Allegheny County PA Archives News.....Frightful Railroad Accident -  Three Men Killed May 11, 1859
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Donald Buncie http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00034.html#0008389 March 25, 2023, 7:52 am

Democrat And Sentinel: (Ebensburg, Pa.) May 11, 1859
A Catastrophe of a most appalling nature occurred on Monday morning on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, in the vicinity of Greensburg. It appears that the ballast
train was in service as usual, and that while on its way east,  and within a short
distance of Greensburg, the locomotive exploded with a tremendous report, killing
three men and shattering the engine to pieces. John Dodds, the engineer,  and Mr.
Woods, the conductor, were killed instantly, and Joseph Speelman, engaged as fireman
on the train. injured to such an extent that he died in a few minutes. The engine,
as we have stated, was blown to pieces, and so great was the force of the explosion,
that parts of it were sent whirling in the air hundreds of feet fro the scene of the
disaster. Mr. Dodds resided in Pittsburg and has been in the employ of the Company
some five or six years. He leaves a young wife to mourn her bereavement. M. Woods
was a married man, and a careful and attentive officer. A wife and two children are
deprived of the protection of a kind husband and affectionate father by his death.
Speelman resided somewhere on the mountain, and was, we believe, an unmarried man.
The accident, we learn, was caused solely by the negligence of the engineer. The
engine had just been overhauled and was in excellent order, and had ordinary care
been used in her management, the explosion could not have occurred. She was the old
"Westmoreland," and had done good service on the Portage prior to being placed on
the Penn'a Central.


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