The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28
A FEARFUL WRECK.


Si.rs Scalded and Roasted to Death-Lisf
of the Dead and Wounded.
TORONTO, ONT, jan. 9.
one of the most frightful railway acci-
derts that ever occurred in Canada took
UIace snIs morning at five minutes TO sew
~. z6vdt fifteen minutes previous a su.
burban train consisting of a dummy engine
and two cars on the Great Western division
of the Grand Trunk left Union Station,
having aboard about sixty passengers,
chiefly employees of the Bolt and Iron
Works at Humber, residing in the city, who
were going to their work. Each was hap
pier than the other, and, although the
weather was severely cold, gale blowing
the snow against the car windows, the
merry crowd did not heed it as they told
how they spent New Year.
On rounding a sharp curve just before
reaching the Bolt Works the engineer saw
a freight train coming laundering down
the grade toward him. He reversed the
engine, blew warning and with the fire.
man jumped for his life. The conductor
heard the warning, and shouting Jump,
boys, for your lives," spranS into the snow.
In a second more there was terrific crash.
The engine OF the freight train knocked the
boilers of the dummy clear through the
first car, crushing tine unfortunate paSSen-
gers in every direction, and pinning many
to the floor. The impetus was so great the
engine actually mounted the truck of the
dummy which kept the rails, and remained
on a balance.
The engineer of the freight train, when
he saw a collision was inevitable, sprang
from the engine, but Thomas, the fireman,
was killed instantly.
To add to the horror of the scene, the
boiler of the dummy exploded and the
steam and boiling water caused the death
and terrible injuries to the mangled and
bleeding men. Then the fire, as if mad
dened at other agencies clutching so many
victims, broke out and completed the sick
ening work, of destruction. Shrieks,
grOans and heartrending cries for help
from the agOniZed sufferers rent the air.
Several poor fellows, suffering untOlG
agOnies, with limbs and bodies burnt TO
crisp, piteouSly implored those near them
to pour water upon their scalded limbs or
put an end to their sufferiugs. Strong
men looked on appalled, and many an eye
was dim with tears. With every possible
phase of Disagreement to be seen, limbs
cut, bruised, mangled, half eaten away by
fire, swollen to enormous size by steam and
water, no possible horror was left to the
Imagination. No more awful scene could
be witnessed.
The first passenger car was terrible
wreck and several hours elapsed before
the poor fellows buried beneath the debris
were extricated. A relief party of thirty
or forty men were soon on the scene and at
once set at work slowly and tenderly to
rescue the sufferers, and about ten O'Clock
a carload of dead and injured was on the
way to the city,
On arriving at the Union station an am
bulance, station wagon and several cabs
and 'buSses were in waiting. a large crowd
had gathered, and as one after another of
the dead and wounded were carried from
the car TO the convevanceS many turned
sick at the sight. The wounded men bore
their sufferings with fortitude and pa
tience, a few groans being the only indica-
ton Of their intense agony.
The scene at the morgue beggarS deScrip-
tion. There We're fifteen bodies laid side
bv side in rows. Mothers, sisters, fathers
and brothers were to be seen passing from
body to body, and with trembling hands
lifting the cOverlet and gazing on the faces
of the dead. Now and then cry of anguish
would tell too plainly of the discovery of
some dear one carried off in the prime of
manhood.
At the hospital on arrival of the wound.
ed, doctors set to work sewing up wounds
and did all in their power 20 alleviate the
sutferings. One man, Jno. ROwlett, died
found amonS the debris he spoke cheeriully
and asked 10 be- allowed to walk. On look
ing down he Grief: so. God, my legs are
off," And they were-burned off.
The Coroner empaneled Il jury, who
viewed the bodies and tlcn adjourned till
two O'Clock, when they again met. Some
evidence was taken and further adjourn
ment had.
Baber, the conductor of the freight train,
was Immediately placed under arrest. He
admitted he got orders at Hamilton to run
to Queens wharf, avoiding all regular
trains. He looked at his timetable, but
forgot the suburban train on the list of reg
ular trains. Barber did not show the order
to the engineer, Jetfery, OF StratfOrd. This
was Jetfery's first trip on this part OF the
road, and he was totally unacquaihted with
the trains. The only train which was
passed between Hamilton and the point of
accident was the newspaper train, gong
west. This was passed at MimicO. He
had his mind, he says, on the express,
which leaves the city fifteen minut-s alter
the suburban.
Public sympathy is thoroughly aroused
for the unfortunate widows and children.
Already subscription lists have started and
offers of entertainments made TO provide
funds Several families OF the men killed
are in poor circumstances.
Besides Charles Thomas, fireman of the
freight train, the following were killed in
stantly:
G. Aggett; leaves wife and child.
Joseph keefer; leaves a wife and two
children.
c. Spohn, single; was to be married to-
night.
r. Mulligan; leaves wife and child.
j. Kernahau; wife and family.
Alex. Carruthers; wife and large family.
j. White: wife and five children.
Joseph Mcdonald, single.
w. Teriff, single.
Thos. Burns, single.
G.. Prescott, single.
e.. Scarf, single.
John Mckenzie, single.
Chas. SJanlsy, boy, aged fourteen.
Jno. Rowlett; leaves wife and child.
Jno. Lynch; wife and family.
Eddie Robinson, boy.
Sam Baily, a Yidower; leaves family.
II. c. Herman; wife and child only six
days old.
Fred Boethroyd, single.
Hugh Cunningham; wife and three chill
dren.
Three Others are not expected to live
through the night.
The severely injured are ". Rogers,
Patrick Norton, Matthew Walker, Patrick
Cavanaugh.
The following were slightly injured: W.
Fitzgerald, Richard Caruthers, Michael
Alexander Banks, John Aggett, John Cor
rigan, Victor Gireaux, ThOs. Mcdonald and
two Montgomery brothers.
The damage to rolling stock is $4,000.
Manager HickSon of the Grand Trunk i'm
mediately wired Ragge, local manager, to
give every care to the wounded.