Daily Republican., 1884-01-03
RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
TwEHTY-TwO PERSONS KILLED
AND A IAkyGE NUMBER
sEVEREL y INJUkyD.

IOkONTo, Ont, Jan, 2---One of the
most frlghtful railroad accidents that
ever occurred In Canada took place this
morning at five minutes past seven o..
CLOCK. About fifteen minutes previous
suburban train, consisting If !, dunn.
my engine and two cars oij The Great
W estern Division of the Grand Trunk
Hallway, left the Union Station, hav.
ing on board about sixty Passengers.
chiefly employed In the bolt and iron
works at Humber, who reside in
thls cisy and who were going 10 their
work.
They were all Ia the best Of AI,nor-
and, alshough the weather was pierre
ing cold, the gale blowing the snow
against the car windows, the nerrv
crowd did not heed 1t az thev told how
they spent New Years day. Upon
rounding sharp curve, lust before
reaching the bolt works. tie engineer
saw freight train tia; ndering down
grade towards him. He reversed his
engine, shneked Cut waning, and.
along with his freman, .japped for his
life.
The eondustor heard the warning, ard
crying out, Jump boys, for your
lives spraLg into the SNOW. In q &C.
cond more there was a terrific crash, The
engine OF the freight tram knocked tho
boiler OF the mmy clean through the
hrst car, crushing the unfortunate pas
sengers in every directis on, and pinning
many OF them to the foo-. The impetus
was 10 great that the engine actually
mounted the truck of the dummy which
kept to the rails and remained on. bal
8nce.
The engineer Of the freight train,
when he SAW that collision was ineyi-
table sprang from his engine, but
Thomas-the fireman was instantly
killed. To add to the horror of the
scene TIE boiler Of the dummy exploded
anu the escaping steam and boiling
water scaIded and carried death or ter
rible injuries to the mangled and bleed
ing men. Then fire broke out and COM
pleted the work of destruction.
Shrieks, groans and beartrending
cries for hel y from the agonized sufferer
rent the air. Several poor fellows, suf-
feriDg untold agonies with their limbs
and bodies burned to crisp, pit-
eously impored those near them to pour
water on their scalded limbs or TO put
an end to their sutferings. Strong men
looked on appalled,, and many an ~ ewas
dim with tears. Every possible phase
OF disagreement was to be seen-linbs
cut, mangled and bruised, hair eaten
away by fire or swollen to an enormous
size by the action Of steam and water.
The scene at the morgue beggars de-
scriptton. Fifteen bodies lay side by
side In two rows, on opposite sides OF
the room. Mothers, fathers, sisters and
brothers were to be seen passing from
body to body and, with trembling hands,
lifting 'he coverlet to gaze on the faces
of the dead. Now and again a cry Of
anguish was heard, which told too
plainly Of the discovery of 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 imme-
diately proceeded to undress them,
v lille the doctors set to work sewing up
the wounds and dressing those who
were terribly scalded.
Some of the latter were burned from
head to foot by the steam; one OF tho
victims, John Rowlett, died shortly
after arriving at the hospital. When
found among the debris lie spoke cheer
fully, and asked to be allowed to walk.
On looking down he cried 90 God!
ny legs are Off" and 50 they were,
burned off.
Coroner Lind empanelled jury, who
1t once met and viewed the bodies and
hen adjourned until 2 o'clock, when
hey again met and some evidence was
AIKEN, and further adjournment was
lad until Tuesday night .
Barber, conductor OF the freight train,
vas Immediately placed unier arrest.
ie admitted that he got orders at Ham
lton to run to Queens Wharf, Toronto,
voiding all regular trains. He looked
It the timetable, but forgot that tho
uburban train was on the list Of regu-
ar trains, hence the accident.
Public sympathy was thoroughly
reused for the unfortunate widows and
and already subscription lists
ave been started, and offers of enter
,inmenIs made to provide funds for
heir aid. The families of several Of
he men killed are in poor circumstan-
es, and could ill-afford to lose their
read-winners.