The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-01
FRIGHTFUL MORTALITY
Among the Hands of a Wrecked
Railway Train.
Sne Ground 40 Pieces, One slowly
Roasted, Another Crushed Plat
-Some Terribly wounded
Men-Detafls.

WHEELING, W. Va, Oct. IA frightful
collision occurred at noon Monday at Farm
ngton, fifty miles east of this city, on the
Baltimore Il Ohio road between passenger
tram No 4, known as the cannon ball west
bound, ami through freight 50 The passen-
ger train which consisted of engine 70S, five
coaches, and the private car of one of the
Baltimore IL Ohio officers, was running at
the rate OF forty miles an hour, when, round
ing sharp curve it dashed with terrific
force into the freight train. The passenger
engine tore its way through the freight en-
glne and wrecked seven cars of stock, piling
the passenger coaches in a confused tumble
all over the track. The noise of the collision
was like that Of an artillery report A por-
ton OF the cars on the freight train were
filled with lime, and these being torn open
threw a. cloud like snow over
everything, and added to the horror
of the scene. The passengers fas-
tened in the cars sent out fright
full yells for assistance, and it was for time
believed that three-fourths of them were
killed, but it was afterward ascertained that
but one passenger, James Emmons, of New
ark, Ohio was injured, and he but slightly.
The crew of the two trains, however, suf-
fered frightfully in this respect Thomas
Turney, a brakeman, of Piedmont, w Va,
was caught between the two engines
as they passed and ground to small
bits. 1t is asserted that not a single
portion left weighs one pound Thomas
ODonnell, the fireman of the fast train, liv-
ing at Martinsburg, W. Va, suffered hor-
ribe death. He was thrown down and his
face pinioned against the hot boiler, where
he gradually burned TO death His body was
not released for several hours, when it was
found baked TO a crisp. George Leonard,
engineer, of Grafton, was crushed until he
was t1attened like cake, his face being so
misshaped that the body could not have been
identified except for the clothing. William
Atkins conductor of the freight, of Cam
bridge, Ohio, was caught by the broken
timbers and instantly killed. John
Smith and D. W. Boyd, both of Wheeling,
brakemen, received fatal injuries Boyd's
back was broken and both legs crushed.
Smith had his breast crushed in aud suffered
broken skull. James Easton, brakesman,
was pierced i'll the right lung, and also in
the abdomen by splmters and fatally injured.
S. C, Sappo, Mt. Vernon, Ohio mail agent
| T. J. Adams, mail agent, Evansville, Ohio
| legs broken and internal injuries; fatal.
| Joseph Duramin, conductor of the paSsen.
ger train was seriously, but not fatally in.
! jured.
A special train was sent out from this city
and the dead and wounded were properly
cared for.
| The scenes about the wreck are described
as frightfui. Shreds of flesh, pieces of bodies
ami bits of bones are scattered everywhere
Part of Atkins body was found on one side
of the track, fifty feet from the trunk. II
one place hand was found, but the body tt
which it belongs has not yet been identified
The damages to the property of the rail
road is fixed at 100000. The accident wa
caused by the freight conductor, who disc
beyed orders. He is one of the dead,