The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-15
DISASTROUS COLLISION.
THIRTEEN PEOPLE KILLED AND
A LARGE NUMBER
Seriously Wounded-A Misunder-
standing OF TelegraphIc Orders
the Cause.

BUFFALO,, ~. l., DepJ6mOer IA
dispatch from Silver Creek, N. Y, to
the Commercial Advertiser says: A
Niagara Falls excursion train on the
Nickel Plate road, under the manage.
ment OF j. W. Butler, excursion sgent,
collided with a local freight train in
the cut on the curve just east OF here
at II O'Clock this morning Lewis
Brewer was engineer on the excursion
train, drawn by engine No. l59, and
William Harris was engineer OF the
freight train, drawn be engine No. 9.
Both engineers and firemen saved
themselves by jumping. The excur-
sion train consis' ed OF one baggage
car, one smoker and eleven coaches
Only those in the smoking car were
hurt, it being completely telescoped
by the baggage car. Only a partial
list Of the killed can be given at pree-
ent. Several are mangled beyond
recognition.
KILLED.
W. W. LOOMS, of Erie, Pa.
HENRY GEDHART and son, John f., of
sTEPfEN CAMERON, Mayor of Water
JOHN sUpER, Ofpltt,burg.
DAVID SHARP, of Erie.
W. W. R0STATTER. of Erie.
CHAs. HIRSCH, of Erie.
MR.. LYPHlR, of Erie.
WIN. REYNULDS, IF Dunkirk. N. Y.
JOHN MEYERS, of Erie.
Two bodies have not been identified.
One is thought to be that of a san OF
Mr.. L9omis.
The wounded are: Henry Huyck,
OF Steriiina, Pa, both legs crushed,
very seriously; Samuel Tracey, nj
Erie, head and shoulders injured
VIM. Zmmerly, of Erie, badly hurt
Louis Lipse, OF Erie, badly hurt; Ger.
in Rostatter, OF E'ie, shoulder aud leg
injured; Ed W. Marble, No. $50 East
Eighteenth street, Erie, legs broken
Archie Campbell, OF Erie, seriously in
jured; Charles Schneider, OF Erie,
head and shoulders injured, seriously
Charles Diller, of Erie, right leg broken
and head cut; j. P. Harrington, OF
Erie, badly injured; Joseph Taper,
Of Summit, Pa, badly bruised; Philo
Inter, residence unknown. legs
crushed; Mr.. Coburp, Of Titusville, in,
jured slightly.
The accident seems 10 have been
caused by misunderstanding Of tele.
graphic orders.
There are various causes given for
the collision. Engineer William Hsr.
Tis, OF the freight irain, is blamed. II
is said he had orders to meet the ex.
Cursion train at living. He failed to
obey the Instructions, and was Iun-
ming at full speed when the crash oc-
CURED. Trainmen will not talk re-
gardiug who is to blame. Agent Lee
man, who was on the train, Gays that
the freight tain had orders to go to
Silver Greek and the passenger train
to Irving, which Is this side, and il
was these order, that caused the col
lision. The excitement among the
survivors was intense.
The scenes in the smoking CIR were
most narrowing. The first alarm that
was given was the slight jar cau'ed
by the heavy pressure OF the
air brakes. Some Of the pas.
sengers braced thems Ives in their
seats, seemingly apprehensive OF
dagger. Theu came the terrible shock
followed by the smashing OF windows
and the roof OF the car, and all was a
macs OF bleeding and struggling
humanity. Men covered with blood
were locked in each others arms,
while underneath them and alongside
lay the poor unforunates who were
Instantly killed, crushed out Of al
human resemblance.
The wounded crawled out of the
debris and were assisted to the neigh
boring houses. People brought bed
ding, ETC., on which TO lay the dead
and dying, and did all they could to
relieve the sufferings of the wounded
until the arrival of medical aid. Mrs.
j. II. Siegel, OF Erie, Pa, passenger,
was ON her way to Buffalo. She ar
rived here smelly this atterno N. In
au interview Mrs. Siepel said: 81 was
in the first coach, next to the smoking
car. The train was large one, and
carried large number OF excursion.
lists as well as regular passengers. The
first we knew OF the col ision was q
terrific crash Ike an explosion. No
body was hurt except those in the
smoking car. The sight was 30 horn.
BILE tina. could not look at it. Not a
single car was thrown from the track,
but the smoker was completely
telescoped. 1t was mercy
that our car was not crushed slso. It
was narrow escape. One young man
II the smoker saved himself by drop
ping on the floor ard escaped with a
few bruises. did not learn the cause
OF the accident, but we wers going
very slow, while the freight was com
ing at high rate Of speed. We were
just one length off the trestle when
the collision occurred. Some of the
wounded were taken TO different
houses, and one Of the coaches was
turned into q hospital. In another
coach the dead were placed. Most OF
the excursionists remained at Silver
Greek, intending to return home. The
regular passengers for Buffalo and
other points came on this afternoon
on another train"
Ss