Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-23
DISTRESSING CATASTROPHE.
Collision On Hamilton & DaytonR.R.
HOW 1T ED.
FEARFUL Loss OF LIFE.

FEARFUL Loss OF LIFE.
At an early hour yesterday morning there
was a rumor afioat 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 similar character are. it was
exaggerated tenfold over the actuality.
However, the reality was sufficiently fear
rul, and the reader who may be the most
opposed to sensational Journalism, will
fully agree, ere he gets to the end OF the
narrative, that the term horrible will not
be out of place.
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The pilot on the engine of a freight train
broke down about a quarter of a mile be-
yond Lockland, and a short time previous
to the regular time of the arrival at that
| station of the Atlantic and Great Western
express train. f1agman was immediaie-
| ly sent back, who succeeded in stopping
the above cars but in an interval of six
| teen minutes it was known that the accom-
mediation train from Hamilton was due.
Conductor Sitter, OF the express train, i'm
mediately dispatched messenger with the
warning signal to intercept the Hamilton
train, which comprised twelve baggage
and two passenger cars. He met the train
about the third of mile from the bridge.
| where the disabled engine of the baggage
train was being repaired. At that partic-
| ular point there is a curve in the road, and
descending grade, but the signals being
| at once observed, the engine was reversed,
the men sprang to the brakes, and, we are
Informed upon reliable authority, that eve
ry means and appliance were put forth to
stop the train. This was at fifteen minutes
to six; the mornir g 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 breaks, but in vain; onward sped
the ill Omened train, the heavy freight cars
upon the down grade bearing onward the
belching, fiery engine until the collision
being inevitable and hopeless, the engineer
and fireman sprahg from the fatal contact.
THE CATASTROPHE.
At this time the passengers in the Sleep
ing cars of the express train, having been
notified that they were within twelve nail, 8
of Cincinnati, had arisen and were making
preparation tor their arrival in the city,
At Dayton the train had been augmented
with three cars from the Dayton 6 Michi-
gan railroad, consisting of baggage, pas
senger and sleeping car. In this latter
were four sisters, named Sallie, Rachel,
Anna and Mary Morgan, Southern ladies,
and residents of New Orleans-but more
of this anon. They were dressed and were
anXiously awaiting the arrival at the de-
pot, when, through the fOggy atmosphere,
the reflection OF the Franklin engine, of
the Hamilton train, was seen in fearful
proximity. Too late to escape, onward it
came. and then the terrible, the fearful and
inevitable crash.
| THE CONFLAGRATION.
The destruction-dealing Franklin plung-
ed, plowed and tore its way half through
the Inflated sleeping car wherein the un-
fortunate sisters were quietly awaiting the
termination of their journey. In an in
stant there arose terrific scream. The
cars in front were huddled together, crash
ing and tearing into each other, while the
occupants were tumbling and escaping
from them in the widest confusion.
The catastrophe occurred at spot where
the Ioad was elevated, and upon each side
there is an abyss of some twenty feet. Each
passenger car-siX in number-four be-
longing to the Eastern train, and the two
connected with the Dayton and Michigan
road, were shivered, or as gentleman in
one of the forward express cars stated to
us, the leading passenger car encased that
in which he was like telescope.
Meanwhile, the lamp, filled with kero-
sene oil. which illuminated the reflector
of the Franklin, exploded, scattering a
fiery fluid around, and in an instant the
whole was enveloped in flames. Here the
nate to escape from the doomed train lit
tie rocked the precipitous embankments,
| and it was indeed rush for life; but in the
| car in the rear there was tragedy enact
ed which curdles the blood to think of. As
the engine of the Hamilton accommoda-
tion train scattered fire and destruction
around, the death scream of the four ILL
! starred sisters was heard.
But one, however, was seen at the win
| dow, head, arms and bosom protuding, in
a struggling effort to free herself from the
horrible fate. One strong man sprang to
her rescue and grasped her shOulders-in
vain. Two more, melted by his example,
and Notwithstanding that the flames were
licking the side of the car and belching
from the windows, rushed to her aid-still
| in vain. 1t seemed as if their united eff
forts would pull her fragile body in twain.
"For Gods sake, save me-" she shrieked,
but the neither eXtremities were so jammed
that they could not extricate her. The
flames played above her head and settled
upon her luxurious hair.
Another fearful struggle and they burst
| forth from the aperature, and her would
| be preservers fell backward; a last agon-
ized scream, and all was hushed save the
Kissing of the steam, the roar of the fire
and the subdued hum of the Mortified spec
| tators.
About this time a young man, whose sur
name we have learned was Jackson, from
| Boston, Massachusetts,, and who had es-
| caped from one of the forward cars, made
his way into that occupied by the sisters
| with the heroic intention OF saving them
from the fiery ordeal, but he fell a victim
to his ehivalric spirit and his charred re-
mains tell the sorrowful tale of his sad but
| heroic fate.
THE DEAD.
| The above five unfortunates constitute
the only fatal casulties. The four sisters
were upon pleasure tour to the North.
dies. and in one of their trunks was found
letters of credit from responsible mer-
| chant OF New Orleans, named Harrod,
who, it seems, is their brother-in law.
There was also letter from General Beau
| regard, commencing them to the superin-
| tendents and conductors over the various
railroads which they might take in their
tour. Some time previous to the stoppage
| of the train they had arranged tor their
baggage to be rechecked to Louisville,
where they said they expected to meet some
of their relatives; and they appeared in
high spirits at the prospect of speedy re-
turn home. AS soon as possible q telegram
was sent to New Orleans, apprising their
relatives of their tragical fate.
THE INJURED.
Some thirteen persons were more or less
injured, but none seriously. Three were
carried to St. Luke's Hospital, namely /:
David Brown, left wrist dislocated; A. F.
| Winter, badly cut in the right leg, and
l,Richard Carr, OF Toledo, right arm broken !;
c. II. Culbertson and lady, of Troy, Ohio,
now at the Burnet House, slightly; G. N.
| Bliss, wife and two children, OF New York,
.slightlN also at the Burnet House, and L..
w. Osborn, New York, also at the Burnet
. Ta,n Gil of knn ri hS