Clippings from the Reading Eagle, May 13, 1899

Note: The following is a summarization ...

Terrible Accident at Exeter Station-Town Special P. & R. Train Crashed into the Down Express at 8.53 Last Night. The Worst Accident in the History of the Reading Railroad.

A special passenger train loaded with people returning from the Hartranft monument dedication ceremony in Harrisburg crashed into the regular down express that was stopped, and 27 people on the express train were killed.

List of the dead at funeral director Seidel's morgue:

• H.C. HARTFORD, of Norristown. He was about 28 or 30 years of age and a key was found in his pocket with a tag bearing his name and the inscription "2d District Suburb Station Police, West Phila."
• JOHN JOHNSON, of Phoenixville.
• SAMUEL BEATTY, of Norristown.
• CAPT. CHARLES LEAF, Fort Washington, Montgomery county.
• HARRY H. THOMPSON, Norristown.
• WILLIAM STAHLER, Norristown.
• CAPT JOHN B. COHLSEN, of Norristown

List of dead at funeral director Theodore C. Auman's morgue:

• DANIEL H. YODER, of Pottstown. An invitation to attend the first grand opening of the Hotel George, 127 and 129 Penn street, was found in his pocket, together with a communication in which Irvin Van Billiard offers him a position. Mr. Yoder leaves a sister, Mrs. Helfrich and two brothers, James, of Pottstown, and Jasper, of Boyertown. A native of Boyertown, Mr. Yoder had lived in Pottstown a number of years.
• C.L. LAVERTY, of Harrisburg
• H. L. HUNSBERGER, of Conshohocken.
• John C. KUNTZ, of Norristown
• John C. SLINGLUFF, of Norristown

List of dead at Hunter Henninger's morgue:

• E.E.SHELLEY, Hatboro
• CHARLES HOWELL, of Phoenixville
• GEORGE SCHALL, Norristown
• ISAAC FILLMAN, Norristown
• FRANK D. SOWER, Norristown
• WILLIAM SOWER, Norristown

List of dead at Hiram Henninger's morgue:

• William C. CAMM, Reading
• Henry WENTZ,Norristown
• Norman HOLMES, Norristown, aged 13
• Joseph TAYLOR, Norristown

In Pottstown, persons who died from their injuries:

• Lucien J. CUSTER, aged 19, of that borough.

In Norristown, persons who died from injuries:

• Charles WHITE, aged 52, Norristown.
• Capt. N. C. ECHHOLTZ, Downingtown, a member of the 53d Penn'a Vols.

pages 1 and 2

Submitted by Marcia.