The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-09-17
A COLLISION,
On the B. g. o. Railroad at
Thornton.
That Results i'm the Death of
Four Persons and the
WOunding of More
than a Dozen
Others.
Horrible Deaths and Miracu-
lOus Escapes.
Heart Rending Scenes and Incidents.

Heart Rending Scenes and Incidents.
Our readers have no doubt heard
of the dreadful railroad accident that
occurred at Thornton last week, but
for the information Of those who have
not read the particulars we give a
portion of the Grafton Senttaers ac-
count of the horror:
The most appalling accident that
has occurred on the B. d O. railroad
in the last twenty five years, occurred
at Thornton, station five miles east
of Grafton on last Thursday, about
Is minutes after II o'clock.
This terrible accident was caused
by the Chicago express, No. 8, run
ming into the rear of No. 6, Cumber
land accommodation, which had
stopped at the depot to put off and
take ON passengers and which was
about to start when the express came
in sight nearly half mile from the
station. There is almost straight
stretch of track for the distance above
named from the Thornton depot plat
form, but Notwithstanding this fact
the engineer of the express did not
realize the fact that the accommoda-
ton train was standing at the plat
form on the same track, and had
trayersed probably half the distance
before he became fully aware of the
situation. He Immediately applied
the air brakes and reversed his en-
CINE. 1t is said that the hose Of the
brakes burst by the great strain so
suddenly put upon them, which they
must have done for the reason that
the train came laundering on with no
preceptible slackening of it's speed,
and plowcd into the rear of the ac-
commodation train, loaded with it's
freight Of human beings, many of
whom were destined to the most hor-
rible suferings and death.
The engineer, Vernon Bell, Of the
accommodation, when he discovered
that the express was approaching,
and realizing the situation, endeav-
ored to get his train started and un-
der Roadway, in order to avert as
much as possible, the terrible force of
the collision he saw to be inevitable
But the time was short and he had
but little more than succeeded in get
ting his train moving when the terri
BILE crash came. The scene which
followed beggars description. The
rear car of the accommodation con-
tanned about forty persons, men,
women and children-every seat be-
ing occupied. The engine of the ex-
press was driven its full length into
the car. The momentum of the ex-
press was so great that both trains
were showed q distance of not less
than four hundred yards. The scene
presented was terrible to behold.
For time everybody was fairly par
alyzed With horror; but the second
thought soon returned, and in few
minutes many willing and heroic
hands were at work rescuing the
wounded from their awful positions
amid the wreck and ruin of the I'M
fortunate train A great many had
escaped through the doors and win
dows of the car, while others were
buried beneath the shattered timbers,
broken seats and debris of the
wrecked car, and what was still more
awful, exposed to the scalding and
escaping steam from the engine. The
smoke stack and steam pipes were
broken off and the steam poured
from the engine, scalding its victims
until they were scarcely recognizable
by their most intimate friends.
The work of rescuing the MANNED
passengers required some time and
was characterized by much difficulty.
Tie passenger car. which sat astride
! Of the locomotive was so filled with
escapibr steani that it was impossi
bic for anyone to 90 inside, and the
work of rescuing those who were in
the wreck had to be done ION the
outside. Men stood on the grtGnd
while others got upon their shoulders
and pulled the wounded out through
! the car windown. The most difficult
task was the rescue of the little
daughter of ex-Attorney General
White, of Wheeling. She was found
Immediately over the boiler exposed
to the rushing and escaping steam,
in which position she was fastened
by the debris of the wreck.
The wounded, as fast as they were
/ L Al
hastily improvised hunks made from
| the cushions taken from the other
passenger cars, and placed in
cool and shady spot. The citizens of
Thornton responded promptly to the
demands of the occasion and fur
nished every aid in their power to al
leviate as much as possible the terri
bic suferings of the injured. There
were no physicians present and the
only t., ing that could be done for the
scalded was to wrap them in -four,
which was promptly done.
There is no telegraph station at
Thornton, and Capt James Anderson,
supervisor of engines on the third di-
vision, who was on the accommoda-
ton, started for Grafton with the To-
connective of that train for medical aid
and other assistance. All the ply
sicians in town who could be had
were notified and in a very short time
L