The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-12-13
Conductor Carver Killed!
Escape Of Engineer &Firemen!
A SPAN OF THE BRIDGE GONE |
AN ENGINE AND TEN CARS
BURIED I'm THE RUINs!:

On Thursday morning one OF the most
terrible accidents that ever occurred on the
Cleveland & Toledo Railroad, ,befel the Local
Freight Train bound eastward, at about 9
O'Clock. As the train was moving slowly
scross the bridge the engine was thrown off
the track upon the timbers just east of the
center pier and the whole eastern span gave
way, throwing the engine, ten cars and half
the bridge into the river in a mass of ruins.
Conductor CARvER has not been found at
the time we write this report but it is al
most certain that be was killed and buried
in the wreck. The engineer and fireman
saved themselves by jumping into the river
near the east bank As the ice broke letting
them into shallow water they escaped with
severe bruises and made their way 10 the
house of Mr.. GHN, out of the terrible storm,
before any assistance could reach them from
the o'her side. Engineer BRANNoS had sew
eral ribs broken and was otherwise severe
ly injured, and the Fireman, whose name
we did not learn, was seriously cut about
the head.
The Oaboose which contained four passen-
gers, and one freight car were the only cars
which were saved. One freight car was left
hanging over the centre pier supported by
the broken imbers. The rest were totally
demolished and their freight scattered and
mingled with the floating ice and timbers.
The Engine, the "Elyria," seems to have
struck the east pier as it fell and is literally
demolished. The tender was thrown over
the engine and lies on the east bank of the
river. One car, loaded with dressed hogs,
was thrown forty or fifty feet up the river
and lies partly out of the water. The rest are
so broken and mingled with the timbers of
the bridge and the lumber, boxes and barrels3
which made up the freight that no form or
shape Of car ia distiDguishable. o..
The cause of the accident is not known.
The most probable theory is that the tin
roof of the bridge was blown up and across
the track by the terrible storm which came
on in the morning, and, covered as it was
with ice and snow, threw, the engine off
upon the timbers which were not strong
enough 10 sustais the shock. The tin roof
now lies on part of the track over which
the train passed. The Engine appears to
have been drawn back after it had reached
the east pier, falling on the North side,
and sinking nearly out Of sight. This gave
the Engineer and Fireman time to jump
from the train, while the Conductor, who
was also on the Engine seems to have been
carried down with it. 1t was only three or
four weeks ago that the bridge was placed
as was supposed, in complete repair in prep
aration for the coming winter. 1t is alto
gether probable, however, that the late re-
pairs as well as the work done on the bridge
last spring, to put it beyond the reach of
foods, weakened the timben and damag ged
instead of strengthened it. Sad as this ac-
cident is, it seems providentiai that it befsll
the Local Freight, instead of the Accommo-
dstion which was due here only few mo-
ments after with its freight of human life.
Such terrible scene as was presented at
the river il seen only once in life time.
The awful gap, made by the sinking away
of the bridge, the river full of broken tim
bers, broken cars, upturned trucks, floating
boxes and barrels and all the frightful debris
Of such a wreck, the men, benumbed with
cold, searching the ruins for the missing
man amidst the binding storm, made pic
ture which few who seen it will ever forget |
We can form no estimate of the damage |
the accident will bring 10 the company. The
loss Of che bridge and the rolling stock is
heavy but will be a mere trifie compared to |
the delays and loss of freights and travel,
while the bridge is being pat in condition |
again.. Meantime passengers and freight |
will have to lie taken across by way of the |
turnpike bridge. We hope that these losses
viii convince the Company of the economy |
Of building substantial stone bridge across |
the river. The expense would be compara-
lively light, as materials of the best kind are
close at hand. and the dangers oftrayel would
be lessensd hundred fold