Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-03
A RAILROAD MASSACRE.
TWENTY-sEVIsN LIVES LOST INA
COLLISION NEAR TORONTO.

A Conductor Running His Train With
out Orders Blamed for the CatastrO-
phe and Arrested-One Passenger
Killed and Seven Injured on an Ex-
press Train In Iowa.
TORONTO, Jan. 2.-This morning on the
Grand Trunk Railway a suburban train
lett Union Station at 6:40 O'Clock. One
Of the cars attached was filed with en-
ployes of a bolt works, who live in
the city and who are conveyed to their
daily labor by this means, the trains stop
ping for them opposite the works. After
turning a curve at Parkdale a boundary
freight train was observed coming city
ward, but the impetus of both trains was
too great to allow the brakes to do duty
in time and the result was a shocking
tragedy. Nineteen Of the men employed
at the bolt works are now reported
killed, and twenty or thirty wounded
The conductor of the freight train, George
Barber. is said to be responsible for the
horrible affair, as he was running his
tram without orders. He has been ar
rested.
TORONTO, Jan. ,, 10 P. M.-The latest
accounts place the number of dead at 27.
Several of the injured are so badly MANNED
that they are not expected to recover. A
jury has been impaneled, and has viewed
the bodies. The affair has cast a gloom
over the city. An eyewitness describes
the scene at the wreck as heartrending.
TORONTO, Dec. 3, , A. M.-'The train
carrying the wOrkmen had the right of
way. Upon rounding a sharp curve. Just
before reaching the bolt works. the engi-
neer saw the freight train laundering
down the grade towards him. He reversed
his engine, whistled a warning, and,
along with the 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 a terrific crash. The en-
gine of the freight train knocked the
boiler of the dummy clear 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
mounted the truck OF the dummy, which
kept on the rails and remained on its bal
ance. The engineer of the freight train,
when he saw that a collision was inevita-
bic, sprang from his engine, but the fire.
man was instantly killed, To add to the
horror of the scene, the boiler of the
dummy exploded, and the escaping steam
and boiling water scalded and carried
death or terrible injuries to the mangled
and bleeding men. Then fire broke out
and completed the work of destruction.
A relief party of thirty or forty men was
soon at the scene, and at once set
to work to relieve the sufferers, and
about 10 O'Clock a carload of dead and in
jured was on the way to this city. Upon
the arrival at the Union station an ambu-
lance wagon and several cabs and busses
were in waiting. Barber, the conductor
of the freight train, was Immediately
placed under arrest. He at once admitted
that he got orders at Hamilton to run to
Queens wharf at Toronto, avoiding all
regular trains. He looked at the time
table, but forgot that thR suburban train
was on the list of rec ilar trains, and
hence the accident. Pr llic sympathy was
thoroughly aroused II the unfortunate
widows and children, and already sub
scriptiOn lists have been started and offers
of entertainments made to provide funds
for their aid. The families of several of
the men killed are in poor circumstances.
TORONTO, Jan. 3, 2;30 A. M.-Fitteen
dead bodies were taken from the wreck.
Seven died after reaching the hospital,
Three more Will probably not live through
the night Twelve of the wounded are in
the hospital and four wounded men have
been taken to their homes. About sixty
persons were on the wrecked train.
ONE KILLED AND SEVEN INJURED.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa. Jan. "A passen-
ger train on the Illinois Central Road
struck a broken rail between Manson and
Barnum this morning, and the sleeping car
and two passenger coaches were thrown
down an embankment Is feet in height.
Mrs. j. III. Smith, Of Ohio, Burean county,
H., was instantly killed, and seven per-
sons were more or less injured.
TRAIN STRIKES A WAGON.
NAPOLEON, o., Jan. "A west bound
express train on the Wabash Railroad
last night struck a wagon near here con-
tanning five young men. Frank Long and
William ROhrers were instantly killed
and George Arps was seriously injured.
Long leaves a widow, but the rest were
unmarried. A freight train on a side
track concealed the approaching train.