Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-07-24
Accidents ON the Central
Hand.


on the Central Ohio railroad, near Colum-
bia, In Licking county. We now proceed
to give such other particulars as we have
been able TO gather. We regret especially
that we have not been able to procure an
accurate aud reliable list of the killed and
wounded. No one seems to have taken the
trouble to make out and preserve such
list. 7sl Igau I'm cr'. t ...G ni roa r'.U7D
The Express passenger train No. left
here at the usual hour---;4;20 A. M. In about
an hour after leaving, the accident occur
red. While the train was moving at full
speed, and over a portion of the road in
prime order, one of the forward truck
wheels Of the engine broke in twain. The
engine, after the wheel was broken, con-
tinued to run on and keep the track for
quarter Of a mile or more from the place
where the breakage occurred. 1t then ran
off the track and turned over on its side.
A general crushing Of, the cars together
was the inevitable consequence. ,,-,, 81,
At this point it is natural to ask--How
came the wheel to breakp This is one of
those questions that are more easily asked
than answered. We are informed by gem
tlemen who examined the portions of the
broken wheel, that there was no apparent
flaw in the metal, and it appeared to have
been perfectly sound. Why this particular
wheel should have broken at that particular
point on firm, clear track, is involved in
.mystery.,,i.l n'.l
1t appears that after the wheel was bro
ken, and when the crash of the cars occur
red, the train was still running at full
speed. The engineer states that he saw a
portion of the wheel fly off at the time it
was broken. He also states that he imme-
diately signaled for the brakes to be put
down, but that the brakesmen could not
obey the signal, owing to the crowds of
passengers standing upon the platforms of
the cars. AT any rate, it seems that the
cars, as well as the engine, continued to
plunge forward unchecked, until the latter
ran off the track and keeled over upon its
side.Hl '1 r.at 4"-. .-T.
The cars thus suddenly checked in their
rapid motion, ran off the track and into and
upon each other. None of the employees
Of the road, we understand, were hurt by
the terrible concussiOn. But eight of the
passengers were instantly killed, and
twenty-five others more or less severely
wounded. OF the killed, two were citizens
lone the Rev. L. McConn, of Tonica, Taze-
well county, Illinois, and the other an un-
known person, supposed to have been in
Government employ. The remaining six
killed are reported to have been discharged
soldiers OF the 18th O.V. l., and to have
been from or near Lancaster, Fairfield
county. Their names, as reported by the
telegraphic operator of the Central road at
this point, are as follows: Michael Gimen,
George Kutz, III. Harris, H., Kemey, Kauf-
man RAIDER, and - Smith. h'tg
soOf the twenty-five wounded we have the
namess of but five: James Garrison, of
Lancaster, 0, and late OF the 18th o. v. /.
severely injured in back and hips; w. o.
Allison, Fairyiew, Guernsey county-leg
broken; Ed. Evans, of Newport, Ky.-se-
we're confusion Of the thighs; John Vance,
OF Mt, Yernon-foot crushed; Capt. =
Clark, injury in foot.
S,The injuries inflicted were various, and
were principally confined to the lower
limbs, though heads were confused, should
ers dislocated and ribs broken. Quite
large number had their legs broken. Some
three or four cases were at first considered
quite critical; but so far, as we are informed
at this writing, all but the eight killed out
right survive and are likely to recover. The
bodies of the dead and Injured men were as
fast as possible sent forward to their homes
the friends and relatives of many of them
soon arriving on the ground. Two or three
OF the wounded only were brought back to
this city, One of these was a negro from
Harper's Ferry, who had been in the mill
tary service as cook for some three or
tour years. One of his feetwas torn entire
ly off. He was taken to the St. Francis
Hospital, where amputation of the limb
was. performed by Drs. Loving and Drury.
We learn that none of. the women or
children on board, nor, indeed, any one in
side. the cars, was injured; but that all the
killed and wounded were standing on the
car platforms. The Conductor of the train,
Mr.. A. ii. Condit, states that he repeatedly
warned the9passengers off the platforms,
but his admohitions were unheeded.f
1T should be mentioned to the credit of
the peopleof the immediate vicinity of the
place Where this dreadful accident occurred,
sthat they rendered. as general thing, ev-
cry, assistance in their power. Their doors
were freely opened, and their mansions
placed at the disposal of those who had the
care of the wounded. The ladies of the
.neighborhood were especially sympathiz-
ing and attentive. I'VE have heard of only
one instance of narrow-minded churlish-
mess, and that was the case of man who
was present with awagon and team, and re-
fused to alloy any of the wounded, or any
thing else to be put into his vehicle, until
he had first been paid ten dollars in ad-
vance. ~ -
,1a Nor should we, in this connection, forget
the tribute Of praise that is Justly due to
the physicians of the neighboring towns,
who, as soon as they heard the news of the
terrible disaster. hastened to; the, spot, to
set the broken limbs bind up the wounds
a ,,d &c no 10 fl,a ,,atrs ~ .lsa I &, er III,