No link to father unless verified
MISS HINKLE'S GRAVE
She Bought It for Herself Over Twenty Years Ago.
LAST GLIMPSE OF HER OLD HOME
It Was Had Just Before She Was Hurled Into Eternity in the Gravity Road Disaster-She Accumulated a Fortune Through a Secret.
In a handsomely mounted casket the body of Miss Harriet Hinkle, the aged maiden lady who lost her life in the terrible Rail disaster on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad on Thursday, arrived in this city last evening, and was taken to her late home, 234 North Thirteenth street, where it will remain until the arrangements for the funeral shall have been completed. Then the body will be removed to a plot of ground in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which was purchased by her twenty-five years ago, and over which she has watched with jealous care for all that time.
In many respects Miss Hinkle was a most remarkable woman, and was descended from a family of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock that is known throughout the State. She was born in Robeson township, Berks county, on June 10, 1807, and was over 83 years old at the time she met her death. She came to this place shortly the death of her parents, more than a score of years ago, and embarked in the business of removing cancerous and other superfluous growths from afflicted persons. In this respect, by a secret process, achieved great success.
Min Hinkle's grandfather was a botantical doctor in Berks county for a number of years. The place at the time of his residence was sparsely populated and travel was slow, but in spite of this fact diseased persons came from places within a radius of a hundred miles to be treated with his remedies which were regarded as an infallible cureall. When he died he was known all over the country for the remarkable manner in which be cured cancers and tumors. So great was his success that medical men offered him sums of money for his formula, but he would reveal nothing more than the fact that they were made of roots and which he gathered in the fields alongside his home. All sorts of trickery were resorted to at the time to learn the ingredients of the miraculous medicine, but without avail.
A DEATH BED SECRET
He lived to a ripe old age, and on his death bed called his son to his side and gave him the secret of his lifelong success as a practitioner. The secret was again guarded jealously by Miss Hinkle's father, and when he was well advanced in years he retired, giving his secret to his remarkable daughter, whose long life has just been brought to a sudden and unfortunate termination. When she came to this city she had but little money, but armed with the formula for working such wonderful changes in the human systems she engaged in business and instantly began to accumulate wealth. It said that among the woman's effects when examined there will be found hundreds of letters testifying to the wonderful curative propertied of her drugs.
Miss Hinkle's first real estate investment was in the form of a lot in Laurel Hill Cemetery and in it she had the bodies of her dead relatives interred -that is of those who were immediate members of the family. She also had a grave arranged for herself and devoted as much attention to it as she did to her household. It was in this connection that her eccentricities- is such they may be called -first made themselves manifest. Twice, and sometimes three times a week she visited her grave. In summer she kept it beautiful and green, and every single blade of grass was not longer than the others. At the foot of the grave there stood, and stands now in full bloom, a rose bush which she trimmed and pruned as though she had no other object in life.
Caring For Her Own Grave
In winter time she was no less frequent in her visits to the spot where she intended her remains to find a last resting place. When the wind was howling and sobbing through the leafless boughs of the trees that over- of the dead, and when seemed dreary and forsaken was always in the finest order possible. If she visited it and found snow on the tombstone or around the marble rail she removed it with her own hands and even covered the little mound with a waterproof sheet. That she anticipated her death and made every provision for her interment is proven by the tombstone. It is not a very elaborate affair, but is neat and attractive and bears this inscription:.
Sacred To the Memory of
Harriet, Daughter of Philip and Sarah
Born June 10, 1807 in Robeson Township
Berks County, Pa.
On the lower part of the tombstone there is a space left for the date of death and the age, and the work will soon be finished. But while all this was going on Miss Hinkle's medical practice was being kept up , her reputation was spreading and her bank account was increasing. She bought the house in which she lived for so many years at No. 274 North Eleventh street. Not long after this property she bought more, and in a few years she was the owner of the houses at Nos, 237, 239 and 261 Perry street. Although she found them in very poor order she was constantly improving them until today their intrinsic value has increased five times.
