Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-26


once, too-not money, merely, but arti-
cles needed in housekeeping. One or two
persons whose attention has been direct
ed to the matter have expressed a willing
ness to assist. If some one will take hold
and direct the matter, the needy ones can
easily be comfortably fixed. There are
but few to provide for, but their needs
are great.
A THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
The train for st. Clairsville was a few
minutes late. While it was lying ON the
river bridge some of the passengers OBJ
served the heavy clouds, but little dream
ed of the experience that was in store for
them. No rain had fallen until about the
time the train left the Junction. AS it
approached Echo, mile and a half up
the st. Clairsville Division, lady sitting
on the side next the hills called out to
another on the opposite side of the car:
"Oh! look here! look here!" Down the
little ravine to the right of them, and
ahead of the train, came wall of water,
carrying logs, lumber, and all manner of
rubbish, tumbling over and over. Still
there was no thought of danger to the
train, which whirled over the bridge SPAN
ming the ravine, and before it was out of
sight from the rear of the train was swept
away. The train ran about three hun
dred yards further when it was stopped,
the engineer seeing another bridge ahead
go out in a similar fashion. By this time,
not knowing what had happened in front,
the passengers were becoming uneasy,
and the thought was, "Ohl why have they
stopped? -? why do mt they go On?" when
suddenly new and greater terror ap-
peared directly in front of them. Down
the creek came a great wall of water, with
sullen roar, carrying trees, buildings and
other debris that threatened instant de-
structiOn of the train and death to those
aboard it. The train could not fly from
it, because bridge in the rear was gone.
The passengers could not escape, because
the torrent was travelling at almost the
speed of an express train. 1t covered the
bottom and piled the drift up to the head
light. The water roared past, rising al
most to a level with the platforms of the
cars, some entering the baggage car. AS
a precautionary measure, the hand brakes
were tightly set, and train men and pas
sengers could do nothing further than
await the end, with what fortitude they
could summon. On either side of the
train the water was from six to eight feet
deep. At the height of the flood rain
poured down in torrents, and the vivid
lightning and believing thunder added
fresh terrors to the scene.
The train consisted of an engine, ten
der, baggage ear, and passenger coach of
the Baltimore and Ohio r. R., and was
manned by Conductor Dan. Carroll, En-
gineer Jack Ayres, Fireman Brook Colds
borough, Baggage Master Harry Fawcett,
and Brakeman Frank Andears Crew
and passengers behaved themselves ad-
mirably. Conductor Carroll tried to re-
assure the ladies, but one of them Miss
Maria c. Ryan says he would not have
been a man if he had not been frightened.
There were about fifteen passengers on
the train, all st. Clairsville people, and of
the number about half were ladies.
The news of the calamity was brought
to town by Mr.. John Kidd, who was on
the train, but managed to escaped before
the flood struck it, and securing horse
of Mr.. VIM. Hume hurried to town over
the hills. Intense excitement ensued and
at once the friends of the ladies on the
train secured carriages at livery stable
and hurried down over the hill to their
relief. When they got down there they
found the people on the train making
preparations to spend the night in the
passenger car. The ladies were brought
to town in the carriages. NJ L. Wilson
sent basket of provisions in one of the
carriages for the train men and others
who remained on the train over night.
The escape of the train was marvellous.
If it had been struck by one of the many
trees in the strong current the prObabili-
ties are many, or all, on board of it would
have been drowned.