The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-09
RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
A Collision on the Grand Trunk Rail-
way.


ever occurred In Canada took place
this morning at five minutes to Z
O'Clock. About fifteen minutes pre-
vlous suburban train, consisting of
a dummy engine and two cars, on
the Great Western Division of the
Grand Trunk Railway left the Union
Station. having on board about so
passengers, chiefly employees in the
bolt and iron works at Humber, who
resided in this city, and who were
going to their work. They were all
In the best of humor, aud, although
the weather was piercing cold, the
gale blowing the snow against the
Car windows, the merry crowd did
not heed it as they told of how they
had spent New Years day. Upon
rounding sharp curve, just before
reaching the bolt works, the engin-
eer saw a freight train laundering
down grade toward HIM. He revers-
ed his engine, shrieked out a warn
ing, and, along with his fireman,
jumped for his life.
The conductor heard the warning,
and crying out Jump, boys, for your
lives = sprang into the snow. In a
second more there was terrific crash.
The engine of the freight train
knocked the boiler off the dummy
clean through the first car, crushing
the unfortunate passengers in every
direction and pinning many of them
to the floor The impetus was so
great that the engine actually
mounted the truck of the dummy,
which kept to the rails and remain
ed on a balance.
The engineer of the freight train,
when he saw that collision was in
evitable, sprang from his engine,
but Thomas, the fireman, was in
stantly killed. To add to the horror
of the scene the boiler of the dummy
exploded, and the escaping steam
and boiling water scalded and car
ried death or terrible injuries to the
mangled and bleeding men. Then
fire broke out and completed the
work of destruction. Shrieks, groans
and heartrending cries for help from
the agonized sufferers rent the air.
Several poor fellows suffering un-
told agonies, with their limbs and
bodies burnt to crisp, piteously
implored those near them to pour
water upon their scalded limbs. or to
put an end to their sufferings. Strong
men looked on appalled,, and many
an eye was dim with tears. Every
possible phase of Disagreement was
to be seen-limbs cut, mangled and
bruised, half eaten away by fire or
swollen to an enormous size by the
action of steam and water.
No more awful scene could be
witnessed nor was any possible hor-
ror left to the imagination. The first
passenger car was a terrible wreck,
and several hours elapsed before the
poor le!lows buried beneath the de
bris could be extricated. A relief
party of thirty or forty men was sent
to the scene and at once slowly and
tenderly set to work to rescue the
sufferers, and at about ten o'clock
car load of the dead and injured was
on the way to the city. On arriving
at the Union Station an ambulance
wagon and several cabs and busses
were In waiting.
A large crowd had gathered, and
as one after another of the dead and
wounded was carried from the car to
the conveyauces many turned sick
at the sight, while others brushed
away the falling tears. The wounded
men bore their sufferings with forti
tude and patience, a few groans be-
ing the only indication of their in
tense agony.
The scene at the morgue beggars
description. Fifteen bodies Law side
by side In two rows on opposite sides
of the room. Mothers, fathers:sister !
and brothers were to be seen passing
from body 20 body and with tremb-
ling hands lifting the coverlet to
gaze on the faces of the dead. Now |
and again cry of anguish was heard. |
which told too plainly of the discov-
cry o. some dear one carried off in
the prime of manhood. The hospital |
from an early hour was crowded |
with relatives and friends of the
wounded. On the arrival of the /
wounded the full hospital staff i'm (
mediately proceeded to undress
them while the doctors set to work .
sewing up the wounds and dressing
those who were terribly scalded.
Some OF the latter We're burned from
head to foot by the steam.
Coroner Lind impaneled a Jury,
which at once met and viewed the
bodies and then adjourned until 2
O'Clock, when they again met and
some evidence was taken, and fur
ther adjournment was had until
Tuesday night.
One of the victims, John Rowlett,
died shortly after arriving at the
hospital. When found among the
debris he spoke cheerfully and asked
to be allowed to walk. On looking
down he cried:
"Oh, God my legs are off" And
so they were, burned off.
Barber, conductor of the freight
train, was Immediately placed under
arrest. He admitted that he got
orders at Hamilton to run to Queens
Wharf, Toronto, avoiding all regular
trains. he looked at the time table
but forgot that the suburban train
was on the list of regular trains, and
hence the accident.
Public sympathy was thoroughly
aroused for the unfortunate widows
and children, and already subscrip-
tlon lists have been started and Of
ters OF entertainments made to pro-
vide funds for their aid. The fami-
lies of several of the men
killed are in poor circumstances and
could i'll afford to lose their bread