Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-15


ductor E. Morrill,, Of the passenger
train, and Mr.. James Harley, of Eden
burg, Clarion county, Pa, and assisted
by several of the farmers living in the
neighborhood, labored earnestly to ex-
tricate the suffering, to ease the pain of
the injured, and comfort the mourning
friends of the dead. These persons,
and particularly the two gentlemen
whose names have been mentioned,
deserve that their names be enshrined
on Memory's unfadiug tablet for their
labor of love.
As soon as possible the special train
train from Steubenville took on board
the bodies of the dead and the injured
passengers with their friends and sped
back In haste toward Steubenville.
Here the cOrPSes OF eleven dead per-
sons were laid out in Christian form,
while the wounded were taken to the
hospital In Steubenvllle, and there
submitted to the most skillful treat
meat at the hands OF accomplished
surgeons. The scene here was calculs-
ted to move the stoutest heart. The
cries and groans Of the injured were
pitiful beyond description. During
the day two more deaths occurred at
the hospital, Engineer Dugan dying at
8 o'clock and a German emigrant
named Bernhardt Miller about the
same time. The fourteenth victim,
Mary Haley, died last night.
HOW DID 1T HAPPEN?
It was not until after the excitement,
which in Steubenville knew no bOnnds,
had begun to abate somewhat that the
inquiry was made, "HOw did 1t hap
pen?" Superintendent FELTON, who was
In Columbus al the time OF the disss-
trous affair, made a hasty visit from
that place to the scene of the casualty,
and while doing all in his power to re-
iieve the wants of the victims, at the
same time pressed with great vigOr an
inquiry into the cause of the horror.
The passenger train was, when the
accident occurred, two or three min
utes behind time, but with the right
of track, and running on orders. The
freight was endeavOring to make Min
go Junction to pass the Fast Line, but
should have been there fifteen minutes
sooner. The conductor Of the freight
train, William Sterling, reported
at once to Mr.. Barrett, the train mast
er at Steubenville, that his watch had
stopped; that he was not aware of that
fact, and when he looked at it just
little before the accident occurred,
found he had just four minutes In
which to 20 to MingO, and still have
time to go upon the siding. There
was rumor, which was unfOunded,
that Sterling had ran away when the
accident occurred. He stood his ground,
and will be investigated.
The engineer of the train, Mr.. Gra-
ham, who was making his first trip In
that capacity, had his own watch,
he does not claim to have been wrong.
His statement is simply that he was
acting under the orders OF the con-
ductor.
Superintendent FELTON, said last night
that he had no doubt but that the
statement of Sterling VAS true. He
did not say, however, thai it was any
palliation for the accident. As to
whether the failure ofSterl;ug to know
that his watch had stopped was or was
not gross carelessness, MIR. FELTON, was
non-commlttal.
1t was rumOred last night that Gra-
ham had demurred to Sterling when
the latter had ordered him to run to
Mingo, but without effect. This IS
probably untrue, as Graham makes no
such statement.
WHAT THE PAssENG ERs SAY.
The following statements were made
by passengers on the Fast Line to re- |
porters of the Steubenville Gazette:
John carp, Esq, Professor ..of Lam |
guages, Asbury University, Green
castle, Ind, says the makeup of the |
train consisted of two mail cars, a bag
gage, one emigrant car, second of
mixed passengers, and third one, first |
class, with two sleepers in the rear. We |
were running on time, or thereabouts
within q minute or 80, and while turn
Ing a curve one mile beyond Mlngo, 1
was dosing on my seat In the second |
car, when the sudden application OF the
air brake sarOund me, and suddenly
q perfect shower of glass
and splinters of wood flying past the
The rapid succession of
groans and cries for help too
suddenly broke to my mind the sad
reality of what had happened. In the
car the occupants were chief.
Iy German and Scotch families going
70 Kansas. I was not hurt myself, nor
vas any one In the rear of my car, or
the sleepers behind 1t. The conductor
was in our Car, and he, and several
others rushed to the hind door, where
We got out, and through the darkness
could only obtain partial sight OF the
lismal wreck, but sufficient to thrill
he soil with horror and to demand
Iuick action. The conductor took
prompt action in giving the alarm up
he line. 1 could fairly discern part Of
;he wreck down the embankment, and
Is soon as lights could be procured my
Eyes met the borrowing sight of some
hirty killed or MANNED persons lying
n various directions-in short the
Gene was indescribable. Very soon
he farmers residing in the vicinity,
lroused by the crash, hurried to the
Gene with lamps and lanterns, and, to
heir honor be it said, worked manfuI~
y rendering assistance to the unfortu-
late. The first passenger car was
mashed with the second, and down
he embankment of twenty feet on each
ide of the track were the mail and
baggage cars, the locomotives and end ,
ess debris In one confused mass. In
he first, or emigrant car, 1 fear none
lardly escaped, while In the fore part
u the second car the passengers were ,
'adly used, but escaped in the hind
,ortion. observed one poor mother
rom Bridgeport, Conn.,, on her way to /
Kansas, with two daughters, respec- I
lively about five and thirteen years of
ge, her son-in-law and wife; and her :
randmother, all injured but the first ,
amed who is widow. The grand
mother died while being conveyed 6
rom the wreck to the hospital. 1t was
lso thought that one OF the children /
Fould die. A Mrs. Haley, on her way 3
o Atchison, Kansas, was very danger
usly ipjured-legs broken and other !
wise cut and bruised, while baby !
hree months old, which she was nurs> !
ng, was found some fifteen feet from
er in bush, near the creek, not in r
lred. A boy. named Robert Bonner
ne, nine years, his brother, seven, their /
lother and grandmother, formed an {
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