Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-10
A FEARFUL WRECK.


Canada = Twenty-Five Lives Lost and
Many Injured, Some FataIly-The Vic
Tins Scalded and Roasted to Death List
of the Dead and Wounded.
TORONTO, ONT, Jan. q
One of the most frightful railway acct
dents that ever occurred in Canada took
place this morning at five minutes to sew
en-. About 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 BLOWN 6
the snow against the car windows, the
merry crowd did not heed it as they told
how they spent New Year.
On rounding 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 stump,
boys, for your lives" sprang 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 balance.
The engineer of the freight train, when
he saw 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
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 untold
agonies, with limbs and bodies burnt to a
crisp, piteously implored those near them
to pour water upon their scalded limbs or
put an end to their sufferings. 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 a 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 tenderiy to
rescue the sufferers, and about ten O'Clock
carload of dead and injured was on the
way to the city.y
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 conveyances many turned
sick at the sight. The wounded men bore
their sufferings with fortitude and pa
thence, q few groans being the only indica-
ton of their intense agony.
The scene at the morgue beggars descrip.
ton. There were fifteen bodies laid side
by 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 to alleviate the
sutferings. One man, Jno. Rowlett, died
shortly after arrival at the hospital. When
found among the debris he spoke chserfully
and asked to be allowed to walk. On look
ing down he cried: so, God, my legs are
The Coroner empaneled a jury, who
viewed the bodies and tten adjourned till
two O'Clock, when they again met. Some
evidence was taken and q further adjourn
ment had.
Baber, the conductor of the freight train,
was Immediately placed under arrest. He
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, Jsffery, of Stratford. This !
was Jetfery's first trip on this part of the |
road. and he was totally unacquainted with |
the trains. The only train which was |
passed between Hamilton and the point OF
accident was the newspaper train, going |
west. This was passed at Mimico. He |
had his mind, he says, on the express, |
which leaves the city fifteen minutes after |
Public sympathy is thoroughly aroused |
for the unfortunate widows and children. |
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; loves a wife and two
children.
c. Spohn, single; was to be married to-
night.
H. Mulligan; leaves wife and child.
j. kernahan; wife and family.
Alex. Carrutiers; wife and large family.
j. White; wife and five children.
Joseph Mcdonald, single.
w. Teriff, single.
Thos. Burns. single.
G. Prescott single.
G. Scarf, single.
John Mckenzie, single.
Chas: Stanley, a boy, aged fourteen.
Jno. Rowlett; leaves wife and child.
Jno. Lynch; wife and family.
Eddie Robinson, boy.
Sam Baily, a widower; leaves family.
H. G. Herman; wife and child only six
lays old.
Fred Boethroyd, single.
Hugh Cunninsham; wife and three chill
lren.
Three Others are not expected to live
through the night.
The severely injured are w. Rogers,
Patrick Norton, Matthew Walker, Patrick
The folIowin. were slightly injured: w.
Richard Caruthers, Michael
Kelly, Charles Mcdonald, James Kelly,
Alexander Banks, John Aggett, John Cor
igan, Victor Gireaux, Thos. Mcdonald and
wo Montgomery brothers.
The damage to rolling stock is $1,000.
;,1y x1fk I |