Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-02-03
WHAT A PASSENGER SAW.

NEW YORK, January 23.
The passengers on the train ecked ut Tioga
Station reached New York tonight. Among
them was Henry C.Vid5, of Cleveland, General
Manager of the South Shore Line, one of the
passengers in the forward sleeping car. He
said to q Tribune reporter: 1.-THE crash oc-
CURED at about II :55 o'clock, hshould think
some time after had gone to bed. 1t was
very severe, and woke with start. Hastily
| putting on my coat, l rushed out and found
| myself one Of the first on the ground. At once
l began to look out for the unfortunate people
in the forward cars. The scene that presented
| itself was terrible. The postal car, which was
directly behind the engine, had been
thrown off into a. field at right
angles to tho track at distance
of nearly one hundred feet and
it was smashed all to pieces The flames im-
mediately began to rise from it, doubtless
caused by the fire in the stoves and the ex-
plosion Of the kerosene lamps with which the
car was lighted, and in less than five minutes
the whole car was in a blaze, which lighted up
the bare fields around with ghastly glare. 1t
lay in heap under a large elm tree, which
soon took fire and was cnveoped in flames.
Nothing could be seen at first Of the mail
clerks who hadocoupied the car and no sound
was heard from them. But when the roof Of
the chr caved in three Of the bodies could be
distinctly seen huddled up in one corner OF
the car where it is supposed they wore thrown
and killed by the first shock. The other body
was found in the opposite end Of tho car, and
all were so charrcd and blnckened that idCnt-
tication was almost impossible.
"The cars which followed the postal car
were not thrown from the roadway, but were
lying across the track in the utmost oonfu.
sion The express and baggage cars and the
smoking car were off the tracks the first
caught fire Immediately. The door to 1t was
completely blocked by the express matter in
the car, and Brewer, the agent was impris-
oned amid the flames. His cries attracted
attention and great efforts were made to ex-
tricate him from his terrible position, but in
vain. He had managed to get his head out of
a small window In the end Of the car, whore
he begged in piteous tones for those outside
to save him. The door was forced open a few
inches, which let in the air, and the flames
bursting out of the window, he fell back with
a gFoan and was not seen again alive. The
passengers had by this time collected from all
parts Of thetrain, audwere supplied with shov.
els from the village. They tried to extin.
guish the faincs by throwing snow upon
the burning cars Iney were soon
assisted by the Fire Department of. Owego
The three forward cars were burning at the
same time, and soon afterward the smoking-
car began to blaze. One Of these had been oc-
oupied by the Alabama Negro Minstrel
Troupe, the members Of which had been able
to escape without any further injuries than
some severe scratches and bruises. This car
was lying on It's side, and 1t was some time be.
fore all got out with the assistance of those
outside. The baggage master, Perry, was
found to have dslocated his arm, and
1 assisted two other men In pulling
his arm into joint while he lay on
the snow. After this no worked like
a Trojan, and with the help Of some of the
passengers he was able to save every piece OF
baggage. The GOODNESS and good discipline
displayed by the employees on the train was re-
markable. 1t was by their efforts that seri-
ous panic was prevented. As It was, all the
passengers were at first much frightened, |
many rushed from the cars, half dressed, but |
when they saw the danger was over they be.
came quiet, and were very willing lend their
assistance in caring for those who were in
jurcd and in putting out the fire."