Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-09
4 Passenger Train Standing at the
Depot Is Struck by
Freight.
The Wreck Takes Fire and ImpriS-
Oned Victims Are Roasted
to Death.

Ravenna, o., forty miles west OF here.
The passt niger train was standing at
the depot when the freight train struck
1t. Two sleeping cars and a day coach
took fire and were entirely destroyed.
The train was bound for New York
and heavily loaded with passengers 60
ing to spend the Fourth with friends.
A special train was sent from here
with surgeons and nurses to care for
the wounded.
The fire spread so rapidly that it was
impossible TO rescue many of the in
cured and they were cremated in the
wreck
The accident in the loss of life and
property is the most extensive ever
suffered by the Erie railway.
No list of names and residences of
Killed and injured has yet been OBJ
famed
Che day coach contained party Of
people from tindlay coming here to
spend the Fourth.
A special from Alliance, o., says
Gnany of the passengers on the train
were asleep when the awful crash
came.
A terrible scene followed. There
were cries for help from all parts of the
train, mingled with the dying groans
of others whose lives were being
crushed out. Many were crushed in
4heir berths.
The steam was escaping from the
monster freight engine and soon the
wreck caught fire and the flames
crowded upon those who were fast in
Che debris. The few persons VINO
escaped without injury worked with
almost superhuman power in their
efforts to rescue the more unfortunate
ones. In several instances persons
alowly burned to death while pleading
with their last breath for help which
could not be rendered.
The wreck was most complete. The
cars were piled upon and across each
other almost in solid mass. Thus
the small party of reScuers worked at
a disadvantage. AS rapidly as the in
jured were rescued they were conveyed
to the station, where physicians from
Ravenna and the other near points, the
Grst to arrive, rendered all the assist
ance possible. The fire was finally
sxtinguished but not until several per-
CONS had persisted.
In a couple of hours the company
had responded and relief train with
@ corps Of physicians and nurses ar
and the In iured were given every at
tention. Those able to be removed
We're sent to Cleveland and placed in
Ghe hospital there. The dead were re-
moved TO the rooms of undertallers in
Ravenna, where they will await iden-
LITIGATION. Some are so badly burned
and diStigured that it will be difficult
&ask to identify them at once.
At 10 o'clock list of the names had
not been secured. Every one has been
busy in efforts to alleviate the suffer-
tngs of the injured and rescue the dead
bodies from the great mass of wrecked
and partially burned cars.
Who is responsible for the wreck? is
q question yet undetermined. The cor
oner will begin the inquest this after
noon. The company officials now here
will render all the assistance possible
and will as soon as possible make a
most complete Investigation.
- wCuld appear that the whole &C
ciGent was due to the carelessness of
some one IN leaving a switch open.
The heavy freight train was running
at the rate of forty miles an hour and
1t struck the passenger train with full
force.
For moment after the crash there
gan the most frightful cries and a scene
was presented which beggars descrip-
ton The means of the dying, piteous
cries for help from imprisoned and
) helpless passengers, and the mutilated
and bloody remains of the dead seen
among the debris made up a situation
SO horrible that no pen can
. describe it. The freight en-
gne had gone clear through
the day coach in the rear, through
sleeper, and buried itself in the second
sleeper, the third car of the train.
There was nothing left of the train but
q mass of wrecl1age and the sides of
the third ear stood around the monster
engine, holding it fast. This scene
lasted only a moment Little tongues
of flame sprang up here and there
and soon the whole wreck was
wrapped in tiEe. 1t was a sickening
sight. Two score of imprisoned pas
sengers were among the debris and the
flames lighting up everything with a
iurid glare served only to intensity
the horror of the spectacle. AS
soon as the dazed passengers IN the
other cars recovered their self
possession they rushed to the
vescue of their unfortunate companions.
The flames burned fer ely and impeded
all their efforts at first One poor
woman pinioned in the wreck was ere
mated alive before the eyes of the spec
tatOrs, who worked to save her until
driven off by the flames
She was apparently but SLIGHTLY
nurt when first seen. The flames were
slowly approaching her and her res
cuers fought sturdily to free her Men
hi TO h.
heat gave = - 70 others, but it was a
useless fgJS. he choppers had to fall
back and abandon the woman to her
fate. In 3 moment the flames caught
her dress -nd quickly leaped to her
head. r. taiteous cries of Save me!
Save me-" as the fire encircled her and
the agonized expression on her face as
she sank down in the debris caused the
stoutest hearts to grow sick. How
many such tragedies, though unseen,
were enacted in the burning ruins can
never be known.
The fire department was telephOned
for and every one in Ravenna that
could SO rushed to the scene OF the dis
aSter. Hundreds surrounded the wreck
but were powerless to save the victims,
An aNVlul ruin had beer wrought, and
little was left to do but care for the re-
mains OF the dead. Some of the pas
SeDgers who could be easily reached
were promptly rescued, and several
bodies of the dead and dying were car
%ied ~ tn the dennt rlatfn-"r
Latest Despatehes.
RAvEINA, July 5.-The following is
the complete list of the killed and serious