Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-01-27
From the Painsvile Telegraph.
Terrible Calamity on the Cleveland
& Erie Rail Road.

LNSoA3 a chOIb olSlduCC Cdcb " lAls DAdCc
The Express Train from the East, which
left Buffalo at midnight or Monday, anC
was due at this place at 5,53 A. NJ. oil
Tuesday, was detained by the severe storm
that prevailed throughout the night, anC
was proceeding on its way with great diff
Guilty, several hours behind its time. A
Madison, the train was absolutely stopped
by the snow drifts and compelled to avail
the labors of a large gang of workmen IL
clearing the track for it TO proceed. La
borers were set at work with shovels, anc
the Engine was detached to assist with
its pillow. At this time the snow was fall
ing with almost unparalleled severity ano
8 most p%itiless wind was driving it into
drifts and packing it closely and densely
behind every embankment, fence or cut
At times the atmosphere was so complete
ly impregnated with this driving SNOW
that it was impossible to see even the
length of a car.
The render all safe, the Conductor Of
the Express train, Mr.. Murray, sent flag
men in both directions so soon as his train
was stopped, to warn all approaching
trains. That the Accommodation train
approaching from the East, was not mott
fed by the iagman sent in that direction.
is clear, from the fact hat it thundered
along at full speed over the track the Elk
press had cleared for it, and without any
warning dashed into the rear of the un-
fortunate Express at the point above In
dIcated. 1t is understood that the flag.
man claims to nave performed his duty
faithfully, but that, owing to the driving
snow, the Engineer of the Accommoda-
ton train failed to see his red flag. How
ever this may be, is a matter for future
investigation.
The Express train consisted of the bag
gage and Express cars, FIVE passenger
coaches filed, and a sleeping car contain
ing perhaps % or SO passengers.
1t is hardly possible to give any correct
view of the scenes that followed. 1t was
heart-rending in the extreme. The En-
CINE of the Accommodation, striking the
rear of the sleeping car, driving complete
" through that car, and crushing and
splitting it into the smallest fragments,
there only remained the roof as a recog-
nizable part of the car.
In the sleeping car and the two cars
next in front of it occurred the principal
casualties from this frightful collision
The chapter is extended and its harrow
ing character heightened by the ignition
of the debris of the broken cars from the
fire of the stoves, by which untoward
event the wreck of the three passenger
coaches were quickly in flames. Indeed,
so suddenly did the fire break out, that
it was impossible to remove all the wound
ed from the ruins, and it vas feared that
several persisted who might otherwise have
been saved. The remains of at least two
bodies, charred and blackened, and who'll
ly unacceptable, have been already eX-
humed from the ashes. 1t is hoped that
this is the total of bodies consumed, but
whether ii is or not is at this time wholly
a matter of conjecture.
When the wreck took fire the two fore
most cars were yet filed with passengers.
In their haste to get out, the forward door
of the leading car, which formed the on
" exit, became choked by the crowd
Nor a moment it seemed a if q multitude
must perish. The flames, with unequal
led rapidity, were working towards these
miserable unfortunates, and already told
of their presence by their unwelcome heat.
At this critical moment sashes were burst
from the windows, and extra openings
made with axes, through which the crowd
were extricated. But their release from
the burning ruins was only a leap into
another and almost equally great danger.
Since early daylight the thermometer
had been rapidly falling, and at this time
the cold was most intense and penetrating
aggravated greatly by the pitiless wind
and the driving snow. In the bitches be-
side the track the snow lay several feet
deep.
The passengers, startled thus suddenly
from their quiet in the warm cars, were
wholly u~npIepared for this leap into the
freezing cold. The ladies and children
particularly were sufferers from this cause.
Their outer garments had been removed
for comfort in the over-heated cars, and,
in the haste of their exit, cloaks, shawls
and furs were all left behind, to be on
sumed by the flames. The able men who
were uninjured by the collision were ex-
erting themselves in ~extricating the I'M
fortunate sufferers from the ruins, where
the flames had ~notreached. Under these
circumstances, the condition of the wom-
en- and children was pitiable in the ex-
IRENE. Rushing with shrieks and cries
from the cars, they sank immovable In
the deep snow, and, in many instances,
despairingly gave themselves up for lost.
In the mean time, Conductor hurry
had sent couriers forward othis place for
assistance. Our people, to their everlast-
ing credit be it said, turned out en- maSse
to the assistance of the unfortunate pas
sengers. Every available team and
sleigh in the town was promptly brought
out, and, loaded with blankets and other
needed articles, started for the wreck
Upwards of fifty sleighs were thus sent
l0-- offor 4Ia c,,rusrorz uAf1a Arrn1raIc
of Dur citizens plodded their way thither
on foot, needless of the storm and cold,
to render such assistance as might lie in
their power. Thus by night the passen-
gers, with the exception of a very few
whose injuries forbade their removal.
were brought to gainesville. Here the
hospitality of the citizens was freely
shown. Every house was thrown open,
and no efforts were spared to make the
passengers as comfortable as possible.
Superintendent Nottingham, of the
Cleveland P. & A. Railroad, as soon as he
received notification of the accident,
which was sent to him at Cleveland by
telegraph, started with two powerful en-
gines for the scene. No trains had been
run from Cleveland since the previous
evening, and the road was completely
blockaded; yet he forced his way through,
though rising three hours and a half in
accomplishing the feat, in which he was
assisted by a large gang of workmen
whom he brought with him, and arrived
the wreck early in the afternoon. At
ter accomplishing all that was possible
there, he hurried to gainesville to look
after the comfort of the passengers. Ev-
cry arrangement in his power was here
made for their care during their forced
stay in our midst. Hotelkeepers were
instructed to provide the best accommo-
dations for them, at the Company's ex-
pense.
In giving praise, it is proper, too, that
the Physicians of Painesyille should be
mentioned. The fraternity is usually
honorable for its humanity. On this oc-
cnsion the entire staff of the village were
promptly on the ground, ministering to
the necessities of the wounded.
Annanda6 5S q let &c Tba oos,,a1s4,ag nc