Vigorous In Spite Of Age
Miss Hinkle was a familiar figure in her neighborhood, and in spite of her advanced age moved about with the activity and energy of youth. She was short in stature and slight in figure, but enjoyed robust health. She had peculiar ideas about her wearing apparel and never overburdened herself with garments, a fact to which she attributed her health and longevity. She was a regular attendant at the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, at 12th and Cherry streets, and contributed liberally to its support.
The indirect cause which led to her death is rather singular. For a number of years all the members of her family had lived on a site on Mount Penn over which the ill-fated gravity road now passes. She was in the habit of visiting friends in and near Reading at regular intervals, and on Monday last she left this city for what she said be her last visit to the scenes of her childhood. On arriving at Reading she went to the residence of her old friend , Miss Rosa Peifer, at No. 343 Reed street. While there the two women conceived the idea of taking a trip over the gravity road, in order they might get a glimpse of the site of the old family homestead. The point where the place could be seen had just been passed when the car broke away on its mad career and hurled both women into eternity.
Miss Hinkle's will, which was made many years ago, has not yet been found. Her real estate and personal property are estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Transcribed by Neil D. Scheidt
Note: her final estate amounted to $23,000-
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Reading, Pa., Aug. 23. -- A horrible accident occurred yesterday forenoon shortly before 11 o'clock on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, a mountain route encircling Mount Penn, 800 feet above the city of Reading. The road was opened five months ago, and has been doing a good business ever since. The cars were taken from a point on the outskirts of the city to the top of the mountain, a distance of five miles. On returning the cars were allowed to go down the mountain by gravity, by way of another route, to the point of starting.
The Passenger Car Gets Away.
Yesterday about 10:30 o'clock a car containing about eighteen passengers was taken from the station to the top of the mountain. This consumed about thirty minutes. On top of the mountain there is a high stone tower where the passengers
were allowed to alight to enjoy the scenery for thirty miles around. This time, before the passengers could get off, the car got away in some manner and started down the grade. It went down the incline like a flash, the brake wouldn't
work from some unknown reason, and at the end of the line the car was reduced to kindling wood. How any of the passengers escaped alive is a mystery; as it is the casualty list is bad enough.
Four Killed, Thirteen Badly Hurt.
Four persons were killed by the accident, namely:
CHARLES RETTEW, conductor.
EDGAR M. LEVAN, lawyer.
MISS ROSA HEIFFER, all of Reading.
MISS HARRIET HINCKLE, of Philadelphia.
The following is a list of the worst wounded:
MRS. WM. A. H. SCHEMEHL, badly cut and suffering with concussion of the brain, cannot recover.
WILLIAM SCHEMEHL, both legs badly fractured, will probably die.
MRS. SCHITLER, terribly mangled and unconscious.
MISS KATE HOMAN, seriously hurt about the head, not expected to live.
MISSES BESSIE and KATIE KELLEY, both badly injured.
CORNELIUS HANLON, of Wissahickon, suffering with concussion of the brain.
MRS. CORNELIUS HANLON, badly cut and bruised.
Continued
MISS HINKLE'S GRAVE
She Bought It for Herself Over Twenty Years Ago.
LAST GLIMPSE OF HER OLD HOME
It Was Had Just Before She Was Hurled Into Eternity in the Gravity Road Disaster-She Accumulated a Fortune Through a Secret.
In a handsomely mounted casket the body of Miss Harriet Hinkle, the aged maiden lady who lost her life in the terrible Rail disaster on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad on Thursday, arrived in this city last evening, and was taken to her late home, 234 North Thirteenth street, where it will remain until the arrangements for the funeral shall have been completed. Then the body will be removed to a plot of ground in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which was purchased by her twenty-five years ago, and over which she has watched with jealous care for all that time.
In many respects Miss Hinkle was a most remarkable woman, and was descended from a family of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock that is known throughout the State. She was born in Robeson township, Berks county, on June 10, 1807, and was over 83 years old at the time she met her death. She came to this place shortly the death of her parents, more than a score of years ago, and embarked in the business of removing cancerous and other superfluous growths from afflicted persons. In this respect, by a secret process, achieved great success.
