Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-15
PRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT.
Collision Of q Freight and Pas
senger Train on the Nickel
Plate Road.
Thirteen Persons Killed and
Many Injured.


oliver CREEK, N. Y Sept. IA.
Ihirteen persons were killed and many hurt
by collision OF Niagara Falls excursion train
and local freight train on the Nickel Plate
Railroad, near here, at ii P. NJ, today. The
trains came together in cut on a curve. En-.
gineer Lewis Brewer of the excursion train
and William Harris of the freight and their
nremen, saved themselves by jumping. The
excursion train consisted of 4 baggage car,
smoker, aud III coaches No passengers
were hurt but those in the smoking car which
was completely telescoped BY the baggage
car. The killed are:
John Meyers, w. W. Lomis, David Sharp,
w. w. Rostalter, Chas. Husik and Mr..
Lyphia of Erie: Henry Gedhart and son, j.
r. Gedhart of Pittsburg; Stephen Cameron,
mayor of Waterford, Pa Jno. Suder of
Pittsburg; VIM. Reynolds of Dunkirk; Aaron
Parkhurst of Marysville, and one person not
identified thought to be the son of Mr.. LOOMS
of Erie.
The wounded are: Henry Huvck of Start
tina, Pa, seriously, both legs crushed; Saml
Tracy of Erie, head and shoulders seriously
injured; William Zimmerly of Erie, badly in.
Jured; Louis Linse of Erie, badly hurt; Mar
tin Rostalter of Erie, shoulder and leg in
Jured; Archie Campbell of Erie, seriously
injured; Edwin M. Marble of Erie, legs brok-
en-; Chas Schneider of Erie, head and shoul-
ders seriously injured; Charles Diller of
Erie, right leg broken and head cut; j F.
Herrington of Erie, badly injured; JOS Tap
per OF summit. Pa, badly bruised; Philo
Linter, leg crushed; Mr.. Coburn of Titins-
vile, injured slightly.
Various causes are given for the collision
Engineer Harris of the freight train is
blamed. He said he had orders to meet the
excursion train at Irwin. He failed to obey
instructions and was running at full speed
when the crash occurred.
A gentleman on the train SAYS the freight
had orders to go to Silver Creek and the
passenger train to Irving and it was these
orders that caused the collision The ex-
cltement among the survivors is intense.
The scenes in the smoking car was most
narrowing. The first warning that was
given was slight jar, caused BY a heavy
pressure of the air brakes. Some OF the
passengers braced themselves in their seats
seats seemingly apprehensive of danger
Then came a terrible shock followed by a
smashing of windows and roofs of cars and
all was mass of bleeding and struggling hu
manity. Men covered with blood were locked
IN each others arms while underneath them
and on all sides lay those who were instantly
killed, crushed out of all human resemblance
L ue Wounueu craWleO out OF the debris and
were assisted to neighboring houses. The
people brought bedding. etc, on which to
lay the dead and dying and did all in their
power to relieve the sufferiugs of the wounded
till the arrival of medical aid
As the smoker was filled with men the re-
suit can be imagined. People in other cars
crowded and jostled to get away, while the
escaping steaa, mingled with the cries of the
wounded and dying made scene thar
was at once awful and horrible. Engineer
Brewer OF the excursion train was not to be
found while Engineer Harris of the freight
train at once made claim that he had orders
to run to Silver Creek and to allow the ex
cursion passed. while Brewer, it is thought,
fearing arrest made good his escape. Soon
after the disaster crowds came focking from
Silver Creek half mile away and at once
began work releasing the imprisoned pas
sengers dying and dead The sides of the
smoker were soon laid open with axes and
bars, disclosing the bruised and mangled
bodies lying doubled up in every conceiv-
able shape. The wreckers soon arrived ac-
companied by Supt. Kimball in special car.
With the aid of jack screws the baggage car
was lifted when the work of removing the
bodies was begun. The conductor of the
freight train says he had orders to pass the
excursion train at Silver Creek. Fourteen
persons were killed in the disaster and twelve
injured