The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-11-27
Collision on III. and ID. II. r.
Fearful Loss of Life,

eAss .
Collision on III. and ID. II. r.
Fearful Loss of Life.
At an early hour yesterday there was
a rumor afoat in the city that a fearful
accident had occurred on the Cincinnati,
Hamilton and Dayton Railroad, and this
rumor was presently confirmed, and, as all
accidents Of q similar character are, it
was exaggerated teniold over the actuali-
ty. However, the reality was sufficient
ly fearful, and the reader who may be
the most opposed to sensational journal.
ism, will fully agree, ere he gets to the
end of the narrative, that the term hor.
rible will not be out of place.
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The pilot on the engine of q freight
train broke down about a quarter Of q
mile beyond LOckland, q short time pre-.
vious to the regular time Of the arrival
at that station of the Atlantic and Great
Western express train. A fagman was
Immediately sent back, who succeeded in
stopping the above cars, but in an inter.
val of sixteen minutes it wat known that
the accommodation train from Hamilton
was due. Conductor Sitter, Of the ex.
press train, Immediately dispatched a
messenger with q warning signal to in.
tercept the Hamilton train, which com.
prissd twelve baggage and two passen.
ger cars. He met the train about the
third Of a mile from the bridge, where
the disabled engine of the baggage train
was being repaired. AT that particular
point there is q curve in the road, and q
descending grade, but the signals being
at once observed, the engine was re.
versed, the men sprang to the brakes,
and, we are informed upon reliable au-
thority, that every means and appliance
were put forth to stop the train. This
was at fifteen minutes to six the morn.
ing was damp and foggy, and the misty
atmosphere had made the rails wet and
slippery. The engine was reversed, and
the men strained every nerve at the
brakes, but 10 vain +; onward sped the ILL.,
omened train, the heavy freight cars up
on the down grade bearing onward the
belching, fiery engine until the collision
being inevitable and hopeless, the engin.
eer and fireman sprang from the fatal
contact,
THE CATASTROPHE.
At this time the passengers in the
sleeping cars of the express train, having
been notified that they were within
twelve miles Of Cincinnati, had arisen
and were making preparation for their
arrival in the city. At Dayton the train
had been augmented with three cars
from the Dayton and Michigan Railroad,
consisting Of a baggage, passenger and
sleeping car. In this latter we're four
sisters, named Sallie, Rachel, Anna and
Mary Morgan, Southern ladies, and resi-.
dents Of New Orleans-but more Of this
anon. They we're dressed and we're anx.
iously awaiting the arrival at the depot,
when, through the foggy atmosphere, the
reflection Of the Franklin engine, Of the
Hamilton train, was seen in fearful prox-
unity. Too late to escape, onward it
came, and then the terrible, the fearful
and inevitable crash.
THE CONFEDERATION.
The destruction = dealing Franklin
plunged, plowed, and tore its way half
through the illfated sleeping-ca car wherein
the unfortunate sisters were quietly
awaiting the termination Of their journey.
In an instance there arose o terrific
scream. The cars in front were huddled
together, crashing and tearing into each
other, while the occupants were tumbling
and escaping from them in the widest
confusion. r...
The catastrophe occurred at q spot
where the road was elevated, and upon
each side there is IN abyss of some TWEEN.
ty feet. Each passenger-car-six in mum.
ber-four belonging to the Eastern train,
and the two connected with the Dayton
aud Michigan Road, were shivered, or as
q gentleman in one Of the forward ex.
press cars stated to us, the leading pas.
senger car encased that in which he was
like a telescope. IS
Meanwhile, the lamp, filled with ksro.
sene.oil, which illuminated tho reflector
Of the franklin, exploded, scattering q
fiery fluid around, and in an instant the
whole was developed in flames. Here
the scene was terriie--those who we're
fortunate to escape from the doomed
train little rocked the precipitous EN-.
bankments, and ID was indeed a rush for
life, but in the car In tho rear there was
q tradgedy enacted, which curdles the
blood to think Of. As the engine Of the
Hamilton accommodation train scattered
fire and destruction around, the death
scream Of the four il~l.starred sisters was
heard. IA ~ ai-,r sf4 Glry ed.
But one, however, was seen at the win.
dow, head, arms and bosom protuding,
in q struggling effort to free herself from
the horrible fate.p One strong man
sprang to her rescue and grasped her
shoulders--ip vain. Two more, melted
by his example, and Notwithstanding that
the flashes were licking tho side OF the
oar and belchipg from the windows, rush.
cd to her aid--stil id vain. Il seemed