Killed While Planning Her Wedding - Train Wreck, 1894

 
Newspaper Diagram of the W. & N.B Train Wreck near Pennsdale, April 1894

On April 21 1894, the general manager of the Williamsport and North Branch Railroad was on a train to meet his family.  His only daughter  and her fiancé were aboard another train, headed to meet up with him. The two trains collided, and Miriam P. Welsh was instantly killed.  Her fiancé died a week later, of his "injuries and grief". The two are buried side by side in Hughesville Cemetery.

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Account From The Sullivan Review:

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In an accident at Pennsdale, just below Hughesville, on the W.&N.B.R.R. Saturday morning, April 21, Miss Miriam WELCH, daughter of General Manager B.G. WELCH, was killed, and Mr. L.P. MCCLENATHEN and Mrs. J.S. BAILEY, both of Hughesville, were fatally injured. 

A freight train leaves Hughesville at 6:10 a.m. for Hall's, where the road connects with the Reading, and attached to this is an accommodation car that carries passengers to the early morning trains on the Reading. General Manager WELCH was coming to Hall's on an early train, and the persons named were going to meet him. 

The other passengers that fatal morning were W.E. CRAWFORD, Esq., Mrs. Wm PARKER, and her son Lee. 

A few minutes after the freight left, Engineer John HESLER was ordered to take an engine down to Hall's and bring back Manager WELCH and party. At Pennsdale, the freight stopped to do some switching and a flagman went back the usual distance. HESLER's engine came down the grade at the rate of 30 miles an hour, and ran past the flagman, who made desperate efforts to stop him. Mr. CRAWFORD was standing on the rear platform and, seeing HESLER's engine run by the flag, turned and ran through the car shouting "Get out of this. That train is not stopping". 

He jumped off the rear platform and was followed by Mrs. PARKER and her boy. The other passengers failed to comprehend the danger and were caught in the crash that followed almost the same instant.

 Mr. MCCLENATHEN and Mrs. BAILEY were reached first by the rescuers. Mr. MCCLENATHEN bade them leave him and search for Miss WELCH. She was extricated from the wreck and breathed her last three minutes later. 

Engineer John HESLER saved himself by jumping just before the crash.

 The engine which had pulled the freight ran to HALL's, where news of the accident was quickly telegraphed to Williamsport, Muncy and Hughesville. Physicians from Muncy first reached the scene of the wreck.

 Mr. WELCH arrived at HALL's just as the engine got there, and was quickly carried to the scene. Side by side, lay the bodies of the unfortunates, his only daughter dead, her affianced husband insensible at her side, and, farther on, her friend, also insensible, both probably fatally injured. 

His cry of horror wrenched the heart strings of the spectators and not a dry eye was in the crowd. The dead girl was to have been married to Mr. MCCLENATHEN today (Thursday). She was highly educated and accomplished, about 20 years of age, and prominent in church and Sunday school work. 

The coroner held an inquest Monday morning, and the jury held Engineer HESLER responsible for the accident and he was arrested on the charge of involuntary manslaughter. Judge METZGAR held him in $1000 bail to answer to the charge. The engineer's side of the story has not yet appeared in print, and we are unable to state his excuse, if he has one.

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Benjamín Garretson Welch 1839-1907

From The History Of Sullivan County by Steby 

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On April 21 1894, as the general manager of the  returned from a trip to Philadelphia, his only daughter,  her aunt, and  her fiancé boarded a train from Hughesville to meet him on his return trip.  

Three others boarded the train at Hughesville, intending to take the train all the way to Williamsport.  They were  Attorney W.E. Crawford, Mrs. William Parker, and the 15 year old son Lee. [Newspapers report Lee as being 10, or 12 - but records show that Lee Rogers Parker, son of William & Francine Parker, was born November 11 1879]

Attorney Crawford, standing on the rear platform, saw Hesler's engine run by the flag.  He ran through the car shouting "Get out of this!  The train is not stopping!"

Crawford jumped off the rear platform, followed by Mrs Parker and her son.  The other passengers failed to react quickly enough to escape.

Miriam P. Welsh, only daughter of the daughter of the W. & N.B. railroad, died in the collision.  Her fiancé,  Mr. McClentshan, whom she was scheduled to marry the following Thursday, died a few days later, "of his injuries and his grief."  The two are buried side by side in the Hughesville Cemetery.  Legend is that she was buried in her wedding dress, and I'm told that the the organ her parents had purchased as a wedding gift is in the Cemetery's chapel.