Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-02
TWO MEN CREMATED.
A VERY SERIOUS WRECK on THB B. * o.
YESTERDAY MORNING.
A Freight Train Goes Through Burning Bridge
Near Belton, in Marshall County-Two
Tramps the Ychms-Dsails Of
the Accident.

To be snugly suoOzing in freight car
one moment, and the next sent whirling
through a burning bridge into the bed Of
a swiftlY-ruuning stream, there to take
chances on drowning, being crushed TO
death, spitted on splinter, or consumed
by fire, makes up q transition from one
extreme of existence to the other much TOO
rapid and abrupt for comfort and one that
is exceedingly likely to be decidedly preju-
dicial to continued good health.
This WIS the experience Of three tramps,
yesterday morning, out the B. " o. read
aud was incident to one Of the worst acci-
dents recently occurring upon that line,
in this part of the State.
Two men were killed and burned TO a
crisp, one Qther-a railroad man-badly
bruised up, and q dozen or fifteen freight
cars wrecked and destroyed by fire.
This disaster occurred at what is known
az Harts creek, about five miles east of
Cameron, and couple of miles west Of
Bellton, in Marshall county, about half
psst two o'clock yesterday morning.
Freight train No. 6. west-bound, in
charge OF Conductor William Dean, and
manned by Engineer Dominick Kelley,
Fireman John Chaddock, and Brakeman
Bud Ney, left BelltOn few minutes
after two o'clock and was running al the
usual rate Of speed for freights when ap-
preaching Hart's creek. There is q sharp
curve Just east OF the bridge over the
creek, and as the engine rounded this curve
and csme into view of the bridge, Engineer
Kelley saw the structure was IN hames.
He WAS too close TO hope to check the
train before the bridge was reached, and
trusting chat the timbers were yet strong
enough to carry his train safely across he
sounded his whistle, pulled the throttle
wide open, and darted forward with in
creased speed, while Conductor Dean and
his brakeman epTSng from the
cars, Ney being badly hurt by
the severe fall he received. The
extra impetus given the train carried the
engine across safely, but the strain was too
great for the weakened timbers, and as the
engine reached the west end the structure
fell with a crash to the bed Of the ere k,
carrying down with it not onlyall the cars
upon it at the time, but the remainder OF
the long train as well, the engine only be
Ing saved by the breaking Of the draw head
between it and the tender. From four-
teen 10 seventeen cars made the plunge
into the bed OF the creek, being piled up
in ineXtTicable oDiIsion with ihe blszug
4 Il
at once caught fire, and burned iiercely.
The three tramps locked up in one Of
the cars were Of course carried down with
the wreck, and their car, with the others
was soon wrapped in flames. One Of the
men got out in come way, but the others
were helplessly panned in, aud were crush
ed and burned to death After the Ere
hai burned itself out, their charTed and
blackened bodies were discovered. One
OF the dead men was named Weir, but tine
other is unknown. The survivor said all
three hailed from Philadelphia. and were
coming TO this city.
The tramp who escaped go miraculously
said, yesterday, that he had no idea how
he got ont. When the bridge gave way he
was sleeping on an overcoat by the side OF
one of his companions, while the third man
was Of in one end OF the car. His comfsdo
who wes touching him wss killed, while
he waa not even scratched
It was stated at the B. x. o. depot, yes-
terdsy afternoon that two or three OF the
cars were net burned, bat thai tine others
we're completely consumed. The space oc-
cupied by the bridge span previous to the
accident was stated to he nearly filed with
the wheels and iron work Of the consumed
carr, and the bolts aud hsrs Of the burned
bridge, making 8 bad msss 10 clear away.
All the cars were emptieg, and the train
was doe in this city about five or haii-past
five in the morning
Trofic WAS greatly delayed yesterday.
because Of the wreck The yestbuled
limited trains had To- 20 around By way ot
the Connellsville branch, while other pass
eugsrs and baggage we're transferred at the
scene of the wrecked bridge.
Railroad men here in Wheeling wcse
full of admiration, yesterday, ior the great
nerve shown by Engineer Kelley in stick
ing to his engine and pushing bis train
through the burning bridge, in the desper-
ate effort TO save his cars, and bis fortunate
escape, together with that Of Fireman
Chaddock, was heard with much satisiac-
tion.