Min Hinkle's grandfather was a botantical doctor in Berks county for a number of years. The place at the time of his residence was sparsely populated and travel was slow, but in spite of this fact diseased persons came from places within a radius of a hundred miles to be treated with his remedies which were regarded as an infallible cureall. When he died he was known all over the country for the remarkable manner in which be cured cancers and tumors. So great was his success that medical men offered him sums of money for his formula, but he would reveal nothing more than the fact that they were made of roots and which he gathered in the fields alongside his home. All sorts of trickery were resorted to at the time to learn the ingredients of the miraculous medicine, but without avail.
A DEATH BED SECRET
He lived to a ripe old age, and on his death bed called his son to his side and gave him the secret of his lifelong success as a practitioner. The secret was again guarded jealously by Miss Hinkle's father, and when he was well advanced in years he retired, giving his secret to his remarkable daughter, whose long life has just been brought to a sudden and unfortunate termination. When she came to this city she had but little money, but armed with the formula for working such wonderful changes in the human systems she engaged in business and instantly began to accumulate wealth. It said that among the woman's effects when examined there will be found hundreds of letters testifying to the wonderful curative propertied of her drugs.
Miss Hinkle's first real estate investment was in the form of a lot in Laurel Hill Cemetery and in it she had the bodies of her dead relatives interred -that is of those who were immediate members of the family. She also had a grave arranged for herself and devoted as much attention to it as she did to her household. It was in this connection that her eccentricities- is such they may be called -first made themselves manifest. Twice, and sometimes three times a week she visited her grave. In summer she kept it beautiful and green, and every single blade of grass was not longer than the others. At the foot of the grave there stood, and stands now in full bloom, a rose bush which she trimmed and pruned as though she had no other object in life.
Caring For Her Own Grave
In winter time she was no less frequent in her visits to the spot where she intended her remains to find a last resting place. When the wind was howling and sobbing through the leafless boughs of the trees that over- of the dead, and when seemed dreary and forsaken was always in the finest order possible. If she visited it and found snow on the tombstone or around the marble rail she removed it with her own hands and even covered the little mound with a waterproof sheet. That she anticipated her death and made every provision for her interment is proven by the tombstone. It is not a very elaborate affair, but is neat and attractive and bears this inscription:.
Sacred To the Memory of
Harriet, Daughter of Philip and Sarah
Born June 10, 1807 in Robeson Township
Berks County, Pa.
On the lower part of the tombstone there is a space left for the date of death and the age, and the work will soon be finished. But while all this was going on Miss Hinkle's medical practice was being kept up , her reputation was spreading and her bank account was increasing. She bought the house in which she lived for so many years at No. 274 North Eleventh street. Not long after this property she bought more, and in a few years she was the owner of the houses at Nos, 237, 239 and 261 Perry street. Although she found them in very poor order she was constantly improving them until today their intrinsic value has increased five times.
Vigorous In Spite Of Age
Miss Hinkle was a familiar figure in her neighborhood, and in spite of her advanced age moved about with the activity and energy of youth. She was short in stature and slight in figure, but enjoyed robust health. She had peculiar ideas about her wearing apparel and never overburdened herself with garments, a fact to which she attributed her health and longevity. She was a regular attendant at the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, at 12th and Cherry streets, and contributed liberally to its support.
The indirect cause which led to her death is rather singular. For a number of years all the members of her family had lived on a site on Mount Penn over which the ill-fated gravity road now passes. She was in the habit of visiting friends in and near Reading at regular intervals, and on Monday last she left this city for what she said be her last visit to the scenes of her childhood. On arriving at Reading she went to the residence of her old friend , Miss Rosa Peifer, at No. 343 Reed street. While there the two women conceived the idea of taking a trip over the gravity road, in order they might get a glimpse of the site of the old family homestead. The point where the place could be seen had just been passed when the car broke away on its mad career and hurled both women into eternity.
