The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-15
FRIGHTFUL DISASTER
on tue NIcKEI PLATE ROAD,
A Freight Runs Into an Excursion TraIpr
killing nIany-A Passengers Account
of the AHair = The Horrible
Scenes Not Desoribabls.


BUFFALO, N. Y, Sept, l4.-A special to
the Commercial Advertiser from Silver
Greek says; A serious accident occurred
this morning on the Nickel Plate railroad,
near this place, A west bound express
train ran into an excursion train from
Erie, Pa, Twelve persons are reported to
have been killed, and fourteen wounded,
There are various causes given for the
collision, Engineer William Hams, ofthe
freight train, is blamed, II Is said he had
orders to meet the excursion train at Irv-
ing, He failed to obey the instructions
and was running at full speed when the
crash occurred, Trainmen will not talk
regarding who Is TO blame.
A gentleman who was on the train says
that the freight train had orders to 20
to Silver creek and the passenger train 10
Irving, which is this side, and 1t was
these orders that caused the collision.
The excitement among the survivors was
intense. The first warning that was given
was the slight Jar caused by the heavy
pressure Of the air brakes. Some OF the
passengers braCed themselves In their
seats, seemingly apprehenalve OF danger.
Then came the terrible shock, followed
by the mashing Of windows and the roof
oil the cars, and all was mass Of bleeding
and struggling humanity.
CRUSHED OUT or HUMAN sEMBLAEoE.
Men covered with blood were locked in
each others arms, while underneath them
on all sides lay the poor unfortunates
who were instantly killed, crushed out Of
all human resemblance. The wounded
crawled out OF the debris and were assist,
ed to the neighboring houses. People
brought bedding, ETC., on which to lay the
dead and dying, and did all they could to
relieve the sutferings OF the wounded un.
til the arrival Of medical aid.
Mrs, ]. II. Slgel, OF Erie, Pa "a passen.
ger, was on her way to Buffalo. She ar.
rived here safely this afternoon. In an
interview Mrs. Sigel said;
A PASSENGERS STORY.
II was in tie first coach next to the
smoking car. The passenger train was a
large one and carried large number Of
excursionists as well as regular passen.
gers. The frat we knew OF the collision
was terrific crash like an explosion.
Nobody was hurt except those In the
smoker. The sight was so horrible that I
could not look at 1t. Not q single car was
thrown from the track, but the smoker
was completely telegCoped. It was
mercy that our car was not crushed also.
II was q narrow escape. One young man
in the smoker saved himself by
dropping on the floor and escaped
with few bruises. did not learn the
cause Of the accident, but We were going
very slow, while the freight was coming at
high rate Of speed. We were just one
coach length of the trestle when the col.
lision occurred. Some Of the wounded
were taken to different houses, and one OF
the coaches was turned into hospital.
In another coach most OF the dead we're
placed. Most oil the excursionists remain
I'D ut Silver Creek, intending to return
home. The regular passengers for Buffalo
and other points come In the afternoon In
another train"
The excurslon train TO the falls OF Mag.
ara started from Ashtabula, o. The eleven
passenger cars we're heavily loaded.
Lewis Brewer was engineer. The scene
Of the accident IS q short dis.
tance east Of Silver Creek on y
short curve approached, by q long,
high trestle, and through adeep cut. The
excursion train was going only about eight
miles All hour when Engineer Brewer
was terrified by the sight OF an approach.
Ing freight train coming at the rate OF
thirty miles an hour. The engt.
neer at once reversed the engine,
put on the air brakes rnd Jumped for his
life, followed by his fireman, none too
soon, for the engines came together with
deaiening crash, aud in an instant were
converted into heap Of scrap iron.
THE KILLED.
The list Of the killed Is as follows:
HENRY HucE, aged 20, Of sterretown, Pa,
legs ground to pulp and were ampu.
tated on the return train. He died this
evening at Erie.
STEPHEN CuTnBERTsoN, Burgers, OF Water.
ford, Pa, and 0 prominent merchant.
His remains were found III terribly
mangled condition.
Henry GE1sHARp, Of Pittsburgh, Pa, and
his son John we're found In each others
embrace. Their bodies were crushed
and mangled.
DAVID enARP, Of Erie, Pa, a cripple, and
his little son were found crushed to.
gether.
VIZ. W. LOOMS, Of Etie, Pa, a well.
known ship builder, head crushed.
He was found dead In his seat.
JACOB RosLATTER, Of Erie, Pa, body
crushed almost out Of recognition.
john FEEDER, Of Pittsburgh, Pa, said to
have been employed at Erie.
W. F. REYSoLpS, OF Duntirk, MY.
AARON PARKHURST, Of Mayville.
ADRAiH HElDLRR, OF Erie.
JOHN SRIBkRT, OF Erie,