The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-08-29

BeriOusIy Injured indignation OF
the People Verdict Of the Jury"Ahe
Road Censured.
We condense from the TituEville Herald
of the 25th and 10Th the following details
in reference to the recent terrible accident
on the Oil Creek Railroad at Titusville, on
Thursdsy last:
TFrom the Titu,viIle Herald, Aug. 25th
An accident of the most appalling nature
occurred shout noon yesterday on the On
Creek Railroad, one mile west of the II
tUsv lie depot and nearly opposite the
Driving Park The express train due
here from Cory at 1l:45 collided with
freight train going west out Of time, caus-
| ing 8 perfect demolition of locomotive, ten
der, baggage and express cars, the instsn-
tsueous death of six passengers, and the
serious injury of q number Of Others-
It appears that the express train was
running on time and hal just rounded the
curve at the point indicated, when the
engineer discovered freight train sdVanc-
ing at full speed and within twenty rods
| of his own locomotive. The express en-
gineer instantly whistled down brakes and
Ieaped with the fireman into the ditch
The engineer and fireman of the freight
train also escaped in the same manner.
The trains came together with terrific
crash, the locomotive of the express being
literally knocked to pieces, and the tender
dovetailiDg into the baggage car and the
latter into the express and mail can. Both
the express and baggage cars contained
number Of passengers and railroad EN-
plovees and if was here that the severest
injuries we're sustained.
Conductor Gleason and the Assistant
Superintendent Of the road escaped by
jumping from side door.
The names of the killed are then given
The only person from this locality is Will
liam Baldwin, of East Cleveland, who was
instantly killed.
There were eight passenger coaches in
the train, but no serious injuries were sus
tanned BY the inmates in rear of the first,
and the shock of the collision was scarcely
felt in the ladies' car.
The effort of extricating the dead and
wounded from the forward csrs required
the cutting away of the sides and decks.
As soon as news of the collision reached
the depot and the intelligence was circu.
started for the scene, snd every endesvo
was used to mitigate the suferings of the
unfortunate victims.
As the mutilsted snd bleeding bodies of
the dead and dying were borne away from
the scene of the disaster, there was 9 uni
versal sentiment of horror and execration
among the spectators. The testimony OF
all concurred in exemptiDg the conductor
7 oE kwn md
sttributing the accident to the employees
of the road on the freight train. If the
engineer of the latter could have been dis
covered, he would undoubtedly have been
summsrily dealt with; but it appears that,
as if CONSCIOUS. of his criminslily, he fed
with precipitation.
We are assured that the conductor of
the freight train had directed the tisgmAn
to 90 ahead of the locomotive and look out
for the express, but the engineer OF the
freight train put on steam and passed the
fagman before reaching the curve.
But what conceivable right had the
freight train upon the main track at the
hour when the express train was due?
By whose authority are hundreds of
lives daily periled upon the Oil Greek
Railroad, by the same practices
Whether or not this fatality is sttribut-
able purely to the negligence ofemployees,
will probably be determined by the Cor
onerjs Jury. In any event, the Company
cannot escape share of theresponsibility.
Every ticket sold by the Company calls
for zone seat" yet it Is notorious that the
cars are daily crowded to excess, and pas
sengers are crowded together like cattle,
for want of accommodation, standing up
the whole two hours ride,
On this occasion they were crowded out
on the platforms, and into the express and
baggage cars, and every person killed or
severely injured iOGS occupying, of necessity
these hazardous posittOzsi
A Coroners Jury was Immediately sum-
moned and after taking testimony on
Thursday and Fridsy, rendered . verdict
of which the following is the essential pOr-
ton:
HThat said collision was caused BY the
culpable negligence of Joseph Funk, engi-
neer, and Patrick Carey, conductor, as by
evidence shown, said Funk and Carey
having control Of the sforesid extra freight
train, and having neglected to properly
flag the line, when the said express psssen-
ger train was then and there due and ap-
preaching. And we, the said aforesaid
Jury, therefore request the coroner to issue
his warrant for The apprehension OF the
said Joseph Funk and Patrick Carey.
1.-THE Jury cannot separate without e1-
pressing their indignation that passengers
are compelled TO risk their lives on the Oil
Greek Railroad, for want of sufficient &C.
commodstion in the cars, in proof Of which
the severe injuries and deaths were con-
fined to those persons who were unable to
get seats in the passenger cars"
The greatest excitement prevails in
Titusville aud Oil Greek, and storm of
indignation hiss burst upon the heads OF
the Directors of the Oh Greek Railroad,
who have rendered themselves very odious
by their inefficient management OF the
road. The Tisusville Herald publishes sew
ersl very vehement communications upon
the subject and there seems TO be tenn
pest rising which it will be hard to quell
| -a-aD-o-