Miss Hinkle's will, which was made many years ago, has not yet been found. Her real estate and personal property are estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Transcribed by Neil D. Scheidt
Note: her final estate amounted to $23,000-
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Reading, Pa., Aug. 23. -- A horrible accident occurred yesterday forenoon shortly before 11 o'clock on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, a mountain route encircling Mount Penn, 800 feet above the city of Reading. The road was opened five months ago, and has been doing a good business ever since. The cars were taken from a point on the outskirts of the city to the top of the mountain, a distance of five miles. On returning the cars were allowed to go down the mountain by gravity, by way of another route, to the point of starting.
The Passenger Car Gets Away.
Yesterday about 10:30 o'clock a car containing about eighteen passengers was taken from the station to the top of the mountain. This consumed about thirty minutes. On top of the mountain there is a high stone tower where the passengers
were allowed to alight to enjoy the scenery for thirty miles around. This time, before the passengers could get off, the car got away in some manner and started down the grade. It went down the incline like a flash, the brake wouldn't
work from some unknown reason, and at the end of the line the car was reduced to kindling wood. How any of the passengers escaped alive is a mystery; as it is the casualty list is bad enough.
Four Killed, Thirteen Badly Hurt.
Four persons were killed by the accident, namely:
CHARLES RETTEW, conductor.
EDGAR M. LEVAN, lawyer.
MISS ROSA HEIFFER, all of Reading.
MISS HARRIET HINCKLE, of Philadelphia.
The following is a list of the worst wounded:
MRS. WM. A. H. SCHEMEHL, badly cut and suffering with concussion of the brain, cannot recover.
WILLIAM SCHEMEHL, both legs badly fractured, will probably die.
MRS. SCHITLER, terribly mangled and unconscious.
MISS KATE HOMAN, seriously hurt about the head, not expected to live.
MISSES BESSIE and KATIE KELLEY, both badly injured.
CORNELIUS HANLON, of Wissahickon, suffering with concussion of the brain.
MRS. CORNELIUS HANLON, badly cut and bruised.
Continued
No link to father unless verified
MISS HINKLE'S GRAVE
She Bought It for Herself Over Twenty Years Ago.
LAST GLIMPSE OF HER OLD HOME
It Was Had Just Before She Was Hurled Into Eternity in the Gravity Road Disaster-She Accumulated a Fortune Through a Secret.
In a handsomely mounted casket the body of Miss Harriet Hinkle, the aged maiden lady who lost her life in the terrible Rail disaster on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad on Thursday, arrived in this city last evening, and was taken to her late home, 234 North Thirteenth street, where it will remain until the arrangements for the funeral shall have been completed. Then the body will be removed to a plot of ground in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which was purchased by her twenty-five years ago, and over which she has watched with jealous care for all that time.
In many respects Miss Hinkle was a most remarkable woman, and was descended from a family of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock that is known throughout the State. She was born in Robeson township, Berks county, on June 10, 1807, and was over 83 years old at the time she met her death. She came to this place shortly the death of her parents, more than a score of years ago, and embarked in the business of removing cancerous and other superfluous growths from afflicted persons. In this respect, by a secret process, achieved great success.
Min Hinkle's grandfather was a botantical doctor in Berks county for a number of years. The place at the time of his residence was sparsely populated and travel was slow, but in spite of this fact diseased persons came from places within a radius of a hundred miles to be treated with his remedies which were regarded as an infallible cureall. When he died he was known all over the country for the remarkable manner in which be cured cancers and tumors. So great was his success that medical men offered him sums of money for his formula, but he would reveal nothing more than the fact that they were made of roots and which he gathered in the fields alongside his home. All sorts of trickery were resorted to at the time to learn the ingredients of the miraculous medicine, but without avail.
A DEATH BED SECRET
He lived to a ripe old age, and on his death bed called his son to his side and gave him the secret of his lifelong success as a practitioner. The secret was again guarded jealously by Miss Hinkle's father, and when he was well advanced in years he retired, giving his secret to his remarkable daughter, whose long life has just been brought to a sudden and unfortunate termination. When she came to this city she had but little money, but armed with the formula for working such wonderful changes in the human systems she engaged in business and instantly began to accumulate wealth. It said that among the woman's effects when examined there will be found hundreds of letters testifying to the wonderful curative propertied of her drugs.
