P.R.R. Casualties Harrowgate Crossing - 1888

                             Harrowgate

The Harrowgate crossing of the Pennsylvania

Railroad at Kensington avenue has been

a prolific source of danger and mortality, and

the topography of the ground aids it. The

ground is elevated north of the steam track on

the avenue, and the “Dummy” cars have, with

the uncontrollable momentum, on several

occasions broken the guard and plunged ahead

of approaching trains, narrowly escaping

great loss of  life. The danger to pedestrians

is also great, and not a few lives have been

sacrificed at this point and in the vicinity.

On Febmary 11, Albert P. Weyman, a highly

esteemed citizen, aged 46, supposing all trains

to have passed, was overtaken by an express

train and crushed out of human shape. On

March 28 an unknown man, apparently of

middle age, was run down and killed, and two

days later the same fatality overtook another

unknown man of about the same age. On

April 11 Jane Wals, aged 45, attempted to

cross the track but failed to see an approaching

express train, which hurled her into

eternity. On April 26 an unknown man, about

45 years of age, was run over by a train and

instantly killed, and on May 3 Robert Hays, a

promising boy of 17 years, was cut off in the

flower of his youth by a Pennsylvania train.

Only a short distance away an unknown man.

aged 50 years, was killed by the cars, and on

June 10 Hugh Orilley, aged 54, was run over

near Snyder avenue. S. B. Apgar, 39 years

old, died on August 4 from injuries received at

the -York street bridge two days previously,

suffering excruciating torture in the

meantime. An unknown man aged 35, was also

killed August 2 at the Kensington av crossing.


Source: Phila.Inquirer 21 Jan 1888



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