The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-05
A Horrible Train Wreck in Which
Many Are Killed and
Injured.
Only One Man Escaped From the
Dread Grasp of the
Disaster.
Men Women and Children Buried he
meath the Debris--HenrtrendinR
Scenes-Cause Unknown,

CHAnLEsTowN, w. Va, July 4.-The worst
wreck ever known in this part of the state
occurred about eight o'clock this morning
on the Kansas u Michigan railway eight
miles west of hero. A passenger train for
Columbus pulled out from here with two
carloads of excursionists attached. The
wreck occurred on high trcstle. The
cross-ties had caught fire during the night,
ind burned SO that the rails spread under
the train. The engine and baggage and
coaches were thrown from the track.
After running forty feet on the
ties tho forward car toppled
to the left, the rear one to the right. The
forward car turned completely over and
landed right side up. The other fell twenty
feet, turning upside down, and one set of
trucks fell on top of it, crushing the car to
splinters. Under this place most Of the
dead were found. Surgeons and relief
train were sent at once. The scenes among
the dead and dying were heartrending
One little baby lost its father and mother.
One mans head was severed at the
mouth and the remainder of the head was
fshed out from under the wreck. Several
AouAo aApoA UAo DOOy WAS lOuuu ~ ls
feared there are one or two bodies yet under
the wreck. The dead, as far as known, are:
Col. W. Z. Fife, Buffalo, w. Va; I. N.
Wilson, Galipolis, Ohio; Charles Huffman,
Blue Creek, w. Va; L. G. Ross, Blue Creek
W. Va; Jasper Dougherty, New Martins
vile, w. Va; Walter Welcher, Charleston;
Mrs. Walter Welcher, Charleston; Ella
O'Leary, Charleston; Amos Cozlter, Red
House, w. Va; Orville Robinson, Midway,
w. Va; Thomas Thornton (conductor), J,
Middleport, Ohio; Pelly Sullivan, Mason
city; James White, Middleport, Ohio.
Fifty persons were counted who were in
jured. and number walked away before
they could be seen. OF the entire number
of passengers but one, John Eoivell, of this
city, escaped without a scratch. He was
in the mail car, Those fatally injured are:
W. B. Reed. Elk City; James Blackwood,
Athos, O.; Mrs. II. S. Truslow, Charleston:
| Will Ford, Elk City. Following is partial
| list Of others injured. many of whom are
dangerously hurt: Leor Il. Bligh, Red
House, W. Va; J. d. Jones, Charleston
Mrs. j. ID. Jones, Charleston; w. b. Saun-
ders, Charleston; Peter Simpson, Charles
ton; j. G. Martin, Leon. w. Va. j. b. Cor
don, Leon, w. Va. Mary Shirley, Charles
ton; Miss Jennie jackson, Charleston; Miss
Cora Cart. Charleston; Miss Maggie Cart,
Charleston; John Welcher, two-year- old
child of Walter Welcher and wife, who
Clendennin, W. Va; G. A. Gillespie,
Elk City; John Whiteaker, Elk City: James
Copely, Elk City; Mollie Winfrce, Elk City;
e. A. Price, White Carter, Null Grove. N.
c.: Miss Minnie Davis, Charleston; Andy
HaSbarn, Elk City; sallle Coulter, Red
House; r.. j.. Salterthwait, Charleston;
Robinson, conductor, Midway W. Va: w.
Clerk Hayes, Athena. O.: George w. strib-
ling, Point Pleasant. w. Va: Sam Shue,
Midway; H. T. Calhoun, Gallipolis; - Ross,
Elk City; George Mckee, Poca, W. Va;
burn, Elk City; +. w. Jennings, Columbus,
O.; George Fisele, Charleston, Clarence
Fisele, Charleston; A. G. Wall, Elk City;
LUCINDA Jones, Elk City; Allie Sprad-
ling, Elk Cty G. G. Long. Point
Pleasant, w. Va; Charles Conker,
Poca, W. Va; Ed. Couler. Poca; A. Archi-
bald, Poca; Samuel Carpenter. Poca; VIM.
Jones, Elk City: Ella Benson, Elk City.
James Nicely. of Charleston, was known to
have been on the train but ho has not been
seen or heard from since the wreck. 1t is
believed he is under the wrecked cars.
| What caused the burning OF the trestle is
not known but it is supposed to have
caught by cinders dropped by the engine.
The engineer of the excursion tram saw
smoke but thinking it fog arising from the
creek went on. Persons living in the neigh
borhood saw the smoke but thought it was
from camp fires of persons who have been
fishing there. The wreck was Il fearful one
and the horrors of it cannot be realized by
any ono who was not at the scene. The
city is practically in mourning tonight
What promised to be one of the brightest
days in it's history became the saddest i,
has ever known.
! John Norvell, the only passenger who es-
capped unhurt, had gone into the mail car tc
speak with the mail agent when the shock
came. When he felt the shook he seized Il
rod and hung on. In an instant tho mail car
was ierked back on tho track and then wit h
crash the coaches broke loose and swung
off over the edge of the trestle. Thete
were 50 many in the train and SO few to
help them that it seemed almost impossible
to do anything. nor was there anything to
bind tho wounds with. Norvall went tc
the county poor-housa near by and got
bandages and then began to use them.