The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-01-25
HORROR.
Train Wrecked and Five Men
Burned to Death.

Elmfra, n. Y, 23.-Erie train number
twelve, from Buffalo, left Elmira lsst
night at IL O'Clock for New York. The
train consisted Of one postal car, one ex-
press car, two baggage cars and nine
passenger coaches. Most of them Pull
man sleepers. When five nailos west of
Owego near Tioga Centre, enc Of the
driving wheel axles of the locomotive
broke close up to the wheel and the
entire train. gong at rate Of thirty-fve
miles an hour, was thrown from the
track. The accident occurred where there
was no embankment. The engine kept
its feet. The engineer applying the air
brakes as soon as he felt the shock, the
cars we're stopped very quickly, but the
forward ones were turned over and over
two or three times, some going on one
side the track and some the other. The
postal car contained four clerks. This
car almost instantly took fire
and burned like gunpowder. The oil
lamp used probably exploded and added
fuel to the fire from the stove. Every
man in the car was roasted to crisp.
he remains OF one. who weighed over
two hundred, were gathered up and put
in q small box. In The express car was
Messenger Henry @. Brewer. of ElmirA.
Efforts were made to relieve him. A
hole was cut inside the door Of the car
so that he got his head out, but his legs
were fastened by the piled up msss Of
express MISTER. The train men tried to
pull him out, but the flames drove them
away. They saw his hair and whiskers
burned of, and then he put his hand up
| to his eyes, and fell back into the flames.
Five men in all were burned. No pas
sengers were injured. The men 10 the
postal car must have perished very
| quickly as not q sound came from the
wreck except the cracking flames. The
names of the dead are Joseph Redinger.
mail agent, Henry 9. Brewer, express
| agent. of Elmira, Mail Agent Seybolt of
Mount Hope, Ingrahsm, of Binghsmp-
/ ton, and Mail weigher Fox OF New YORK.
The passengers collected from all parts
of the tram and we're supplied with
shovels from the village. They tried TO
extinguish the flames by throwing snow
on the burning cars eThey were soon
assisted by the arrival Of the fire depart
ment of 0wego. The three forward cars
were burning at the same time. and soon
afterwsrd the smoking car began to
blaze. One Of these had been occupied
by an Alabama negro minstrel troupe,
| the mem O6Fs OF WHICH 0aQ Dee0 hQlc W
escape without any further injuries than
some severe scratches. This car was
lying on its side, and it was some time
before all got out. Baggagemsster Perry
was found to have dislocSted his arm,
and Col. Vilay assisted two other men in
pulling bis arm into joint while he lay
on the STOW. After this he worked like
Trojan, and with the help Of some pas
sengeTs he was able to save every piece
Of baggage. The coolness and discipline
diplayed by the employees Of the train
was remarkable. 1t wa by their effort;
that 3 serious panic was prevented Al
it was, all be passengers were at mrs.
much frightened, and many Of them
rushed from the cars half dressed bu'
when they saw the danger was over they
became quiet and were very willing Il
land their assistance in caring for thos'
who were injured and in putting out tn
fire.