The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-06-13
ARMAGH IN MOURNING,
A Train Load Of Sunday School
Children Wrecked
NEAR THERE YESTERDAY,
Seventy Bodies Taken From tho
Wreckage-The Worst Wreck In
the History of Ireland-Crlmi-
nal Carelessnesst the Cause.

an excursion party from Armagh has
been wrecked near that place, The
, train contained 1900 persons, composed
. ol Methodist Sunday school scholars,
, their teachers and relatives, They were
going on an excursion to Warren Point.
Dispatches from Armagh show that
the accident was far more serious than
at first reported. Seventy bodies have
been taken from the wreck, and there
are Others buried under the debris.
Warren Point, the place whore the
party was bound, is watering place at
the mouth Of the Newry riyerin County
Down.
The following particulars have been
received in regard to the accident to the
excursion train: The excursion party
left Armagh this morning in two trains.
The accident occurred at a point where
the trains had to ascend a grade on a
bank fifty feet high, The first train
asCended the grade without trouble.
The second train attempted the ascent,
but the weight OF the train proved too
great for the engine. Several cars were
detached, and allowed to run back
towards the level track, but before they
reached 1t they came In collision with an
ordinary train from Armagh, which was
proceeding at O good rate OF speed. The
excursion cars were completely wrecked.
The scene which ensued was heart
rending. Hosts OF volunteers were soon
at hand, and the dead and wounded
were taken from the wreck and carried
down the bank, Medical aid was called
for and q special train from Belfast
brought TO the scene twenty surgeons
and q number OF medical men from 9TH
er places between Belfast and Armagh.
The disaster Is unparalleled in the rail.
road history OF Ireland. The accident
has cast gloom over Armagh. ALI the
shops were closed this afternoon, and
the people are in mourning.
The engineer and fireman and guard
OF the train, and the traffic managers
clerk, were summoned before magis-
trate and were remanded on the charge
Of being responsible for the accident.
The brake powerl Of the engine OF the
third train was inadequate. While the
second train was ascending the incline
the engineer remarked to the fireman,
" am afraid we can't do IT." The fol-
lowing train was commencing the ascent
when the engineer saw the runaway
cars. Shutting of the steamand revers.
ing the lever, the engineer and fireman
jumped from the engine, shouting TO the
passengers TO do likewise. The latter,
however, not hearing the cries, did not
obey. No one was injured on that train.
The engine was hurled 90 feet down an
embankment. The carriage that ran into
the engine was shattered to splinters,
and fragments OF dress, umbrellas, etc.,
were scattered hundreds OF yards. A
dozen corpses were found beneath the
engine In q par.boiled condition. Some
Of the occupants OF therunaway car tried
TO escape, but the doors were locked.
The front part Of the train started back
In pursuit OF the runaway cars, and tho
passengers saw the collision at a distance
Of 800 yards. A car driver named
Hughes, who visited the scene OF the
disaster, was 80 Mortified at the sight
/
was taken to Armagh in his own car.
The shrieks Of the children were hor-
rible. The bodies Of the victims were
arranged In rows as soon as recovered.
Many were mangled beyond recognition.
There Is scarcely family In Armagh
that has not some one dead. In many
cases whole families were killed. The
embankment on which the accident oC-
CURED Is seventy feet high. Many
touching scenes were witnessed. The
children bore their injuries with great
patience. Wrecking gangs are at work
clearing away the debris.
Before starting on the fatal excursion
the children paraded through the streets
Of Armagh with flags and banners, and
the town folks turned out almost en-
masse 10 wish them happy holiday.
The party Of excursionists included min-
listers, teachers and the parents Of some
OF the children. The accident happened
opposite Sir Capel Molyneaux's estab.
lishment on the Belfast road.
The passengers give different accounts
Of the accident, but they all complain
bitterly Of the stupidity OF those in
charge Of the wrecked train, who, they
say, tried 10 block the wheels Of the de-
tached cars with pebbles.
The train consisted offifteen carriages.
The bulk Of the children were in the
front portion OF the train. Only about a
dozen children were killed. The ma.
ljority OF the victims were about 20 years
old. They were In the last carriage,
which was completely smashed.
The scenes on the Identification of the
victims by friends and relatives were
painful In the extreme. All the bodies
have now been taken from the wreck,
The total killed is seventy.two, OF which
sixty.four have been identified.
AT the formal inquest this evening.
the magistrate said II appeared on tie
face OF II that there had been most Cul-
pable negligence.
The number Of injured Is about one.
third OF the entire number Of passer.
gers. Many OF these are certain 10 stc.
cumb 10 the effects Of their injuries.
McGraLh, the engineer Of tho wrecked
train, Parkinson, fireman, Moore, guard,
and Elliott, the traffic managers clerk.
are held on the specific charge OF having
by their negligence caused the death Of
| Mr.. Steel, clerk OF the Petty SessionE.
and his two children, who were among
the excursioniBts.
Democratic National Conventions.
NEw YoRE, June 12.-At meetippof
the Democratic National Committee, TO-
day, Carlos. French presented resolutions
expressing regret at the death Of VIM
II. Barnum. Senator German spoke Al
length upon the good qualities Of ths
departed leader and tho resolutions were
unanimously adopted.
Secretary Of the Committee, s, r, Shoe.
rim, Of Indiana, then made an address
on the death Of Captain Francis ".
Dawson, Of South Carolina, In which he
paid q high tribute 10 bic worth and
memory and briefly reviewed bis me,
Calvin 8, BfiCe was elected Chairman
ot the Democratic National Commlilee.
A Vessel In distress.
BALTIMORE, June l2,-The steamer
NeuceB, Captain Brown, passed in Tho