Miss Hinkle's first real estate investment was in the form of a lot in Laurel Hill Cemetery and in it she had the bodies of her dead relatives interred -that is of those who were immediate members of the family. She also had a grave arranged for herself and devoted as much attention to it as she did to her household. It was in this connection that her eccentricities- is such they may be called -first made themselves manifest. Twice, and sometimes three times a week she visited her grave. In summer she kept it beautiful and green, and every single blade of grass was not longer than the others. At the foot of the grave there stood, and stands now in full bloom, a rose bush which she trimmed and pruned as though she had no other object in life.
Caring For Her Own Grave
In winter time she was no less frequent in her visits to the spot where she intended her remains to find a last resting place. When the wind was howling and sobbing through the leafless boughs of the trees that over- of the dead, and when seemed dreary and forsaken was always in the finest order possible. If she visited it and found snow on the tombstone or around the marble rail she removed it with her own hands and even covered the little mound with a waterproof sheet. That she anticipated her death and made every provision for her interment is proven by the tombstone. It is not a very elaborate affair, but is neat and attractive and bears this inscription:.
Sacred To the Memory of
Harriet, Daughter of Philip and Sarah
Born June 10, 1807 in Robeson Township
Berks County, Pa.
On the lower part of the tombstone there is a space left for the date of death and the age, and the work will soon be finished. But while all this was going on Miss Hinkle's medical practice was being kept up , her reputation was spreading and her bank account was increasing. She bought the house in which she lived for so many years at No. 274 North Eleventh street. Not long after this property she bought more, and in a few years she was the owner of the houses at Nos, 237, 239 and 261 Perry street. Although she found them in very poor order she was constantly improving them until today their intrinsic value has increased five times.
Vigorous In Spite Of Age
Miss Hinkle was a familiar figure in her neighborhood, and in spite of her advanced age moved about with the activity and energy of youth. She was short in stature and slight in figure, but enjoyed robust health. She had peculiar ideas about her wearing apparel and never overburdened herself with garments, a fact to which she attributed her health and longevity. She was a regular attendant at the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, at 12th and Cherry streets, and contributed liberally to its support.
The indirect cause which led to her death is rather singular. For a number of years all the members of her family had lived on a site on Mount Penn over which the ill-fated gravity road now passes. She was in the habit of visiting friends in and near Reading at regular intervals, and on Monday last she left this city for what she said be her last visit to the scenes of her childhood. On arriving at Reading she went to the residence of her old friend , Miss Rosa Peifer, at No. 343 Reed street. While there the two women conceived the idea of taking a trip over the gravity road, in order they might get a glimpse of the site of the old family homestead. The point where the place could be seen had just been passed when the car broke away on its mad career and hurled both women into eternity.
Miss Hinkle's will, which was made many years ago, has not yet been found. Her real estate and personal property are estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Transcribed by Neil D. Scheidt
Note: her final estate amounted to $23,000-
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Reading, Pa., Aug. 23. -- A horrible accident occurred yesterday forenoon shortly before 11 o'clock on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, a mountain route encircling Mount Penn, 800 feet above the city of Reading. The road was opened five months ago, and has been doing a good business ever since. The cars were taken from a point on the outskirts of the city to the top of the mountain, a distance of five miles. On returning the cars were allowed to go down the mountain by gravity, by way of another route, to the point of starting.
The Passenger Car Gets Away.
Yesterday about 10:30 o'clock a car containing about eighteen passengers was taken from the station to the top of the mountain. This consumed about thirty minutes. On top of the mountain there is a high stone tower where the passengers
were allowed to alight to enjoy the scenery for thirty miles around. This time, before the passengers could get off, the car got away in some manner and started down the grade. It went down the incline like a flash, the brake wouldn't
work from some unknown reason, and at the end of the line the car was reduced to kindling wood. How any of the passengers escaped alive is a mystery; as it is the casualty list is bad enough.
