Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-23
SAD RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Collision Between an Excursion and a
Freight Train.
A Dozen Persons Killed and Many NOR e
Wounded.


O'Clock this morning an excursion and a
freight train on the Nickel Plate road
colnded near Silver Creek n. Y A dozen
OF more persons were killed while larger
hup Der were injured, some very seriously
Inc accident occurred on curve east
OF Silver Greek. Lewis Brew was engineer
on the excursion train drawn by engine
NO. 10y, and William Harris was engineer
of the freight train drawn by engine No.
8. Both engineers and firemen saved
themselves by jumping. The excursion
train consisted of one baggage car, one
smoker and eleven passenger coaches.
Only those In the smoking car were hurt.
1t being completely telescoped by the
baggage car.
ORDERS DIsoBEYED.
There are various causes for the col
ision. Engineer William Harris of the
freight train, is blamed. 1t is said he
had orders to meet the excursion train at
Irving. He failed to obey the instruc-
tlons, and was running at full speed when
the crash occurred. Train men will not
talk regarding who is to blame. A gen
tleman who was on the train. saws that
the freight train had to get to Silver
Creek and the passenger train to Irving.
which is this side, and it was these orders
that caused the collision. The excite
ment among the survivors was intense.
The scenes in the smoking car were most
narrowing. 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 apprehensive of
Danger. Then came the terrible shock,
followed by the breaking of windows, and
the roof of the car, and all was mass of
bleeding humanity. Men covered with
blood were locked in each others arms,
while underneath them, and on all sides
OF them lay the poor unfortunates who
were Instantly killed, crushed out of hu-
man resemblance. The wounded crawled
out of the debris, and were assisted to the
ne1ghboring houses. People brought
bedding, 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. Sigel, 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
II was ia the first coach next to the
smoking car. The passenger train was a
large one, and carried a large number
of excursionists, as well as regular pas
sengers. The first we knew of the col
hs1on was terrific crash like an ex-
ploslon. Nobody was hurt except those
IN the smOkingcar. The sight was so
horrible that [ could not look at it. Not
a single car was thrown from the track,
but the smoker was completely telescoped.
1t was a mercy that our car was not
crushed. One young man in the smoker
saved himself by dropping on the foYr,
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 off the trestle
when the collision occurred. Some of the
wounded were taken to different houses
and one of the coaches was turned into a
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.''
KILLED.
Following is a list of the killed. as far
as can be ascertained:
W. W. LOomis, of Erie, Pa.
Henry Gebhardt and son John F., of
Stephen Cameron, mayor of Waterford,
Pa.
John Suder, Pittsburg.
David Sharp, Erie.
W. w. Rostatter, Ellie.
Chas. Hirsch, Erie.
Mr.. Lyphir, Erie.
VIM. Reynolds, Dunkirk, N. Y.
Aaron Parkhurst, MayviIle.
John Myers, Erie.
Two bodies have not been identified.
One is thought to be that of a son of Mr..
LOOMS.
THE WOUNDED.
Henry Huyck, Steritina, Pa; both legs
crushed
Samuel Tracy, Erie; head and shout
ders injured.
William Zimmermly, of Erie; badly
hurt.
Martin Rostatter Erie. shoulder and