VanEtten, PA Boiler Explosion, Dec 1905

FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.

The boiler of a locomotive drawing a south bound Lehigh Valley freight train running between VanEtten and Sayre, exploded Friday night at
"Swamp Siding," one half mile east of the village of VanEtten, killing Fireman FRANK MORSE and fatally injuring Engineer FRED SWARTHOUT, Brakeman HENRY McMANN, Conductor MARTIN GALLAGHER and Freight Handler DENNISON, all of Sayre.
The explosion was witnessed by a large number of people and the deafening roar was heard three miles away. The boiler was blown from the carriage of the engine and hurled over a hundred feet down the track where it continued to roll, end over end, tearing a deep hole on the Lehigh Valley tracks, crossing over to the Elmira, Cortland and Northern tracks and then coming to rest across the Lehigh tracks.
Prompt assistance was given to the injured men, several of whom were thrown into the swamp where they were found in fifteen inches of water. They were taken to a caboose which was run to Sayre. The men were horribly burned and mangled, and the clothing was torn almost completely from their bodies.
The train was not wrecked as it was proceeding very slowly in order to run onto the siding. The train crew were all on the engine, preparatory to doing some shifting of freight cars.

The Wellsboro Agitator Pennsylvania 1905-12-27
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!