New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-24
TRAINS CRASH TOGETHER.
FATAL COLLISION ON THE BALTIMORE AND
OHIO RAILROAD.
FOUR MEN KILLED AND SEVERAL BADLY HURT
-HERoIsM OF FIREMAN-rHE ACCI.
DENT DUE TO CONFLICTING DIS.

PATCHES.
petroleum, w Va, Aug 23.-A collision occurred
about ii o'clock this morning on the Baltimore
ana OHIO Railroad between Petroleum and Silver
Run Tunnel, about tSenty-three miles east of
farkersburg, in which three men were instantly
Nhed and many wounded. The accommodation
trdlh coming west due at Parkersburg at 2
O'Clock, crashed into special train occupied by
rulroad men on tour of inspection The cause
OF the wrtck is said to have been conflicting tele-
grams. The one received by Conductor Flanagan
ana Engineer Layman, of the accommodation, or
dered them to pass the special at Petroleum, while
the special train, engineered by Captain Cephus
howiand is said to have had telegraphic orders
10 pass the accommodation at Silver Run. The
result OF these misconstructions was to hurl into
eternity four men, at least and TO wound fifteen
or twenty Others
Inc trains came together with a crash at the
curve east Of Petroleum, and between that point
ana Silver Run Both trains Were running at a
RAPID speed, and when they came together tho
special train and the engine, tender and baggage
car OIL the accommodation went over the cliff in
one mass.
James Lyman, engineer Of Tire accommodation;
one OF the oldest engineers in the employ of the
Baltimore and Ohio road, was crushed TO death
Alexander Bailey, fireman for Layman OH the
accommcd cdation, was also crushed in the wreck OF
the engines
Cephus Rowland, also one of the old engineers,
Of Parkersburg, lately of Grafton, was caught
under the wreck and had one leg. broken and re-
ceived internal injuries from which he cannot
recover.
John Fletcher, fireman on the special, was
also killed. Fletcher stuck to his engine, and
with his hepmate preferred death to desertion
OF his post, and went over the bank in the wreck
lie was cut and crushed to death.
The special car occupied by officials on an in.
specting tour was smashed into bits j. A.
Hunter, roadmaster, was badly injured together
with several Others. George Douglass, in the
same car, was also badly injured.
III the accommodation train were many pas.
sengers all of whom received terrible shaking
up and fifteen or twenty of whom were more or
less injured. K j. Malley, tracllmaster, of Park
ersDurg, ana member of the city council was
badly injured Jefferson Rose, baggage-master of
the accommodation, was also seriously hurt.
hrge number of passengers were more or less in.
ured but they were hurried OIL on trains going east
OF west, and in the confusion following the dis.
aster 1t was impossible to get their names.
The bodies of Layman, Bailey and Fletcher
were taken to Parkersburg on the evening train
where they were put in collins and sent to their
homes. Rowland was taken to Grafton When III,
ttaln bearing the bodies arrived in Parkersburg
III was surrounded by thousands of people many
of whom were friends of the dead, while Others
had friends whom they believed 10 have been on the
wrecked trains As it was impossible to hear
ifom ther friends, and as rumors of the accident
hM grown INTO colossal dimensions, the anxiety
Increased until the crowd numbered thousands at
the depot