New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-15
DEATH ON THE NICKEL PLATE
SIXTEEN LIVES LOST BY CARELEssNEss
A FREIGHT TRAIN CRASHES INTO NIAGARA FALLS
EXCURSION.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSK.l

IT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
BUFFALO. Sept. IA railroad murder OF
the worst descr pon occurred at IL o'clock this morn
ing on the Nickel Plate or New.York. Chicago and St.
Louis Railway. between Silver Crock and Irving. thirty
mes west Of here The Niagara Falls excursion tran
which left Ashtabus, Ohio. at m. stopped at all the
stations to Silver Creek and left there time with the
eleven passenger coaches we'll filed with Ohio, Eric and
Dunkrk people. There was baggage car ahead ana
next to 1t was the smoker. half filled with men Three
quarters Of mile of Silver Creek, just a. tho train
was leaving big sreatle to round curve, Enginser
Lswls Brewer@as horrihedo the engine Of freight
train plungng toward him on tho same track at ngn
rate speed Brewer whistsd put on tho air brakes
ana reversed his engine. Then he and his fireman
jumped The freight engineer whstled and jumped ust
as tho engines came together with terrible crash Tne
baggage car was instantly seoscoped into the smoking
car, but the other not badly hurt moment
after the crash the air filed with the groans OF the dy
Ing aud the hiss Of the steam AZ soon s possible
j. Butler of the excursion train. aud other
railroad men went to work tho wreck, after tee-
graphing TO Buffalo for doctors and wrecking machln-
cry The engines were almost demolished ana the bag
gage car was found have poughed within five feet OF
the rear OF the smoker Great difficulty was experienced
In working at the wreck, which almost literally
covered with blood. The too sickening to be
described aud many of tho passengers who tried 10 help
the railroaiers were overcome with falntness. Inc
women and children none Of whom. fortunately was
hurt were not allowed the than possible.
Body AFTER body taken until the bodies OF four
teen dead persons placed the ground near tho
wreck Such aid as possible rendered the wounded
until the surgeons FROM Buffalo arrived. Two Of the
worst Injured men died within few hours so that the
fatalities foot up sixteen. Some OF the bodies wero
so horribly mangled that Identification uncertain,
but the following list Is nearly correct as possibis
KILLED.
CULyERsoS, STEPHEN d.. Mayor Of Waterford, Penn.
GEBHARD - .on OF Henry Gcbhsrd.
Ssn,snD sk1nsHs JOIN .9Srtca E; Fs.opss; Hii %s,n
HIRsCH, CHARLES Erie Penn
LOOMS Wv son NOT Of ". W Loomis.
MYERS, JoHS Erie, Penn.
RtTSauEsT RtTSni5s wn,S,% w4AEoX Msyye. nyy,1E \.
RosrATLER, W. w., Erie. Penn.
sEEDER, JOHN A.. Pittsburg.
sHARr, bAyIp, Erie. Penn.
-- Unknown man.
MARBLE, EDWIN, Eric, Penn, legs broken.
CAMrBELI- ARCHIBALD, Erie Penn. seriously.
CoBURS, -. TIlusville, Peun,, nOt seriously.
DILLLR, CHARLES Ere Penn, right leg broken and
HERaSoToS. j. P. No. 429 West sevsntcsnh-st, Erie.
Penn, badly Injured
HrYCK HENRY, srn.. Penn. both lsgs badly crushed
LINsE LOUISE, Erie, Penn. badly hurt.
RosrATLER, MARTIS Erie, PENN, hurt in shoulder and
scnENDLER, CHARLES, ERIE, Penn, injured in head and
ToPrEY, JOSEPH Summit. Penn, badly bruised.
ZMMEHLY, WILLIAM, Erie, Penn.
The scene of the collision oD tho side OF hill, few
rod. from the silver trestls and far from a
steep embankment Had 1t happened minute sooner
or later the loss OF life would TERRIBLE for the
trains together at spot where the overturnng OF
tue cars would do little damage as possible This
evening many passen brought TO Buffalo
those who preferred were sent back home Charies
McSparrcn Erie, OF the four passengers In
the wrecked smokin gear who escaped alive. lie was
met at tho depot by his brother William OF the Union
liz hand
were acerated with broken glass his clothes were torn
and with brains Of OF the victims Of the
disaster Said the lucky man:
You idea OF the horrors OF those few seconds
We had Silver Creek and going along at good
rate of speed when suddenly the train gave urch and
the instant there was crash which sound
ed like an explosion Thon for throo or four seconds,
the baggage car right through our coach as 1t
teescop u.s. The half full and most OF those
ahead or ms Il was on one OF the roar seAtsl were
was that there not chance to save themselves
10 do 1t. The man IN the seat ahead OF me was
killed, and tho shock me around with MS Dody.
pitched out into ths sand somehow, ana when
Tie bodies badly manslei aud IL was hsru sighs
He did not know how W the others escaped, and It all
happened so quick that TO think. Mrs j.
H. Sge who in the first coach, next to the SMOKER
"The first knew OF a collision slight jar thon
followed terrific crash, and tho snoKns-car was
thrown the track. and 1t was wonder that we
all killed. mad glance at the smoker put u
horrible could not look at It. TIE people IN ths
vicinity did all thoy could and bedding etc. Tor the
wounded nsp-d them to houses 1T the neIsh6orh9oi
OF the turned into hospital and the dead
were placec In another" - -, -
From what can bo learned William Harris, the eng-
Of tho freight train, to blame Tor tno accuon
He disappeared after the collision HAD ne Decn
caught then II Is not improbable that an attempt 70
lynch him would been made. seems tnat nc nAu
orders side track at Irving for the excursion tran
The Silver Creek only three miles ana no
thought he before the excursion trsn
believing would be late. harris was running
twenty-five thirty miles hour around the curve
and not have stopped his train TX ho tried OM,
searching for him. This the worst railroad
disaster which has occurred In this vicinity for ten years
NJ. W. Whitney, OF Portland, N u, who was III tne
wreck said tonight: -,
"Tne collision occurred almost instantly after the arr
applied. Three bodies were found Jahmeu
in tho and man hung out OF tho car oy
the waist. He badly crushed, but lived Tor some
timo. face black that it looKei IKE
nogros Most OF them evidently Killed Instantly
and after tho crash there WAS not much Rrosnng
The total may eighteen dead. Tho men who wero
hurt were very inpatient No women or children were
hurt so far as ! know" . ~ .,
There are thirteen OF the bodies In tho Silver Creek
station TO night.
THE OUTLOOK FOR MAYOR SMITH,