The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-09-11

W 1ASbNlllSi SLHOl NSuAN"S Oi"6
. o'clock. Reporters were at once sen
to the ceneof the mishap, arriving ther
at daylight yesterday morning. Way
nesville Is a station on the Little Miami
railway, in Warren county, ffty-on,
miles from Cincinnati.
The circus had exhibited at Xeni'
Saturday, and shortly after midnigh
was loaded on the cars and en- route t
Morrow, where it Intended showing to
day.
THE CIRCUS TRAIN
consisted OF an engine, a tender anC
thirty-five cars. OF this number ter
we're stock.cars filed with animals
twenty were aat.cars carrying the para
phernalia aud five were coaches carrying
performers, employees, etc. There was
also one Caboose.
When within five miles OF Waynes
vile Mr.. John Robinson, jr., proprietor
Of the show, complained to the con
ductor that the train was going too fast
us the elephants were believing, These
animals become taFIiied whent the speed
is over fifteen miles an hour and make
u terrible uproar, often causing damage
Mr., Robinson was assured that the train
would Immediately slack up, us they
were approaching Il water tank. 1t was
while the train was slowing near the
water tank and not running over tive
miles an hour that an engine pulling
freight train OF seventeen cars came
pAsulNa AROUND THE cURvETN TIE REAR
and although every thing possible was
done to avert collision it was inevita
hle. When the freight was seen behind
IL tlagman was dropped from the circus
train and several tOrpedoes were placed
along the track. 1t was too late. The
freight train dashed into the caboose OF
the circus train and went earthroughlt.
Still the freight engine kept crushing
its way into the circus train, and Sc
rious wreck followed The cahoose was
mashed to splInters, and nothing save
the trucks and wheels remained. The
last coach was piled on top OF the loco
motive stack, and one end OF it com
pletely wrecked. The next coach was
derailed entirely, and rolled down an
embankment fifteen feet high. The
second coach was forced up oyer the
first, and, crushing through the roof,
sent into eternity the souls of four I'M
fortunate beings who were sleeping
there. The freight locomotive only
stopped when torn to pieces.
In the first coach were John Churchill,
whose right name is Fairbanks, n can
yasman; Ben Cisney, the chandelier
lighter; John Laeey, cook, and Frank
Smith, colored, also cook. These four
were killed, having been crushed almost
to n Jelly under the weight of the second
coach when it was forced through the
roof OF the car occupied by the nnlor'
tunate men. The scene following the
wreck can scarcely be described. The
noise Of the engine and crashing cars,
the women and piteous appeals OF men
for help were simply awful: To add to
the general confusion and excitement
the animals, awaked from their sleep by
the crash, sol up roar, and their cries,
mingled with those OF the injured men,
were sufficient to arouse at the same
time sympathy and terror. Stout, strong
men, among them Mr.. John Robinson,
tainted away, unable to endure the aw-
iul din.
AS soon as possible physicians were
sent for, and the work Ofgetting out the
victims was begun. Even while this
was going on those who were fortunate
enough to escape put in their time
searching for their money, clothes and
valuables that were lost in the wreck.
Those who were injured were taken
out as quickly us possible and taken care
OF by Kind friends until the arrival Of
Coroner shockty and Drs. Stephens and
Mount from Morrow, who left for the
scene OF the wreck on Il special train
They arrived there about one hour after
the accident occurred. When the tim
bers were pretty well cleared away
-FOUR MEN WE'RE MISSING.
Groans were heard issuing from under
the wrecked car milford" but nothing
could be done for the reason that the
man was buried completely under it
BY main strength the car was tipped
over and the body OF ben Gisney, the
chandelier.lighter was found by the
boss hostIer, Mr.. Eckels. The body was
found rolled up in q mattress, and
doubled up. the head pinned between
the legs. When taken out the body
straightened out and was carried away
on a stretcher. 1t was horribly mangled
and was recognized with difficulty
Cisney was thirty-fve years old, ant
came from Grafton, w, Va. He hal
been with the show several years, anC
was a good man. He was asleep in thu
coach Milford, and, when tho shocl
came, his assistant, John Franks, hear
ing the cries, attempted to wake him
Poor Cisney was sleeping too soundly
however, and Franks himself barely es
capped. The body OF John Lacy, a cook
was next discovered buried.
BENEATH A LOT OF TIMBER,
only a few feet from where Cisney
was found. The body was taken out by
John Franks, after considerable trouble
digging, Lacey was thirty-five years old
and has parents residing in Wheeling
W. Va. He was asleep in the car, alonI
with the other unfortunate victims
when the crash came. Next Mr.. Gi
Robinson and Treasurer Dale cam,
across the body OF Churchill, OF Fair
banks, which is believed to be his righ
name. He was still breathing, and moan
ing with pain. He was found under
lot OF heavy timber, and when released
he asked Treasurer Dale to rub his hand
and get him drink OF water. Whil
Mr.. Dale went to obey he left Fairbank
RESTING IN rHF ARMS OF LEV STEELE,
with several gasps for breath, Fairbank
said, "Good-by, Lew" and expired. H
was 55 years old, and was employed
canvasman in the side show. His HON
is in Starks, Me-, but he joined the Rot
ins9n show in California last year,
Immediately after the wreck Nj
Ralph Peters, Superintendent OF th
road, was notified, and he at once ordel
cd out a wrecking train and party. II