Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-08-30
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
A Freight Train Hurled Down an
Embankmeat
And Two Bridgeport Men KiiIed---Naro~
Escape eff Three 0thers---Honible
Wreck - Beyeied Wheels
the Cause.

Two men were killed almost instantly on
the Cleveland, Lorain and Wheeling rail-
road, on Thursday night about halfpast ii
o'clock. They were both BridgepOrters-
JOHN Exton, an engineer, and James Bull
ger, a brakeman. They were killed in an
accident which occurred at the above time
at Saltwater station, just 40 miles west of
bridgeport and which was probably the worst
accident that has ever occurred on this
,osd. They were both running ON freight
ain No. % southbound, and consisting of
n 1t; six cars, all of which were empty flats
" tn the exception of three There we're two
box cars and one loaded with lumber The
train was little ahead Of time, and running
less than ten miles an hour TO kill time.
THE TRAIN MEN.
The engineer was John Exton, the fire.
man Walker Zimmerman, the conductor
Daniel Savage, the front brakeman James
Bulger, and the hind brakeman Turner Dun.
can, all of Bridgeport Everything passed
of smoothly until the train was a short
distance the other side of Still
water station, ( when without any
warning the engine No. 4 jumped the track
and turned end over end, running over the
sides of the'track and through a pile Of
lumber and over an embankment of about
| 10 feet. Twelve or fourteen cars followed
in this way, number of which passed over
the engine. The engine and all Of these
cars were demolished,
PRESENTING SCENE UNSURPASSED
in the history of the c., L. 4 W. road.
When the accident happened the trainmen
were panic stricken. Hinerman, the fire.
man, attempted to jump from the engine
window to save his life, and was thrown on
the lumber, but strange to say escaped I'M
injured. Savage, the conductor, and Dun
can, the hind brakeman, were both In the
caboose and received a good shaking up.
but were not hurt. Exton, the engineer,
and Bulger the head brakeman, were less
fortunate, both losing their lives. A wreck
ing train was sent for and the uninjured
irainmen at onre began clearing away the
debris in search for the bodies Of ExtOn and
Bulger.
The KILLED.
After some little difficulty the body of
Exton was found against the boiler head
still on his seat and with his head and arms
d tween his legs His muscles were sull
T. owing, hut he never spoke another worl
ID was dead in a few minutes. His right
l.g bones and all was badly mashed below
I've knee. and he was terribly scalded
\ ULCERS body was found soon afterwards
| lie was still conscious and talked freely, but
led in less than three hours He was also
erribly scalded, his head cut aud believed
10 he injured internally. Their bodies were
raken to Urichsville on a special and dress
I'd. Dr. Cady, the railroad physician, was
Sary. Exton and Bulger are each about
% years of age The former gentleman
vas a member Of the Knights OF Pythias
Lodge of Bridgeport. The Tuscarawas
Lodge No. Is, of Urichsville, took charge of
their bodies and brought them down on
train No l, which dill not reach Bridgeport
until about o'clock, as the road was
blockaded until nearly o'clock. The
funerals will take place on Sunday.
WHERE THE BLAME LAY.
Nobody is to blame for the accident but
the company if we are not mistaken. The
wheels Of the engine had become so beveled
that they were liable to throw it off the
track at any time They have been this
way for weeks, it is stated and became
sharper every day. This matter should
have been looked after and new trucks put
on long ago BY somebody's negligence
the dear lives Of the two young men have
been lost and if it turns out that the acct
dent was caused by the beveling of the
wheels the company will have to pay for its
carelessness. The Ewheels it is believed
struck spur causing them to jump the
track. The cause of this terrible accident
may be otherwise, but this is believed to De
The true theory Recently an engineer who
is now on another road, it is reported said
that he would rather back the engine No.
y to Urichville any day than run her head
first, on account OF her wheels, also that
several first class funerals would be the re,
suit if new wheels were not put on. His
prediction has came true. The accident
was at first much worse than 1t was and
created considerable excitement in Bridge
port.
X. OF P. FUNERAL NOTICE.
The members of Bridgeport Lodge No.
lO9, X. of P. are requested to meet a,
Castle Hall this evening at o'clock, to
make arrangements to attend the funeral
of our deceased brother, John Exton. A
full attendance is desired By order Of
Chancellor Commander.
John Exton will be buried Sunday after,
noon under the auspices of Belmont Lodge
No 100, X. of P. Of Bridgeport.