The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18
DASHED DOWN TO ETERNITY
TWO OFFICERS KILLED BY O., /. & W.
A Wheel Of the Pay-Car Breaks and supt'
Wilson and Train-Master Cummins
Are Hurled Through the Windows
And Killed-sad Scenes.


Outside the iron fence men, women and
children stood with their faces pressed
against the iron bars, looking silently on
the scene within. Drawn up on the pave
ment OF the broad driveway just inside the
barrier that separated the crowds were two
hearses and behind them formed in line
OF procession were three carriages. This
funeral scene was shrouded. in a quiet,
strained atmosphere, as if the presence of
death had already thrown its halo OF
silence and awe upon it. Those men
within the iron grating, who appeared the
actors in the solemn scene to those with
out, moved about and talked in
hushed tones among themselves and
watched down the long, curved
track with a mingled look of sympathy
and expectancy.
Continually in the center of little group
was boy, perhaps sixteen years of age,
whose face was still paled from fright, and
whose voice slightly trembled as he
answered the hundreds of questions asked
in low tone by the numerous inquisitives.
About AS o'clock the sound of a whistle
broke harshly on the quietude, and in an
other moment a great engine loomed up
around the curve. 1t slowed down gradu-
ally, and after the first sound of its whistle
seemed to glide noiselessly up and come
to a stand-still by the little group OF men.
1t drew but one coach. For few mo-
IS there was just little hustle, and
then, as long object covered from view
by heavy black canopy issued from the
rear end of the car, carried by four men,
the atmosphere of death came again, and
the crowd stepped back and
looked silently at the canopy as
the burden it covered was low
cred down and carried to the
nearest hearse. The men returned to the
car, and second object, covered like the
first, was carried out and placed in the
other ominous vehicle. Several men then
came out and were escorted to the car
riages. The two hearses, side by side,
moved slowly up uIinois-st., followed by
the carriages, and as they passed people
stopped in the hurried rush of city life and
contemplated with not a little feeling Of
awe the most unusual sight.
At 80 o'clock Monday morning the
o., /. x w. pay-car went west, conveying
all the generarl road officers of that line.
The train consisted only of the pay-car and
engine No. 26, manned by Engineer John
Rogers and Fireman Frank Miller. There
was neither conductor or brakeman on
the train.
The officials in the pay-car were w. w.
Lynn, auditor and cashier; John Sloan,
roadmaster; j. H. NJ. Claggett, paymaster,
and Frank H. Wilson, a sixteen-year-old
boy, who is Mr.. Lynn's clerk. These re-
turned safe and we'll Supt Isaac II. Wilson
and Train Master j. NJ. Cummins, the
other occupants of that fated car, were
brought back dead
The train ran smoothly to Veedersburg.
Between that city and Covington there is
a sharp curve and steep grade, that in
passing mail clerks are always obliged to
stop work and steady themselves The
train wound round this curve and close
down the incline safely. Then stretched
away a straight even piece of track. The
engineer gave his charge a little more
steam and the train sped on at the rate of
thirty-five miles an hour. A feeling of
safety that always comes after passing a
possible danger was experienced bv
the travellers. And then it was
that with a terrific lurch the pay
car bounded from the track. The
hind end seemed to drop to the track
and drag for an instant and then crashed
over on its side. In this condition it was
dragged for several hundred feet. Mr..
Wilson and Mr.. Cummins were both in
the forward part OF the car. The others
were in the rear portion. At the first un-
natural movement the latter rushed for
ward. All of them saw both Wilson and
Cummins hurled to DEATH The latter was
thrown clear through window head fore
most and disappeared. The former fell
backward, his head striking above the
window and crushing his skull on the
combing. His shoulders extended out.
In that position he was dragged. All the
others were pitched promiscuously above
the windows and none were, save for
a fewscratches and bruises, injured. In
the stove was little fire. 1t was scattered
and caught the forward end of the car. AS
soon as those who were unhurt could ex-
tricate themselves they began fighting this
new danger with buckets OF water from
the engines tank. 1t took half an hour to
extinguish it. In the meantime little
Frank Wilson, with rare presence OF mind,
was running breathlessly down the track
two miles away, where q number OF sec
ton hands were at work. These men had
been paid off but a short time before from
the car. They hurried to the scene. At
the wreck, as soon as the fire was put out,
the body of Mr. Wilson was removed from
the window. A search for Mr. Cummirs
resulted in the finding of his lifeless form
100 feet or more down the track. 1t was
evident he had been rolled to death be-
meath the car, although his body was not
badly crushed. When the remains of both
men had been laid side by side on the
grass Mr.. Linn and Mr.. Sloan walked to
Covington to secure the necessary aid.
The train left the track at what is called
Troy, riding about two miles east of Gov
ington. 1t was caused by the breaking Of
a wheel When the trucks were thus al
lowed to drag, they were wrenched from
their fastenings. The engine remained
firmly on the track. The coupling pin
between it and the car did not break and
the latter was dragged bounding after it
like toy. 1t was a wonderful affair.
That anyone in that car should escape
unharmed is almost q miracle. Messrs
Sloan and Lynn secured an undertaken at
Covington, and when the sad news had
been teiegraphedto Indianapolis, returned
to the scene of the wreck As soon as the
bodies could be gotten to Covington, they
were dressed and prepared for the solemn
ride home.
II was about 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing, when Train Dispatcher Shirley of the
o. /. & W., in the Ingalls, block, came to
attention at tho click of his instrument
Covington had suddenly broken IN,