg was a pleasant one, and upon arriving there the evening was spend in dancing and a pleasant time was had. After the dance the party left for this place, it being about twenty minutes after 2 o'clock am, the drivers stopped at the red-bank crossing and drove very much slower when they approached the Kreamer crossing than when they approached Kreamer. No one on the sled, [at least those living] heard the train whistle for the crossing, and the first intimation of danger was the head-light of the engine."
Mr A.W. Smith, Lloyd Schroyer and Chas. P. Ulrich esq all got off the sled, but before others could do so, the train struck the sled.
According to the Middleburg Post, a new two story frame house sat very near to the railroad, making it impossible to see a train until one is almost on the track.
Both the Post and the Tribune, in a rare moment of agreement, theorized that the sleigh bells may have camouflaged the sound of the whistle.
Mr A.W. Smith made it out of the sled before the collision. He recalled:
"We were driving along at the rate of possibly four miles an hour. I was sitting with my head down - I had just passed my fathers home - I thought of him in his old room and the fact that we were nearing the cemetery where his remains were interred, when suddenly I heard someone say 'whoa, train". Looking up I saw the head-light. At this time the leaders were near the track, I let myself drop out of the sled. As my feet were tangled in the robes, I fell on my back in the road. As I was rising to my feet, the train crashed into the sled, striking it near the front bob, forcing the rear bob towards the car, carrying the sled along a short distance."
He watched helplessly as all of the passengers, except one, were knocked out and sent flying from the sled. "I had full view of the faces of the party under the glare of the headlight, and I will never forget it. The right hand seat was swept from the sled, the splinters wraps, and blankets were sent flying in every direction. The occupants of the sled were thrown on a pile and for a time were moved by each car as it passed, until out of reach."
The injured, all except for the Romigs, were all found about three feet from the south rail in the ditch. Prof Hartman had been caught in some manner by the train and "for a time was sent along the track, revolving with each truck."
Smith recalled that his first thought was to find his wife. At first he could not locate her among the injured, and he feared she had been crushed under the engines. As he started up the road towards the train, eh met Lloyd Schroyer, who said he had just helped her from the sled. She alone had remained inside the sled throughout the entire ordeal. Finding her safe, he said "my feelings must be imagined, as I cannot describe them." [The Middleburg post reported that Carrie Hendricks remained on the sled throughout the ordeal as well. She was also uninjured.]
Charles Ulrich Esq, Roscoe North, Professor Hartman and Miss Carrie Hendricks were also apparently uninjured, and those seven immediately did what they could to aid the others. The temperature that night was below 0.
Mr Potter, his daughter Annie, and Miss Burns were carried to the house of Mrs Gordon.
Mrs Ulrich and Lottie Eby were taken to Mr. A.C. Smith's house.
Mr & Mrs Hummel were taken to the hotel.
The remains of Mr Romig and his son were soon located. North wrapped Charlie's remains in a blanket and carried them to the depot.
"As soon as the steam could bring them" Drs Hassinger and Mohn from Middlburg, and Drs B.F. & F.J. Wagenseller of Selinsgrove rushed to tend the injured. "They went promptly and courageously to work, but with their insufficient light and inadequate preparations, they labored under great disadvantages."
Kreamer Station, 1917
Miss Carrie Hendricks, an uninjured passengers, was compelled to assist in the amputation of Miss Burns leg, and also of A.W. Potter's arm. "She did so without flinching, but after returning home was confined to her bed for several days with nervous prostration."
A.W. Potter, who had both of his arms crushed and his hip fractured, requested the doctors tend to the others first. Potter had one of his arms amputated below the elbow, and the remaining arm was broken in two places, the bones having come through the skin.
"Miss Mollie Burns, aged 21 years, had her right leg so badly crushed that it was amputated at the knee. She is one of the prettiest girls at Selinsgrove, and a leader in society." wrote Lumbard Mollie Burns was the daughter of Samuel P. Burns.
Ed Hummel was wearing a fur cap that night, and it was "cut as with a razor". He suffered various injuries to the head, and his eyed were swollen shut for several days. "His escape from death was almost miraculous." Lumbard reported that Ed bore his suffering stoically, "occasionally he gives vent to one of his quaint expressions".
Mrs Hummel was also injures, sustaining painful bruises, particularly at the base of her spine.
Miss Lottie Eby was also severely bruised, wth her face disfigured by swelling, her eyes swollen shut, and her ankle sprained. She was expected to make a full recovery.
Professor Hartman suffered a puncture wound through his thigh, but was up and about within a few days time.
Mrs Charles P. Ulrich suffered a "concussion of the spine" as well as a broken rib, but was "doing nicely".
