Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-11
TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT
At BELLEVUE.
Toledo Passenger Train Thrown
From the Track.
THREE PASSENGERS KILLED.
Five Cars and a Large Amount Of
Baggage Burned.


A shocking casualty occurred at Bellevue
Station on the Cleveland and Toledo road,
about eleven O'Clock on Wednesday evening,
resulting In the death of two men and
young child, and in the destruction Of I've
cars and large amount of baggage. It ap-
pears that the switch st Bellevue Station,
which had been properly fastened ard lock-
ed for the night, had been thrown oPen-the
lock having previously been knocked on By
some person or perSOnS bearing malice
against the Railroad Company-so that any
train that approached the Station from the
east would be run upon tho side track. As
the night express, which leaves Cleveland st
1855 P. ", and which passes Bellevue with
out stopping about eleven, was approaching
the Station, it was therefore thrown upon
the side track, while going at the rate of %
miles an hour. A number Of empty freight
cars we're standing on the track, only eight
or ten rods from the switch, into
which the train ran at full speed
The engine of the passenger train
ran through three box and two platform cars,
laying them in splinters on each side of
the track,-and then into some loaded coal
cars, which stopped the train. Five Of the
ten cars which composed the train were
knocked into kindling wood. The frsg-
ments immediately caught FIRE from the
stoves in The cars, greatly adding to the hOr-
rOr Of the scene. The bsggags-master,
William Allen, and his brother, brakes
man on the train: were together In the bag
gags-car. The brakesman was, doubtles'
instantly killed, and his body was entirely
consumed by the flames, so that no vsstige
Of 1t could be found. Mr.. Allen, the bag
gage-mastsr, was discovered by Conductor
Ames, almost entirely buried in the debris of
the cars and baggage. By great sxsrtion
he was uncovered, with the exception Of one
leg, which was jsmmed so closely into the
mass Of ruins that the strength Of all the
men who could lay hands on him was insult
h,ient to rescue him. By this time the flames
had burst out all around him, threatening to
burn the unhsPpy man alive At last, at
bis earnest and repeated entreaties, an axe
was brought, and his leg was severed just
above the knee. He survived the operation
only about two hours, but it was thought by
physicians in attendance that his death was
caused by injuries to his chest and back, re-
ceived in the collision, rather than by the
smputation Of his leg.
A baby in arms was also found dead, but
with no mark of injury upon it, and 1t is con-
jeotured that the child was sufooAted by the
force with which its mother huggsd it to her
breast, in the first agony Of terror.
Strange to say, the engineer, John Allen,
and the fireman escaped with only slight in
juriss. The engine,-the ottsws,-Was
most completely destroyed, and the debris Of
the i've injured cars we're entirely consumed.
oat of largo amount of baggage only thirty
pieces could be saved.
As soon as sll that oonId be done for the
preservation and rescue Of human life had
been accomplished, Conductor Amss turned
his attention to tho preservation Of property.
The Eve unhurt passenger cars were at Oncs
pushed back along the track, and ell possible
sfsrt made to extiDgnish the flames, bat
without avail. A large grain warehouse,
standing close BY the track, took FIRE, and
burned down, its ruins and large smOunt Of
burning grain falling upon and completely
burying the broken mass Of cars. The total
loss cannot Jet be estimated.
Conductor Ames mt back to NorWalk,
got an engine and three additional cars, and
took his train through to Toledo, arriving
there at seven yesterday morning. He
brought down the afternoon train yesterday,
though much wesrisd from the eject Of hia
lsbOrs. His hands and face bear marks Of
the collision, in the shape of burns, received
in his attempts to rescue the unfortunate
Allen, which he will probably carry till his
death.
The body of Mr.. Allen arrived here to-
day, and was conveyed to his home, on Gin
ton street, West Side. He leaves wife and
one or two children. All who knew him
speak of him in terms Of the highest respect.
An inquest on his remains will probably be
held to-day or tomorrow.
Superindsnt Rucksr left for the scene of
the accident yesterday morning.
In this connection, 1t is proper to state that
this ig the FIRST accident, by which life has
been lost in 8 cOlliIion, which has occurred
on the road during the twelve years since it
was completed, and that none Of the officers
of the road are in the least responsible or
for the present casualty.