The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-16
A WATERY BED.
Two Passenger Coaches Capsized
into Huron River.
Shaky Roadbed on the W. & L. E. R.
R., Nearly Solves the Problem
of Life for Twenty Passengers.

HURON, Feb. 1.-Two coaches attach
ed to the express going south on the
Wheeling Il Lake Erie Railroad cap
sized into the Huron river, about four
miles from here this morning, while GO
ing around a sharp bend on which the
lower rail had probably been under
mined by the recent high water. From
fifteen to twenty persons were on board,
all of whom are more or less injured,
none fatally. P. NJ. Ferguson had three
ribs broken, and Conductor Owens re-
ceived severe injuries, the extent of
which cannot now be stated. He was
jammed in the car and was eXtricated
by cutting a hole through the roof.
About twenty persons were on the
train, of whom none escaped without
some injury, but none very seriously.
The point at which the accident Oc-
Cured is a short distance this side of
Fries station, about four miles south of
here, where a sharp curve in the track
follows a bend in the Huron river. The
bank is about fifteen feet high, the track
running close to the edge, and the water
in the river about twenty feet in depth.
The track not being ballasted, the inner
rail of the curve was lower than it
should be. The train was running
about its usual speed, when the cOmbi-
nation express, baggage and smoking
car and passenger coach ATTACHED, sud-
denly capsized over the bank, complete
ly oyerturning one and half times and
landing on their sides in about ten feet
of water. The cOupling-pin of the for
ward coach held until that end swung
around somewhat, thereby preventing
their turning over second time, and
probably saving the lives of all inside.
In rolling over, the top of the coach split
open. Conductor Charles Owens fell
into the opening, and, partly closing, it
held him by his legs with his head un-
der water. He was rescued by one of
the passengers who had gotten out,
holding up his head until he could be
chopped loose. His sufferings until his
release was great, and, thinking he
could not escape, he begged to be put
out of misery. His injuries, however,
have proved not to be serious, as no
bones were broken. Among the injured,
aside from the conductor, are --
Schneider, brakeman, right arm broken
i'll two places; d. B. Smith, prominent
farmer of this section, severe confusion
of the shoulder; P. NJ. Ferguson, of HUI
ron, ribs fractured; an old lady, name
unknown, considerably bruised; Miss
Sarah Newton, confusion on the face
and nose badly cut,
The Union Express Company messen-
struck on the bank, receiving some
slight bruises only. The coaches lie al
most wholly submerged, and the pas
senger coach is wreck, having been
pretty we'll torn to pieces in rescuin g
those inside. The other car is not bad
ly damaged. Had the top of the coach
not broken off, thereby making place
for escape, it would have been hardly
possible to have saved those within it.
The primary cause of the accident was
the poor condition of the track, but the
curve is also said to be too sharp for so
dangerous a spot. Cars have been off at
that point before, but not resulting in
any damage the fact has not been men
toned. 1t should have received the at
tentiOn of the railroad authorities be-
fore this, and they can congratulate
themselves that no loss of life has Oc-
CURED in this instance. More atten-
tiOn will probably now be given to
proper ballasting to prevent the recur-
renee of such accidents.