The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-02-05

A disastrous wreck occurred on the
Cleveland, Lorain q Wheeling railroad,
about three quarters of mile from Beach
City, at 3 o'clock this morning. Freight
train No. 20, northbound, left Canal Do
yer at 1 o'clock, and was followed by tbe
second section one hour later. AT point
near the Tuscarawas and Stark county
line the second section crashed into the
caboose OF the first section, utterly de-
molishing IL, mashing several cars and
killing one man outright, and three others
are probably fatally injured.
Fireman G.. w. Lehman, of Belden, o.,
was sleeping in the caboose, and was
killed outright. He had made only three
trips over the road, and being tired out
was going to his home in Belden TO take a
rest. He had laid down in the caboose
and was fast asleep when the accident
occurred. His body was pinioned
beneath the wreck and was badly burned.
The trainmen made every effort to extri-
cate him but without success.
John Mcconnell, a brakeman living at
Lorain, was badly bruised and burned.
His injuries are such that he will probably
die. Physicians consider his chances for
recovery very slim.
Two tramps, whose names could not he
learned, were riding on the bumpers be-
tween two cars at the rear end Of the first
section, and both were badly injured.
The body of Lehman wes taken to
Dover, where it now lies awaiting the
coming of relatives. Mcconnell and the
two tramps who were injured were also
taken to Dover.
The conductor of the rear freight train,
which crashed into the first section, was
seen by the NEws.DEMocRAT representa-
tive. He stated that he had received
orders at Dover to go ahead, and
was informed that the other train
had preceded him an hour. I'VE
were running along at a good
rate Of speed" said he, "when without
warning, near a small ravine our engine
dashed into the caboose of the other
molshing the caboose and wrecking four
cars. Our engineer did not notice the
other train until too late to stop the train.
The other train must have stalled on the
grade as it was heavily loaded. We were
running about twenty miles an hour"
Austin A. Hay, a Beach City merchant
was at the scene of the wreck at an early
hour this morning. He stated to the re-
porter that the scene this morning was a
terrible one. The injured men had not
yet been removed and their means were
pitiful to hear.
From the information CLEANED by Mr..
Hay several hours before the News
DEMOCRAT reporters arrival, it
seems that the front train stalled
on the grade and that the
flagman was sent back to flag the second
train and avert disaster, The hagman
had proceeded but a short distance from
ed. 1t was then too late to stop the on
coming train.
Coroner Openheimer was in Massillon
this morning and heard of the accident
there. He repaired at once to the Office
of the railroad and inquired for particu-
lars. Upon inquiry it was learned that
the wreck occurred just over the line
in Tuscarawas county. The coroner
having no jurisdiction in that county did
not visit the scene of the wreck.
Considerable doubt is expressed as to
the question in which county the disaster
occurred. A gentleman well acquainted
in that section stated that the wreck oc
Cured just on the line. Another said that
it was about GO feet in Tuscarawas county
The latter is probable correct. Coroner
Openheimer returned to Canton this after
noon.