The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-21
A FEARFUL WRECK.

tiscs Scalded and Roasted to Death-List
of the Dead and Wounded.
TORONTO, ONT, JAM.
one of the most frightful railway acci
dents that ever occurred in Canada took
Uf1rce euis morning at five minutes to sew
"a. z6odt fifteen minutes previous 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, a 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
reaching the Bolt Works the engineer saw
a freight train coming laundering 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 a second more there was terrific crash.
1
boilers of the dummy clear through the
first car, crushing the 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
bleeding men. Then the fire, as If mad
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 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 tenderly to
rescue the sufferers, and abOus ten O'Clock
a carload of dead and injured was on the
wav to the city.t
On arriving at the Union station an am
bulance, station wagon and several cabs
and 'busses were nwaiting. y large crowd
had gathered, and as one after another OF
the dead and wounded were carried from
the car to the cOHveyanceS many turned
sick at the sight. The wounded men bore
their suGerings with fortItude and pa
tience, few grOans being the only lndlca
ton of their intense agony.
The scene at the mOrgue beggarS descrip
ton. There were fifteen bodies laid Sldt
bv side in rows. Mothers, sisters, father:
and brothers were to be seen passing from
body to body, and with trembling hand:
( lifting the coverlet and gazing on the face:
/ of the dead. Now and then cry of anguish
would tell too plainly of the discovery o
some dear one carried off in the prime o
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 tn'
sufrerings. One man, Jno. Rowlett, dleC
shortly after arrival at the hospital W heE
found among the debris he spoke cheerlulIS
and asked TO be allowed to walk. On look
ing down he criei: go, God, my legs are
off," And they were-burned of.
The Coroner empaneled jury, who
viewed the bodies and tlen adjourned TIL
two o'clock, when they again met. Some
/ evidence was taken and further adjourn
ment had.
! Baber, the conductor of the freight train
was Immediately placed under arrest. h'
admitted he got orders at Hamilton to ru1
to Queens wharf, avoiding all regular
trains. He looked at his timetable, bu
forgot the suburban train on the list OF reg
ular trains. Barber did not show the orde
to the engineer, Jeffery, OF Strattord. Ihl
was JeiTery's first trip on this part of thu
road, and he was totally yunacquainted VIII
the trains. The only train which wa
i passed between Hamilton ami the point o
accident was the newspaper train, SolnI
! west. This was passed at MlImcO. h
had his mind, he says, on the express
which leaves the city fifteen minutes ate
the suburban.
Public sympathy is thoroughly aroused
for the unfortunate widows and children
Already subscription lists have started an'
offers of entertainments made 10 proy!d
funds. Several families of the men killed
are in poor circumstances.
Besides Charles Thomas, fireman OF TN
3 -
stantly:
G. Aggett; leaves wife and child.
Joseph Keefer; leaves wife and tw
children.
c. Spohn, single; was to be married to
night.
K. Mulligan; leaves wife and child.
]. Kernahan: wife and family.
Alex. CarrutherS: wife and large family
j. White; wife and five children.
Joseph Mcdonald, single.
W. Teriff, single.
Thos. Burns. single.
G.. Prescott, single.
q. Searl, single.
John Mckenzie, single.
Chas. SJanlSy, 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 81,
days old.
Fred Boethroyd, single.
Hugh Cunningham; wife and three chill
dren.
Three Others are not expected to liv
through the night.
The severely injured are Y. Rogers
Patrick Norton, Matthew Walker, Patricl
Cavanaugh.
The following were slightly injured: w
Fitzgerald, Richard Caruthers, Michae
Kelly, Charles Mcdonald, James Kelly
Alexander Banks, John Aggett, John Cor
rigan, Victor Gireaux, Thos.McDonald an
two Montgomery brothers.
The damage to rolling stock is 1900.
Manager Hickson of the Grand Trunk i'm
mediately wired Ragge, local manager, t
give every care to the wounded.