The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-10
L FEARFUL WRECK.


siscs Scalded and Roasted to Death-Lisi
of the Dead and Wounded.
TORONTO, ONT, Jan. ..
one of the most frigdtful railway acct
deuts that ever occurred in Canada took
UIaoe ruIs morning at five minutes to sew
"a. l1ovdt fifteen minutes previous su'
burban train consisting of dummy engine
and two cars on the Great Western division
ni 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 sharp curve just before
re icning the Bolt Wo ks the engineer saw
a freight train coming thundering down
the grade toward him. He reversed the
engine, blew a 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 u second more there was a terrific crash.
L
boilers Of the dummy clear through the
first car, crushing the unfortunate PaSSen-
gers in every direction, and planning many
10 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 ms antly.
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 manSIed and
bleeding men. Then the fire, as if mad
dened at other age cieS clUtching so many
victims, broke out and completed the sick
euing work, OF destruction. Shrieks,
grOanS and heartreHdinS cries for help
from the agonIZed Sufferers rent the air.
Several poor fellows, suf ring untOlC
agOnies, with limbs and bodies burnt to a
crisp, piteou>ly ilnpiOred those near them
to pour water upon their scaldel limbs or
put an end to their Sufferings. Strong
men looked on appalled, and many an eye
was dim with tears. With every possible
III ase 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 LETT 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. \ relief party of thirty
or forty men were soon on the scene and at
one. set at work slowly and tenierly to
rescue the sufferers, AMI at on ten O'Clock
a carload of dead and injured was ON the
wav to the CT "
On arriving at the Union station an am.
bUlance, station wagon and several cabs
and 'busses were in waiting. A large crowd
had gail ered, and as one after another of
the dead and wounded were carried from
the car to the cOuveyarc"S many turned
sick at the sight. The woun led men bore
IL cir sufTeringS with f0rtitute and pa
thence. few groans being the only indica-
ton Of their intense agony.
The scene at the mOrguH begoars deScrip-
ton. There We're fifteen bodies laid side
by side i'll rows. Mothers, sisters, fathers
and brothers were to be seen passing from
holy to body, and with trembling hands
lifting the coverlef and gazing on tue faces
of the dead. Now and then a cry of anguish
would tell too plainly of the discovery of
some dear one carried off i'll the prime OF
manhood.
At the hospital on arrival Of the wound.
ed, doctors ct o work sewing up wounds
and did all iii their power to alleviate the
suherings. One man, JnO. RIwlett, q ed
SHORTLY after arrival at the hospital. When
dliOti tltt u - ~ li''ist
aud asked TO o. allowed To walk. On look
ing down ne crie1: so. God, my legs are
off," And they were-burn-d OF.
sxThe Coroner empaneled a jury, who
Viewed tue bodies and tlen adJ Ourned I'LL
two O'clock, wien they again met. Some
evidence was taken and a further adjourn
ment had.
Baber, the conductor Of the freight train,
was imme tIaleiy placed under arrest. lie
admitted he got orders a. Hamilton TO run
to Queens wharf, avoiding all regular
trains. lie looked AZ his timetable, but
forgot the suburban train on the list of reg
ular trains. Barber did not show the order
10 the engineer, Jeife y, Of Stanford. This
was Jeifery's first t;ip on this part OF the
road, and he was to, ally una ,quain,ed with
the trains. The Only tram which was
PASSED between Hamilton AMI the point of
accid mt was the rcw~ paper train, going
west. TINS was passed at Mlmico. lie
had his mind, he says, on the express,
which leaves the city fifteen minut s after
the suburban.
Public sympathy is thoroughly aroused
for the unfortunate widows and children.
Already subscription lists have started and
offers of en;ert ailments made To provide
funds. Several families of the men killed
are in poor circumstances.
Besides Charles Thomas, fireman OF the
FIRE ght 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 chiSl.
j. kernahan; wife and family.
Alex. Carruthers; wife an large family. |
j. White; wife and five childreG.
Joseph Mcdonald, single.
W. Teriff. single.
Thos. Burns, single.
q. Prescott, single.
&. Scarf, single.
John Mckenzie, single.
CnaS. 5 anl2y, boy, aged fourteen.
Jno. ROwletJ; leaves wife and child.
Jno. Lynch; wife and family.
Eddie Robinson, boy.
Sam Baily, wIdOwer; leaves a family. |
II. G. Herman; vile and Child only six 4
days old.
Fred BOethroyd, single.
Hugh Cunningham; wife and three chill I
dren.
Three othe are not expected to live !
through the night.
The severely injured are V. Rogers, /
Patrick Norton, Matthew Walker, Patrick .
Cavauaugh.
The following were slightly injured: w. (
Richard Carutners, Michael .
Kelly, Charles Mcdonald, James Kelly, /
Alexander Banks, John Aggett, John Cor 1
rigan, Victor Gireaux, ThOs. Mcdonald and 4
two Montgomery brothers.
The damage to rolling stock is $1,000.
Manager Hickson OF the Grand Trunk i'm !
mediately wired Rage, local manager, to T
give every care to the wounded.