St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-26
IT WAS A CLOSE CALL.
Gov. Hill Mixed Up In a Rail-
road Collision In West
Virginia.
His Special Train Caught Be-
tween an Express and
Two Freights.
The Executive Of the Empire
State Escapes Without
a Scratch.
Although Very Near to Death
He Was Not Even Fright
ened.

and party. accompanied by T. S. Riley,
chairman of the democratic state COM
mittee. Gov. Fleming and others, left
Wheeling at 7:30 this morning on Spe-
clal train provided by the Democratic
state committee over the Baltimore &
ONO road. consisting of a drawing room
car and Calvin S. Brice's private car.
The train was to have stopped at all sta
tiOns between Wheeling and Harper's
Ferry for from five to twenty minutes
to allow the governor to make adver-
tiSed addresses. The programme, how
ever, was abruptly interfered with by
collision. The governor had addressed
gathering of 600 worknen at Benwood
and several hundred at Moundsyiile
and his train was about starting
when Engineer Lee Wells, of Wheel
ing, heard a warning note from
the engineer of Train No. Unknown as
the Chicago express, which told him
that that train was approaching on the
same track about fifty feet ahead of
where the governors train, which was
designated as No. ~. was standing. A
wide and low highway bridge spans the
railroad tracks here, making it impossi-
Die TO see approaching trains Oh the
other side OF the bridge. About twenty
five feet behind No. "a the accOmmoda-
ton tram that was running between
wheeling and Cumberland came to a
stand. When Engineer Wells noticed
the approach of the Chicago express he
immediately reversed his engine, back
lug his train; but the Chicago express
was moving at so high rate of speed
that IL SJon caught up to the governors
train, and
Crashed Into Ii.
The cow-catchers of both trains were
demolished, but the engine on the Chi
cagO express WAS more generally
wrecked. as were the platforms of three
OF the eight passenger coaches cOnpriS-
ing the trains. Gov. Hill's train was
thrown back on the accommodation
train and the coW-catcher of the loco
motive was smashed. Behind the ac-
cOmm0datiOu train was heavily loaded
train, and the three trains together
were thrown back ON that with Slight
force. with no damage to the latter, ex-
cept the cOw-catcher of the engine being
torn away. Had the governors train
consisted OF ordinary coaches, instead
OF the two StrOngly-built parlOr coaches,
it would have been crushed ike an
egg shell between the two heavy
trains. AS it was both of these
cars escaped without even scratch.
The engineer Oh No. 72 and the engi-
neer on the accommodation train lying
behind him had orders saying that they
would meet Train Nor at MOundsville,
and telling them to take the second sid
ing east ot MOundsvile. The engineer
on No. had orders not to pass the sec
Ond switch until these two trains were
side-tracked. Train No. ~ was in the
act of making the side track when the
collision occurred. Engineer Fleming,
who has been in the employ of the road
for sixteen years, said he attempted to
stop his train OIL the other side of the
second switch, but when he applied the
troll the train. On examination he
found that the air had been shut off
at the air reservoir OH the tender.
which of course rendered the brakes
useless, and his train was carried past
the second switch with the above re-
suit. Engineer Fleming had his knee
cap injured, but no one else suffered
even scratch. The governor was not
at all excited, and
Enjoyed the wild Rush
of the occupants from the first car in
their endeavOr to escape. On the gov
ernor'S train were Richard Farrelly, cor
respondent for the New York World,
and George w. Blake, New York Sun
correspondent, both of whom accom-
ponied the governor from ALBANY when
on the train Correspondent Brattan. of
the Baltimore Sun: three representa-
tlves of Wheeling CIV. Va.) papers, Col.
Robert McEldowney, of New Martins
vile. W: Va; ex-Sherlff w.
G. Handlan. NJ. Van Pret, S.
A. Dorsey, Democratic can
didate for state senator in the Second
! district; Col. Robert White, Ferdinand
Wingerton, Charles ii. fancy, T. Nj.
Durrah, of Wheeling, and c. E. Walls,
: of Marion county. W. Va. and an AS
sociated Press representative. When
| the first crash was felt, those in the for
ward car on the governors train were
thrown out Of their feats, and before
| they had time to collect their thoughts,
the second jar came. They all rushed
into the second and last car, in which
were Cows. Hill and Fleming. Senator
Kenna, Chairman kiley and about six
others. The governor was sitting on
| sofa in the car. chatting with Col.
| White, of Wheeling, when the first
crash came. which he could hardly feel,
and when the second was felt, he went
out on the rear platform and observed
| the Damage done, remarking at the
same time to the correspondents
who were at his heels, Now,
boys. here is material for news
for you" The collision was hardly felt
| in the governors car, but when all had
alighted except the governor and Col.
I McEwar and observed what narrow
escape the party had had, they expressed
themselves as unable co understand the
fortunate circumstances attending the
| collision. Gov. Hill said it was mlracul-
Gus how his train and occupants
escaped, considering the weight of the
heavy trains between which it was
| wedged. After delay of two hours at
Moundsville. the engine drawing the
governors train being too badly Grip
pied to proceed. the parlor cars on that
train were attached to the rear end of
the accommodation train, the engine of
which was the only one of the three
which figured in the collision which
| was able to proceed.