The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1865-01-19
Railroad Accident.


Railroad Accident.
A brief account Of the late accident on
the Cleveland and Toledo Railroad by
Rev. w. Cormac, of this place, who was
aboard of the train accompanied by his
wife. He received some injury but not
seriously, his wife had her collar bone
broken, and otherwise injured.
The ten o'clock train on the Cleveland
and Toledo Railroad started, as then
thought, somewhat behind time, and
proceeded along at the usual rate of
speed, until they LETT Norwnlk, when the
sudden increase of speed elected remarks
from several of the passengers, and Il
slight trcmor of uncasincss seemed to be
manifested by many, aud slightly felt by
myself, although accustomed to track.
But dismissing fear and being somewhat
drowsy,i | dropt into u dreamy slumbcr,
and although the cars, az some afterwards
expressed it, were literally jumping on
the track, yet when the cars were break
ing away from their attachment to the
train, and began to rush down the steep
declivty Of embankmcnt, | only then felt
as if something was giving way, but the
terminating crash threw me perhaps the
lenghth Of three seats ahead of where
sat. Reused by the stunning effect of
my fall, | started to my feet, and such u
sickeDing scene met my view, everything
was broken inside of the car, and the
passengers many of them wounded and
bleeding. were cnlangled among the
fragments of the broken seats. The first
thing that specially attracted my attcn.
tion, was that the cur had caught fire
from the broken lamps, spilling their
burning contents on the car. and one
PROSTATE and bleeding lady, was partially
involved in flames, by her dress taking
fire, I, assisted by others soon exlin-
guisbed the flaming dress by throwing
snow upon it, Assistance being prompt
ly rendered by the passengers not dis.
nbled and by others coming to afford re-
lief, the car was soon cleared, and every
one taken out with the exception of al
cd gentleman who conld not be taken
away just then, as he was utterly unable
to help himself, but was afterwards pro-
vidcd for as all others were, with kindness
and libcrolity deserving commentator.
No efforts were spared on the gentle.
manly Conductor whose name | know
not.
The proprietor Of the American House
with commendable generosity opened hi
house 20 accommodate the suffering
And the citizens Of Norwalk, joined il
the general effort to render all available
assistance Ply sici"ns were in attendance
in the American house to dress the
wounds of the injured. Aid as l re
mained In one Of the rooms where q par
of the passengers received attention
took some notice Of the various wound
inf iicted. Severe cuts and bruises abou
the head, q broken arm, fractured skull
q broken finger, collar bone broken, an,
several very seriously, and few, perhaps
fatally hurt. presume | saw only ;
small number of those who were suffer
ing from the accident, and do not, there
fore, positively pronounce upon the ex
tent Of the suffering. In view of fact
to which | might refer, / was not littl,
nstonished to see ln article in the Gin
cinnati Commercial stating that nigh
train from Cleveland was thrown into
ditch, anu eileen persons wounded, nont
killed. Now. | would like to know how
deep some of the Norwalk bitches are a.
the embankment was fifteen or twent,
feet high, so men stated to me Wit
worked ON the ombankment.
The story Of the broken rail / fount
was very promptly manufactured to nc
count for the disaster. But this tamper
ing with human life, reckless running
down a decending grade on a winte
night, when the rails are rendered britll
; by frost. ought to be abandoned.
Take the natural momcnton of la
vars on down grade, and add to that
f,ll head of steam and it will produce
motion very liable to cause strain upor
The rails by the oscillation of the car
which is very liable to throw the car
from the track. In passing along sucI
high embankments on the Lake Shor
doad. they invariably slacken the spec
: of The train. Five passenger cars wer
I thrown OF the track, some of them sleep
: ing cars,
' We sincerely hope occurrences Of hi