Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-06
[From the GAINESVILLE Courier. Tuesday evening J
FrIghIEul Railroad Accident-Ten
Persons Io.jured-One Fatally.

Persons ADJured-Ome Fatally.
The iron bridge of the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad, Central Ohio Division, across the
river at this place, was the scene of fright
full railroad accident about o'clock this
morning, whereby ten persons were more
or less seriously injured, one of whom,
probably, fatally. The West bound pas en-
ger train had but few minutes before
passed safely over the bridge. Two en-
gines followed the train over to the west
side of the river, and stopped on the west
end of the bridge, the Elias Fasset standing
on the west pier, with her tender un the
| first span; the yard engine, Antelope, with
one car attached, was standing about one
third the distance on the same span, be-
tween the first and second piers, awaiting
the nine O'Clock East bound passenger
train to pass by, the bridge having
double track. The engine of the passenger
| train going East, stopped at the wood sta
tion, about one hundred yards west of the
bridge, took on wood and water, and then
passed on to the iron bridge, having a train
of four passenger cars, one baggage aud
| one express car. I.
The last three passenger cars OF the train
were crowded with passengers; the front
passenger car had about dozen passengers
In it and was in use as a smoking car.
When the train had passed the middle Of
the first span of the structure, it instantly
gave way, precipitating the engine, tender,
baggage aud express car into the river,
with the front end of the first passenger
car, the rear end hanging on the pier; also
the yard engine, tender and one car and the
tender of the engine Elias Fasset (the en-
gine itself remaining on the pier), fell be-
low into one indescribable mass of ruins.
The noise of the falling trains and bridge,
the Kissing of the steam as the hot engines
fell into the river, which at the place of the
accident has about six feet of water, made
sound which could have been heard for
two miles. The news of the accident spread
rapidly, and in few minutes thousands of
people were crowding the banks of the river
near the scene, and all were anxious to rem
der assistance. In a few minutes the per-
sons involved in the wreck were extricated
and brought ashore, and those badly in
jured taken into adjoining houses, where
medical attendance and all assistance pos
sible was rendered them. The following is
list of the passengers injured:
Mr.. Jesse Hill, resident of Pleasant Val
ley, Ohio, skull fractured, probably fatal.
James HaVeland, Gaines Station, Michigan,
slightly, head and ankle. Levi Claypool,
Frazeysburgh, seriously, left ankle, no
bones broken. Mr.. Hart, New Jersey,
SHRuhy DluieOu'
employees INJURED. .
Mr.. Thomas Mellott Express Messenger,
arm, seriously. III
Mr.. Thomas Wing, Conductor ofthe train,
neck, severely.
4 Mr.. Van b. Shiply, Engineer of the yard
engine, bruisd about the back and head,
slightly.
Silas Higgs, Fireman of the yard engine,
leg bruised, severely.
George Thompson, Fireman of the pas
senger train, bruised about the head
slightly; he came near drowning, being
compelled to swim considerable distance
owing to the strong current, and was nearly
exhausted when taken ashore. ls
Robert Milton (colOred), porter on the
passenger train, legs bruised, not seriously.
These are all who were injured to any
extent worthy of notice. gol
1t seems wonderful, in view of the fright
full nature of the accident that more were
not killed or wounded, as at the point where
it happened is fully twenty feet from the
bridge to the water, and not less than 20
persons were precipitated with the wreck
| into the river. tsaH ritiHH
| The cool self-possession of the engineer
of the passenger train, Mr.. Patrick H..
Smith, is worthy of all praise. From the
| time he felt the bridge giving way until
his engine was in the water, he sounded
the whistle for down brakes, and the order
being obeyed, checked the momentum of
the train, and doubtless prevented the other
cars, filled with passengers, from going in
| to the river. nl"
| The immediate cause of the accident was
! the increased weight upon the bridge, which
was incapable of sustaining it. There is a
rule of the company prohibiting more than
one engine being upon any span Of the
bridge at the same time. Why this rule
was not obeyed is as yet unknown. The
bridge is constructed upon the principle of
| Boelman's patent, and had been in use
about ten years, and should have been ca
| pable of bearing ten times the weight
which crushed it this morning.
| Trussel work is now being made ready
for temporary track, which will be COM
pleted for the crossing of trains In about
! three days. Until that time passengers will
havO to be transferred around the break.
P.S.-Mr. Jesse Hill died about half-past
two o'clock this P. M.