Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09
sLAUGHTEB ON TILE RhIn.
Loaded Passenger Train TeIcscoped by
a freight--Many People Killed and
Maimed--Fire Adds Horror to the Awful

Loaded Passenger Train TeIcscoped by
"a Freight--Many People Killed and
Maimed--Fire Adds Horror to the Awful
Wreck.
CLEVELAND, July "a special from
youngstown, o., says: At Ravenna the
worst railroad wreck which ever hammer ed
on the western reserve, excepting the Ash
tapula,, occurred this morning resulting
N the death OF rs people and the serious
Il not fatal injnring Of at least six more.
Fire added its terrors to the already fright
ful scenes and the bruised and charred re-
mains OF the victims were badly burned,
while one poor woman pinioned in the
wreckage was crematod before the ewes of
the spectators, who worked to secure her
release until driven off by the flames.
The east-bound Erie vestibule No. s,
Que at Youngstown at 2.55 a. m. was very
late and was running on orders when the
stop was made at Ravenna. The engineer
and fireman of the passenger train went TO
work TO repair the engine and the train
was again DELAYED several minutes
q nagman wse sent back, but went only
q few feet ut most two car lengths Sud
denly around tho curve west of the city
came train No. 50, composed of Swift meat
cars. The train was running % miles an
hour and coming down a heavy grade.
The engineer supposed he had clear track
and II being through train he was not ex-
pected to stop at Ravenna. He called for
brakes and reversed his engine, but all to
no purpose. On came the freight train
with hut slightly decreased speed and no
word of warning could be given the people
in the doomed train.
few feet west of the station the engi-
neer and fireman jumped, aiighting safely.
moment more and the heavy freight
crashed into the passenger train. After
this was the scene Of death, and then COM
menced the most frightful cries ever heard.
The means of the dying, the pitiful cries
for help from the imprisoned and helpless
passengers, and the mutilated and bloody
remains of the dead seen through the frag-
ments of the debris, formed scene Of
horror no person can picture. The freight
engine had gone clear through day coach
in the rear, through the sleeper and buried
itself in the second sleeper, the third car
in the train. There was nothing left of
the train but mass of debris, and the
sides Of the third car stood about the mon
ster engine as If to hold it prisoner and
prevent further damage.
This scene lasted but a moment when
little tongues of flames sprang up here and
there and soon the whole wreck was
wrapped in fire. 1t was a sickening sight,
two scores of imprisoned passengers in the
debris, the flames lighting up the place,
ocifou VhiJ W lnttnsIby tue 0OrrOrS WlIn-
out aiding the rescuers. As soon as the
dazed passengers in the other cars re-
covered themselves they rushed to the res
cue OF their unfortunate companions. The
fire department was Immediately tele-
phoned for and every one in that end of
the little city rushed to the disaster. Hun
dreds soon surrounded the wreck, but too
late. The awful ruin had been wrought
and little was left to do but secure a cart
for the remains of the dead. A few pas
sengers. easy reached, were promptly res
cused and several bodies OF the dead and
dying were carried up to the depot plat
form.
THE DEAD AND DYING.
PIrTsBuRG, July "A Ravenna, Ohio,
special gives the following as list of the
dead and injured: Dead-David Releham,
II. Huff, +. Griffin. A. Duathorpe, w.
Kane, +. Burns, J. Kimball, J. Demeen,
J. Coyle, o. Harding, d. Ryan, d. Cassidy,
w. Newcombe, p. Nolan, nurse, un-
known. All of these were taken out of
the wreck dead, and all but three burned
to crisp.
Thomas Colville was taken out of the
wreck alive. He was terribly crushed and
burned and his sufferings were awful. In
an agonizing voice he called to friend.
BILLY, for Gods sake get an axe and kill
me-" He died soon after. Henry Gilden
was badly injured and died soon after
being taken to the hotel.
Among the injured were George Smith,
If,IrV ~ n-lN