The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28
TWO TRAINS DEMOLISHED.
RESULT OF CONFLICTING ORDERS.
a Fatal Collision on the baltimore & Ohio
Railroad in West Virginia-Taree Per-
sons Killed and Many InJured-A
Circus Train Wrecked.

PETROLEUM, w. Va, Aug. GA terrible
collision occurred about IL o'clock this morn
ing on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad between
Petroleum and Silver Run tunnel. about twen-
ty-three miles east of Parkersburg, in which
three men were instantly killed and many
wounded. The accommodation train coming
west due at Parkersburg at l2 o'clock, crashed
into n special train occupied by railroad mag
mates on tour OF inspection. The cause OF
the wreck is said TO have been conflicting tele-
grams. The one received by Conductor Flan-
nigan and Engineer Layman OF the accommo-
dation ordered them 10 pass the special at Pc
troleum, while the special train, engineered
by Capt. Cephus Rowland, is said to have had
teegraphic orders TO pass the accommodation
at Silver Run. The result OF the misconstruc-
tion was to hurl into eternity four men at least,
and TO wound fifteen or twenty others.
The trains came together with crash at the
curve east OF Petroleum and between that
point and Silver Run. Both trains were run
ming at a rapid speed, and when they collided
with crash the special train, and the engine
tender and baggage-car Of the accommodation
went over the cliff in one inconceivable mass.
James Layman, engineer of the accommoda-
tion, one Of the oldest engineers in the employ
of the Baltimore & Ohio road was crushed 20
death. Alexander Bailey, fireman for Layman
on the accommodation, was also crushed in the
wreck OF the engines. Cephus Rowland, also
one Of the old engineers, 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 help-mate. preferred death TO
desertion of his post and went over the bank
in the wreck. He was cut and crushed to
death.
The special car, occupied by officials on
inspection tour, was smashed TO smithereens.
Roadmaster J. A. Hunter was badly injured,
together with several Others George Douglass,
in the same car, was also badly injured. In
the accommodation train were many passen-
gers, all of whom received n terrible shaking
up and fifteen or twenty of whom were more
or less injured. X. j. Malley, track master at
ParkerSburg, and a member OF the city council,
was badly injured. Jefferson Rose, baggage
master of the accommodation, was also
rl0usly hurt. A large number OF passengers
were more or less injured, but they were hur-
ried of on trains going east or west, and in the
confusion following the disaster It Is impossible
10 get their names. The bodies OF Layman,
Bailey and Fletcher were brought TO Parkers-
burg on the evening train, where they were in
cased in collins and sent to their homes. lay
man was sent to his home on Dep0t-st. Row
land was taken 10 Grafton.
When the train bearing the bodies arrived in
Parkersburg it was surrounded By thousands
OF people, many Of whom were friends OF the
dead, while others had friends who they be-
lieved to have been on the wrecked trains. As
1t is impossible 10 hear from their friends, and
as rumors Of the accident have grown into
colossal dimensions the anxiety increased un-
til the crowd numbered thousands at the
depot