A special train was sent to collect the dead and those who were well enough to travel. A.W. Potter and Miss burns were brought to Selinsgrove in the baggage car. "It was a sight that made the hearts of our people bleed" wrote Lumbard.
===============
On Tuesday January 29th, 2,000 people went to Selinsgrove for the largest funeral ever held in the county.
"At an early hour, the citizens of the adjoining towns began to flock into town in all manner of sled and sleights and by noon upwards of 1,500 strangers were gathered in town, to attend the funeral of the father and son, Isaac and Charles Romig, who had been killed in the railroad accident at Kramer.
All of the schools and businesses were closed from 12-3, "during the obsequies, as a mark of respect to the unfortunate dead".
Thus, those who had came to town had nowhere to go and were compelled to remain on the streets, which "more readily made the vast number of strangers more readily noticed."
The two caskets were hauled side by side to the cemetery, in a sled drawn by two mules who had been in the accident, and "which so often had been drive by men whose remained were stilled in death and were being drawn towards the silent city of the dead."
As the procession near Market street, it's progress was greatly impeded by the stress of the crowd. As the crowd was too large for the church, services were held at the town hall, with all of the pastors of the town on the platform.
As mentioned in the Middleburg Post, just a few days prior, William Gortner, despondent over financial problems, committed suicide. Gortner owned the Selinsgrove Canning Factory. The Sheriff closed the cannery on January 22nd. Gortner hung himself later that day.
READ MORE
===================
- Isaac Romig - Isaac Daniel Romig, born July 1836, served in the 172nd Co F during the civil war. He married Malinda Jarret and the couple had 11 children. Isaac lived on a "farm owned by the Pennsylvania System on the Island Of Que". Thought to possibly have had a heart attack as the train hid the sled - died instantly
- Charles Romig, son of Isaac Romig, born 1866. Died when hit by the train. He was 28 years old.
- Richard Lloyd Schroyer was born Dec 8 1868, the only son of Michael and Mary Schroyer. He married Eva K. Schoch. He was a "prominent Lutheran Layman" and treasurer of the Lutheran Synod, according to his obituary in February of 1942.
- Anna Mabel Potter was born May 1872, the daughter of Albert & Marie [Kearns] Potter. For many years, Anna was secretary to her father at his local law office. Later she was on the administrative staff of the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare institution as Mogranza. By 1944, she had moved to Caldwell NJ, where her half siblings also resided. Anna Potter died in May of 1944.
- Mrs Laura Cordelia [Davis] Ulrich was a direct descendent of Major Anthony Selin, for whom Selinsgrove was named. She wa the daughter of Captain Charles Selin Davis, who organized a company of volunteers to serve in the civil war. [J.A. Lumbard, newspaper editor, was part of this company, Company G of the 147th] Laura was born in Selinsgrove on March 9 1858.
- Charles P. Ulrich was born in January of 1853, the son of Jonathan & Harriet [Bergstresser] Ulrich. He was a "noted county lawyer" in the Snyder County. He died March 1 1929
- Mollie Dietrick Burns, the daughter of Samuel & Katherine [Dietrick] Burns, was born December 5 1876. She died January 30 1961, having never married. In 1920, she was employed as a stenographer for the telephone company.
- Mary [Davis] Potter, wife of Albert W. Potter.
- Albert Wasson Potter was born January 7th 1847 in Huntingdon County. He served in Co F, 45th regiment of Pa Volunteers during the civil war. He studied under George W. Elder of Lewistown, and was admitted to the bar of Mifflin County in 1872. He married first, Mary E. Kearns, and after her death in 1876 he married Marie L Davis.
- Edward Hummel was born September 5 1849, the son of John & Mary [Bilger] Hummel. He married Fanny Shellenburger.
- Mrs. Fanny [Shellenburger] Hummel was born August 1853, the daughter of Amos & Martha [Benedick] Shellenberger. She died March 8 1922. She married Edward Hummel.
- Charlotte F. Eby, "Lottie" was born July 31 1870, the daughter of George & Margaret [Snoddy] Eby. She married Robert N. Hartman.
- Professor Hartman
- Carrie Hendricks
- Roscoe C. North was associated with the First National Bank of Selinsgrove for nearly 50 years, beginning as a bookkeeper and later a cashier. At the time of his death in January 1942, he was president of the bank. Roscoe Married Isabella Jane Parker.
- Mrs Carrie [Specht] Smith, wife of Dr Albert Smith
- Dr Albert M. Smith was born the son of John & Martha [Middleswarth] Smith. He was a well known physician and a political leader in Snyder County, representing Snyder County in the state legislature.
==============
No comments:
Post a Comment
I'll read the comments and approve them to post as soon as I can! Thanks for stopping by!