Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-07-11


WILD AND FEARFUL.-A freight train
on the franklin Division, consisting OF
ten cars of coal and seventeen of oil tanks,
c. 81. Belknap, conductor. and John Ben
nett, engineer, soon after passing the sum-
NIT, in Austinburg, on Monday afternoon
last, became separated. Three tanks and
the caboose, containing the conductor and
one of the two brakemen, composed one
portion, and the balance, with the engi-
neer, fireman and one brakeman, the 9th
er. Before running far another break oc-
CURED to the forward section, cutting the
train into three portions. The last por-
ton was controlled by the breaks, but the
two forward accumulated velocity with
fearful rapidity. Though the engine was
reversed and the wheels were not slow in
their backward motion, yet the mOmen-
tQm of the heavily burdelcd cars that
followed, sent that section of the train
down the grade with a swiftness that soon
envel0ped 1t IN dust, and threatened GER
tain destruction. The men on the tram
expected nothing else. The passage of
the A. Y. 6 P station was witnessed by a
number of our citizens, and they describe
.he scene ss terrific. The constant blow
ing of the whistle, added TO the effect, but
it also had the effect to clear the way, and
prevent the involving of Others in certain
destruction. The switch was opened and
the flying engine and train faithfully kept
the curve and the main track on the L.
S. & NJ. S. being cleared, 1t few on until
it reached Ssybrook, before it came TO
rest. This done, there was undoubtedly
freer respiration among those who had
run this fearful gauntlet. Good luck seems
to have crowned the affair in more ways
than one.
The house from Contractor M'Kenzie's
building lot was in the course ofremoyal,
up the North Ridge road, by Deb Sweet,
who had, at about the time for the arri-
val of the train, just reached the track.
and the fear of not getting it off in time,
suggested the sending of hagman up the
line for notifying those in charge. The
messenger had not reached the gulf fill
before be met the train and discovered the
lmpossibillty of stopping 1t. As good
luck would have it, the building was got
ten over, with just sufficient room and
nothing to spare, for the safe passage The
same luck, however, did not attend the
poor messenger Pat LyOns-who, upon
being passed, took the track for bis re-
turn, without the thought Of another por-
/ ton yet to follow. The dust being thick
and his mind probably absorbed with the
| novelty of the circumstances attending
| the flying train, he was soon oyertaken
/ by the middle section, which struck him
on the back and shoulder, injuring him
so severely as to cause his death before
evening. The only damage done TO the
train, we learn, was the breaking of the
bunting heads of several of the coal cars,
and possibly the straining Of the engine
by the severe service IT was put to.
WRrnings, pariaking somewhat of this
chaFaeleF, We believe, have before occur
req, and we suppose are liable on all such
gFades. Fbe admonition in this case, is Of
a character that cannot be disFegaFded, If
mere are any means to be applied for pre-
| VEHuhg us recurrence, with q greater loss
N property and life. But two brakemen
'sbFh9ned to these trains, which un-
area SaFY circumstances, is, perhaps,
der orui- tR This case, either from the
sufficient. NS forward brakeman. or
paralyzing Of "a @Veg and break nm the
an inability to pass ~Ses we're taksn
train, the terrible chat - Wnuld have
Whether third brakemaL .hs second
been of any avail, considering I. SSsy 10
division, IS a question for the COMP Ns,
weigh, and considering the continued
bility of breaking connections, whether
provision should not be made by an in-
creased number Of brakemen. or some
other means Of safety, should not be
adopted.