The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-01-19
DESTRUCTION ON THE RAIL.

| DlCAS hAlLfSOAQ Il.
TRAIN on FIRE ON THE BALTIMORE & Po-
TOMAC RAILROAD-THE Loss OF LIFE
100000 IN NATIONAL BANK NOTES DE-
STROYED AND ALL THE MAIL on BOARD.
The New York World of the 9th inst. con-
tains the following dispatch from Washing
ton concerning the railroad accident near
Baltimore, and an account of the disaster by
an eve witness: The collision near Wash
ington last night on the Baltimore 81 Ohio
railroad was occssioned, it is said, by mis-
management on the part of the
switch tender. Between and 3
o'clock this morning a train, with
Superintendent Dubarry, arrived at the
Baltimore & Potomac depot from the scene
of the disaster, bringing the body of the
postal clerk Thomas Fayman, whose parents
reside in this city, and an injured man, who
was removed 20 the Providence Hospital.
The remains of Fayman, which are burned
TO a crisp, nothing bat the trunk remaining,
were placed in coffin and put in the bag
gage room of the depot to await the corO-
ner's inquest. The only thing saved
from the burning cars was the express
box, but it was so much injured
by the fire that the money inside was de-
stroyed. Every effort was made to save
Fayman, but the flames gathered so fast
around the cars that his friends were
Obliged to leave him to his fate. 1t is now
stated that the entire Northern mail from
Washington, including the accumulated
davis mail from the south, excepting one
destroyed by the burning OF the
postal car. 1t is believed that the
mail agent, Mr.. Fayman, was crushed
TO death before the car took fire.
He was about thirty years of age, and son
of the local postoffce agent of this city. A
1or IF
bank circulation was destroyed Gy the con-
flagration. Many important packages and let
tiers from the different executive depart
ments were sent on that train. More than
thousand official circulars sent out by
the comptroller of the currency calling
Tor reports from national banks were
burned. There were also destroyed
$500. 900 in new national bank notes sent
from the cOmptroller's Office, bot a large
portion of this amount may be identified at
the depart ment here. It appears thus far
that the amount of legal tenders and frac-
:ional currency shipped from the treasurer's
office which was burned will approximate
$500 600, even if it does not exceed that
amount.
THE STORY OF THE COLLISION.
Several of the passengers who were on the
train at the time of the accident arrived at
the Jersey City depot a little before IL O'Clock
Yesterday. Among them was John A. Smith,
the second assistant postal clerk, who was
with Fayman, the first clerk of the sorting
department at the time be met with his
death. Smith appeared to be a
very intelligent man, and last night
made the following statement, Just before
starting for his return trip to Washington:
We left Washington last night at $3.50 with
the United States mail, and a large amount of
| money and bonds, which were received from
the treasury and bankers at Washington, in
addition to the mails south OF Washington.
The train was the regular night express
| mail train. 1t consisted of the engine, and
| tender, and engine cab, one Adams Express
car, one baggage car, two passenger coaches,
/ four sleeping cars and one parlor
car. The number of passengers,
which included ladies and gentlemen, 1
| can not tell exactly, but / should judge it
was about ITO or 200. They were for differ
| eht places along the route. Weshould have
arrived at New York at 6:l5 this morning.
| can hardly describe the scene which fol-
| lowed the disaster, as il appeared to be the
! work Of few minutes before two of the
| cars were blazing fearfully. Inside the mail
car were John Steck, @. 4. Fay man, Edward
Prout and myself, belonging to the postoffice,
| and II. K. SOuthwick, chief clerk of the
| Northern Central railroad. The engine was
in charge of Harry Freeborn. All was well
when we started at the time stated, and
nothing took place until we reached the
junction of the Metropolitan branch of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad at Bennin9's sta
ton, Md. This is only seven miles north OF
Washington-and here the train crosses the
track of the Philadelphia, Wilmington &
n Baltimore road. At this point there is q
switch for the purpose of allowing freight
and slow trains to get on side track. so
that the express trains may
PASS WITHOUT INTERRUPTION.
When the engine driver neared this point
he observed the correct signals and of course
went ahead. We were going at the rate o
} thirty-four miles at this time. As soon a
! the engine of our train was close TO tina
standing on the side track the driver coulC
3 see hat the train was upon the wrong track
D the switchman having neglected to put tn
. switch in its proper place. FreebOrn did al
D he could, which was very little; he instantl.
] saw the danger at hand, and applied the air