Four Killed, Thirteen Badly Hurt.
Four persons were killed by the accident, namely:
CHARLES RETTEW, conductor.
EDGAR M. LEVAN, lawyer.
MISS ROSA HEIFFER, all of Reading.
MISS HARRIET HINCKLE, of Philadelphia.
The following is a list of the worst wounded:
MRS. WM. A. H. SCHEMEHL, badly cut and suffering with concussion of the brain, cannot recover.
WILLIAM SCHEMEHL, both legs badly fractured, will probably die.
MRS. SCHITLER, terribly mangled and unconscious.
MISS KATE HOMAN, seriously hurt about the head, not expected to live.
MISSES BESSIE and KATIE KELLEY, both badly injured.
CORNELIUS HANLON, of Wissahickon, suffering with concussion of the brain.
MRS. CORNELIUS HANLON, badly cut and bruised.
Continued
MISS HINKLE'S GRAVE
She Bought It for Herself Over Twenty Years Ago.
LAST GLIMPSE OF HER OLD HOME
It Was Had Just Before She Was Hurled Into Eternity in the Gravity Road Disaster-She Accumulated a Fortune Through a Secret.
In a handsomely mounted casket the body of Miss Harriet Hinkle, the aged maiden lady who lost her life in the terrible Rail disaster on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad on Thursday, arrived in this city last evening, and was taken to her late home, 234 North Thirteenth street, where it will remain until the arrangements for the funeral shall have been completed. Then the body will be removed to a plot of ground in Laurel Hill Cemetery, which was purchased by her twenty-five years ago, and over which she has watched with jealous care for all that time.
In many respects Miss Hinkle was a most remarkable woman, and was descended from a family of old Pennsylvania Dutch stock that is known throughout the State. She was born in Robeson township, Berks county, on June 10, 1807, and was over 83 years old at the time she met her death. She came to this place shortly the death of her parents, more than a score of years ago, and embarked in the business of removing cancerous and other superfluous growths from afflicted persons. In this respect, by a secret process, achieved great success.
Min Hinkle's grandfather was a botantical doctor in Berks county for a number of years. The place at the time of his residence was sparsely populated and travel was slow, but in spite of this fact diseased persons came from places within a radius of a hundred miles to be treated with his remedies which were regarded as an infallible cureall. When he died he was known all over the country for the remarkable manner in which be cured cancers and tumors. So great was his success that medical men offered him sums of money for his formula, but he would reveal nothing more than the fact that they were made of roots and which he gathered in the fields alongside his home. All sorts of trickery were resorted to at the time to learn the ingredients of the miraculous medicine, but without avail.
A DEATH BED SECRET
He lived to a ripe old age, and on his death bed called his son to his side and gave him the secret of his lifelong success as a practitioner. The secret was again guarded jealously by Miss Hinkle's father, and when he was well advanced in years he retired, giving his secret to his remarkable daughter, whose long life has just been brought to a sudden and unfortunate termination. When she came to this city she had but little money, but armed with the formula for working such wonderful changes in the human systems she engaged in business and instantly began to accumulate wealth. It said that among the woman's effects when examined there will be found hundreds of letters testifying to the wonderful curative propertied of her drugs.
Miss Hinkle's first real estate investment was in the form of a lot in Laurel Hill Cemetery and in it she had the bodies of her dead relatives interred -that is of those who were immediate members of the family. She also had a grave arranged for herself and devoted as much attention to it as she did to her household. It was in this connection that her eccentricities- is such they may be called -first made themselves manifest. Twice, and sometimes three times a week she visited her grave. In summer she kept it beautiful and green, and every single blade of grass was not longer than the others. At the foot of the grave there stood, and stands now in full bloom, a rose bush which she trimmed and pruned as though she had no other object in life.
