Patapsco, MD Train Wreck, Jun 1905

FATAL HEAD-ON COLLISION.

WORST ACCIDENT IN HISTORY OF WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD.

Over a Score of Train Hands Killed and as Many More Grievously Injured – Cause: Disobedience of Orders.

Baltimore, Md. -- By far the worst wreck in the history of the Western Maryland Railroad occurred at a point about a quarter of a mile from Patapsco, a small station between Westminster and Finksburg. The death roll now foots up twenty-three and this number is likely to be increased from among the list of those grievously injured. About twenty persons were badly hurt.

The identified dead are:
GEORGE B. COVELL, of Hagerstown, engine driver on passenger train; ______ SHOEMAKER, of Hagerstown, fireman on passenger train; JOHN CROUSE, of Taneytown, Md. Engine driver of one of the freight engines; ______ DORR, conductor of freight train; JAMES GROSHON; CHARLES KELLY; WILLIAM SWEENY; McCLELLAN SWEENY; FRANK SWEENY; HARRY SWEENY; CHARLES T. MILLER, all of Thurmond, Md., and GUY LINN , of Middleburg, Md.

All the dead were employes[sic] of the railroad, returning in their homes in the small towns to spend Sunday. With the exception of the train crews they had been at work repairing the damage done to the roadbed ten days ago by a minor freight wreck at Mount Hope station near this city.

The passenger train, west bound, carried a large number of passengers, all the cars being filled. Consequently as many of the workmen as could do so went into the baggage car, the remainder of the gang finding places on the platforms between the baggage and mail cars.

In the neighborhood of Patapsco station the Western Maryland has many curves, and just west of the bridge crossing the Patapsco River is one. A freight train, made up of heavy coal and provision cars, was running east. It should have taken a siding to allow the passenger train to pass. Why the orders to this effect were disregarded cannot be learned, for all who should have seen that they were obeyed are dead.

The Cranbury Press New Jersey 1905-06-23
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!