Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-02
Prospect Station Horror.
FULLANp VIVID ACCOUNT
Cause of the AccidentiThirty
Lives Lost.

The immediate cause of the accl
dent at Prospect Station, P, was a
broken flange on the tender wheel.
About thirty rods west of the sta
tion is a trestle work of some twen-
ty feet high, over which the locomo-
tive and tender of the eastern
bound train passed in safety. but
the baggage and passenger cars, on
" two coaches being in the train,
we're thrown from the trestle, fell
thirty feet, and struck top down.
ward. The weight of the trucks
crushed the cars, closing up the
windows, and to render the situa-
ton even more terrible the passen-
ger coach was partly tilted upon its
side so that for the occupants of
that side there were absolutely no
means of escape. Almost immedi-
ately
THE CARS TOOK FIRE,
the passenger cars burning at both
ends. Some half dozen persons
waiting at the station were soon at
the scene of the accident, but they
worked at an immense disadvantage.
No water could i,e had, and the
snow that was scraped up had little
effect in staying the flames. Only
two axes were available, and the
woodwork OF the cars was bolted
together so firmly and intricately
that but little headway could be
made with them. All the time
these efforts were being put forth
the flames were steadily gaining,
and the shrieks of the imprisoned
victims, as the scorching heat en-
veloped them, was appalling to the
stoutest hearts. Now and then a
rope was put through crevice and
a sufferer pulled out by main
strength Sometimes it would be
lifeless body, and charred arms, legs
or head would drop off in the strug-
gle. In three or four instances the
head was thus separated from the
trunk, and in as many cases the
body was bereft of its limbs.
= -,r- THE BODY OF A LADY
was thus rescued from the flames,
the head and one arm swapping of
i like, piece of charcoal, while the
other arm was untouched, a dainty
kid glove covering the hand and
her fingers wearing their jeweled
ornaments. The body will doubt.
less be recognized with the aid OF
! rings. But for these it would have
been impossible to identify it. The
bodies of three other ladies were ia
ken out, neither of which it is be
lieved can be recognized by friends
| In all it is estimated that fully ten
of the nineteen forms removed from
the burning car are unrecognizable.
1t is supposed that in addition to
the bodies recovered number oi
others were consumed in the burn
ing car, and that nothing but theil
blackened bones will be discovered
when the fire is extinguished and
ashes raked over. Adding these to
the number injured who will die il
is estimated a- --H .-
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF LIVES LOST
will not fall short of thirty. The
whole number of persons in the cal
at the time of the accident
was about forty five. Frank
Taylor, of Cory, was leaning against
some object, and seeing an acquaint
ance passing called him by name
The friend turned around and saw
Taylor apparently uninjured, but
suddenly he said, 'Tell my wife,
and fell over dead. He must have
died from internal injury, but in
mates OF the burning cars were
shieking for aid, and Mr.. Taylor's
friend did not see him again unit
his corpse was brought in and plac
ed with others stilled in DEATH
The stencil arising from the burn
ing bodies is said to have been sick
ening. With no means of exiting
uishing the flames, the heat being
too intense to admit of all the bodle!
being extricated, nothing could b.
done by the spectators but to stand
quietly by and see the remains'slow
ly consumed.