Caring For Her Own Grave
In winter time she was no less frequent in her visits to the spot where she intended her remains to find a last resting place. When the wind was howling and sobbing through the leafless boughs of the trees that over- of the dead, and when seemed dreary and forsaken was always in the finest order possible. If she visited it and found snow on the tombstone or around the marble rail she removed it with her own hands and even covered the little mound with a waterproof sheet. That she anticipated her death and made every provision for her interment is proven by the tombstone. It is not a very elaborate affair, but is neat and attractive and bears this inscription:.
Sacred To the Memory of
Harriet, Daughter of Philip and Sarah
Born June 10, 1807 in Robeson Township
Berks County, Pa.
On the lower part of the tombstone there is a space left for the date of death and the age, and the work will soon be finished. But while all this was going on Miss Hinkle's medical practice was being kept up , her reputation was spreading and her bank account was increasing. She bought the house in which she lived for so many years at No. 274 North Eleventh street. Not long after this property she bought more, and in a few years she was the owner of the houses at Nos, 237, 239 and 261 Perry street. Although she found them in very poor order she was constantly improving them until today their intrinsic value has increased five times.
Vigorous In Spite Of Age
Miss Hinkle was a familiar figure in her neighborhood, and in spite of her advanced age moved about with the activity and energy of youth. She was short in stature and slight in figure, but enjoyed robust health. She had peculiar ideas about her wearing apparel and never overburdened herself with garments, a fact to which she attributed her health and longevity. She was a regular attendant at the Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, at 12th and Cherry streets, and contributed liberally to its support.
The indirect cause which led to her death is rather singular. For a number of years all the members of her family had lived on a site on Mount Penn over which the ill-fated gravity road now passes. She was in the habit of visiting friends in and near Reading at regular intervals, and on Monday last she left this city for what she said be her last visit to the scenes of her childhood. On arriving at Reading she went to the residence of her old friend , Miss Rosa Peifer, at No. 343 Reed street. While there the two women conceived the idea of taking a trip over the gravity road, in order they might get a glimpse of the site of the old family homestead. The point where the place could be seen had just been passed when the car broke away on its mad career and hurled both women into eternity.
Miss Hinkle's will, which was made many years ago, has not yet been found. Her real estate and personal property are estimated to be worth between $100,000 and $150,000.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Transcribed by Neil D. Scheidt
Note: her final estate amounted to $23,000-
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Reading, Pa., Aug. 23. -- A horrible accident occurred yesterday forenoon shortly before 11 o'clock on the Mount Penn Gravity Railroad, a mountain route encircling Mount Penn, 800 feet above the city of Reading. The road was opened five months ago, and has been doing a good business ever since. The cars were taken from a point on the outskirts of the city to the top of the mountain, a distance of five miles. On returning the cars were allowed to go down the mountain by gravity, by way of another route, to the point of starting.
The Passenger Car Gets Away.
Yesterday about 10:30 o'clock a car containing about eighteen passengers was taken from the station to the top of the mountain. This consumed about thirty minutes. On top of the mountain there is a high stone tower where the passengers
were allowed to alight to enjoy the scenery for thirty miles around. This time, before the passengers could get off, the car got away in some manner and started down the grade. It went down the incline like a flash, the brake wouldn't
work from some unknown reason, and at the end of the line the car was reduced to kindling wood. How any of the passengers escaped alive is a mystery; as it is the casualty list is bad enough.
Four Killed, Thirteen Badly Hurt.
Four persons were killed by the accident, namely:
CHARLES RETTEW, conductor.
EDGAR M. LEVAN, lawyer.
MISS ROSA HEIFFER, all of Reading.
MISS HARRIET HINCKLE, of Philadelphia.
The following is a list of the worst wounded:
MRS. WM. A. H. SCHEMEHL, badly cut and suffering with concussion of the brain, cannot recover.
WILLIAM SCHEMEHL, both legs badly fractured, will probably die.
MRS. SCHITLER, terribly mangled and unconscious.
MISS KATE HOMAN, seriously hurt about the head, not expected to live.
MISSES BESSIE and KATIE KELLEY, both badly injured.
CORNELIUS HANLON, of Wissahickon, suffering with concussion of the brain.
MRS. CORNELIUS HANLON, badly cut and bruised.
Continued
Family Members
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