The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-16
WRECKED AND FIRED.
Further Particulars or the Accident Oh the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
A Connellsyille special gives the follow
ing additional particulars Of the collision
on the western division Of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, which was briefly noted
IN our telegraphic columns yesterday morn
ing:
The most disastrous collision In the his
tory OF the western division OF the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad occurred this
morning on the main line one mile east OF
this town. A camp train going east and q
freight train going west came together.
Fifteen persons were killed, twelve OF
them being literally roasted TO death, and
eleven were seriously injured.
The camp train, which consisted OF nine
cars and carried forty-six laborers, left
Connellsville at 8 O'Clock, the engineer
having been ordered by The train-dis-
patcher to run wild to Ohio Pyle, dis
tance OF eighteen miles. Before the train
was out OF sight the dispatcher remem-
bered that the second section OF freight
train No. so had not passed, and made
frantic endeavors to stop one or the other.
He did not succeed, however, and the two
trains came together on sharp curve.
Both were running at full speed. The
freight train was composed OF twenty cars,
loaded with iron ore.
AN AWFUL COLLISION.
This made the force OF the collision tre-
mendous. Both engines were shattered
into fragments. Thomas O'Shea, the fire.
man Of the freight train, was caught be-
tween two pieces OF iron and received in
juries which caused his death few hours
later. w. j. Burns, a clerk. who was
riding on the. camp-train engine, was
also seriously injured. but the other
trainmen escaped with bruises. Not
so, however, with the unfortunate
occupants OF the camp cars. The
tender telescoped and crushed in the roof
OF the first car, in which fifteen men were
seated. Only three OF these escaped. The
second car was also crushed. Patrick Cas-
sidy was instantly killed by the falling
roof, the top OF his head being cut of and
his body manglcd almost beyond recogni-
ton. Scott Dermott received internal in
juries which caused his death in a few
hours.
BURNED TO DEATH.
The scene in the first car Immediately
after the collision beggars description. Six
men were killed instantly aud the others
were crushed by dfb-tS. Martin Dougher-
ty managed to eXtricate himself and two
others wh) were on one side OF the car,
but before those on the other side could be
reached the wreck ignited from the hot
Goals in stove that had been overturned
and in an incredibly short time was blazing.
fercely. The groans OF the prisoners who
were not killed instantly soon ceased, and
those who had escaped were compelled to
stand by until the fury Of the flames
was spent. at one time when the
side OF the ear fell in the skeleton
Of man was seen sitting upright
with flames shooting from his eyes and
mouth. He had been killed while sitting
in that position. Around him were the
bodies OF several comrades. All forms
soon disappeared. however, and in less
than an hour the work OF destruction was
complete. All that was left OF the living
freight was mass OF charred flesh. Eight
trunks were gathered from the ruins.
Nothing that resembled the remains OF the
other four could be found, and it is sup
posed that their bodies were entirely con-
sumed.
THE DEAD.
The dead were brought to this town and
prepared for burial. The injured were
taken to hospital. An inquest was held
this afternoon. at which q number OF wit
nesses testified that the wreck was caused
by the orders issued by the train-dlspatch-
er, Gilbert Lewis. At 10 O'Clock tonight
the Jury gave as their verdict that the col
lislon was caused by Lewis's careessness.
The district attorney OF the county at
tended thp inoupSt He has not decided