The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-11-28
THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.


THE CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
The pilot on the engine of a freight
train broke down about a quarter of
mile beyond Lockland, and short time
previous to the regular time of the arrival
at that station of the Atlantic and Great
express train. A haglnan was
sent back, who succeeded in
stopping the above cars but in an inter
val of sixteen minutes it was known that
the accommodation train from Hamilton
was due. Conductor Sitter, of the express
train, immediately dispatched messenger
with the warning signal TO intercept the
Hamilton train, which comprised twelve
baggage and two passenger cars. He
met the train about third of mile from
the bridge, where the disabled engine of
the baggage train was being repaired. At
that particular point there is a curve in
the road and descending grade, but the
signals being at once observed, TIE engine
was reversed, the men sprang to the
brakes, and 1--WE are informed upon relia~
bic authority, every means and appliance
were pui 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 in vain onward sped the iIl-omened
train, the heavy freight cars upon the
down grade bearing onward the belching,
fiery engine until the collision being inevi-
table and hopeless, the engineer and fire.
man sprang from the fatal contact.
THE CATASTROPHE.
At this time the passengers in the sleep
ing-car of the express train, having been
notified that they were within twelve
miles of Cincinnati, had arisen and were
making preparation for their arrival III the
city. At Dayton the train had been aug
mented with three cars from the Dayton
and Michigan Railroad, consisting of a
baggage, passenger and sleeping car. In
this latter were four sisters, named Sallie,
Rachel, Anna and Mary Morgan, Southern
ladies, and residents OF New Orlears-
but more of this anon. They were dressed
and were anxiously awaiting the arrival
at the depot, when, through the foggy at
mosphere, the reflections of the Hamilton
train, was seen in fearful proximity. Toe
late TO escape, onward it came, and then
the terrible, the fearful and inevitable
crash.
TIE CONFLAGRATION.
The destruction dealing Franklin plung-
ed, ploughed and tore its way half through
he ilI-fated sleeplng-c car where in the
unfortunate sisters were quietly awaiting
the termination of their journey. In an
instant there arose terrible scream. The
cars in front were huddIed 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 a spot
where the road was elevated, and upon
each side there is an abyss of some twenty
feet. Each passenger car-six in number
-four belonging to the Eastern train.
and the two connected with the Dayton
and Michigan road, were shivered, or, as
a gentleman In one of the forward express
cars stated to US, the leading passenger
car encased that in which he was like a
telescope.
Meanwhile, the lamp, filed 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 scene
was terrifc-those who were fortunate to
escape from the doomed train little recked
the precipitous embankments, and it was
indeed rush for life but in the car ia
the rear there was tragedy enacted which
curdles the blood to think of AS the en-
CINE of the Hamilton accommodation train
scattered death aud destruction around,
the death screams of the four ill-starred
sisters were heard.
But one, however, was seen at the win
dow, head, arms and bosom protrudng,
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 ex-
ample, 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 efforts would pull her fragile body
in twain. "for Gods sake save me- -
AibO Shi lShSd3 OhL lilO IClLLSl
were so jammed that they could not ex-
tricate her. The flames played above her
head and settled upon her luxurious hair.
Another fearful struggle and they burst
forth from the aperture, and her would be
preservers fell backward last agonized
scream, and all was hushed save the
kissing of the steam, the roar of the fire
and the subdued hum of the Mortified
spectators.
About this time young man, whose
surname we have learned was Jackson.
from Boston, Massachusetts, and who had
escaped 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 q
victim to his chivalric spirit, and his
i -