Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-07
NO FLAGMAN AGAIN,
A Fast Flying Express Train
Crashes Into a Freight
in a Dense Fog.
DARKNESS AND CONFUSION
Reigned While Ten People We're.
Killed and Many Injured,
NARROWING GSCENESA AT THE WRECK
Bodies Chopped Out While the Smashed
Cars We're in Flames.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
MANY BARELY ESCAPE BEING ROASTED


The scene of the accident is four miles
from Port Byron and two from Montezuma
station. The trainmen say that more killed
are in the wreck Dense fog prevailed
over the Montezuma marshes and enveloped
the trains and tracks. Physicians and other
aid were sent from Syracuse, Auburn, Mon
tezuma and Port Byron. The scene at the
wreck is described as terrible.
About o'clock freight train, going
west, broke in two between Port Byron and
Montezuma, and fast train No. 3, the ST,
Louis limited which left New York at 5
O'Clock last evening, dashed into the rear.
When the freight train broke in two a
brakeman went back to warn the passenger
train, but the fog was so thick that he was
not seen, and the limited crashed into the
freight cars at full speed. Fire added to the
horror of the situation, for shortly after the
collision the sleeping cars took fire and
were burned.
VICTIMS OF THE DISASTER
The following is list of the killed and
injured:
killed-Carrilla Alfonso, Coco Roca,
Nincenzo Dilauri, Dominco Rinchone,
Thomas Merlino, John Rosia Dominica
Santilo, Antonio Scozzavava, John Clam
bot, unknown. All of them were Italians
and adults Fireman Michael Bergen, Mace
don, \. Y, instantly killed, leaves
wife but no children. Antoine Umbello
leaves a wife and four children in Italy. He
was brought to this city and died at the
House of the Good Shepherd at III A. NJ.
Joseph NJ. keeshan, of St Louis, has leg
crushed and died ut the House of the Good
shepherd at ll:3O O'Clock to-day, leaves a wife
and family in st. Louis
Injured-Patrick Ryan, engineer of the ex-
press, lives in Buffalo. He has serious in
tcrnal injury. Has wife and family. Mr..
Ryan has been in the employ of the West
Shore since the road opened and never had
an accident before; Louis Diller, Alsace-
Lorraine, deep flesh wound on the leg, which
Is badly lacerated; A. X. Lovaas, Hungarian,
bad scalp wound and leg broken: John
schultz member of Uncle Isaac Farce
Company, of Easton, Pa, scalp wound:
George H. Saxby. of Hamilton, Ont, injury
to back and hips.
Others injured were: John Preston, of
Troy. n. Y. railroad man: Julius Myers,
Buffalo, n. Y; b. Z. Pitts, musical director
OF New York; Camille Libiz, Gulstino Libiz,
Henry Tralono, Giuseppe Masciarello,
Giovanno Rossi, Sieolo Machine, Tomasso
LonZano, shoulder dislocated: Lunui
injuries All of the injured were taken to
the House of the Good Shepherd. X. h.
SServiss of Newark, \. Y, went to his home.
Lewis Teilor, of West Point, n. Y, Frank j.
Setter, of this city, internal injuries, removed
TO his home.
N1INIsTERED TO THE DISABLED.
At $50 o'clock the relief train started from
the West Shore depot in this city. The run
to Port Byron was rapid, and when the train
entered upon the stretch OF the track east of
MOntezuma, a desoiute sight met the gaze of
its passengers. Ministering to the wants of
the injured and caring for the dead victims
were seen many brave helpers from among
the passengers and crew on the ilI-fated
train. On board the relief train were put the
bodies of the ten mea who were dead and
the injured were disposed of as comfortably
as the cramped seats OF the day coaches
would allow.
At 7:SO start was made for Syracuse
When Port Byron was reached the dead
were taken of and laid in the freight house
and the train continued slowly to Syracuse.
Between Port Byron and Syracuse one of
the Italians who was terribly injured died |
and was laid out in the baggage car.
At O'Clock wreclling train brought the |
wounded here. and ambulances police |
patrol wagons and hacks made a mouInful |
procession through the crowded streets to |
the hospitals Of the 20 Italians in the
smoking car only one escaped injury, and he
injured Italians were brought to Syracuse,
some OF whom VIII probably die.
THE STORY OF THE CONDUCTOR.
Conductor Kanaly, of the limited, said
that the accident occurred at exactly 2:40
o'clock. Il was in the front end of the head
sleeper Marathon he said, "and had Just
noticed that we were making the usual |
running time. We left Syracuse at l:5s, on |
time. The train heavily loaded each |
of the sleepers having about 20 passengers.
The day coach was well filed and there |
were between so and 50 persons in the |
smoker 1t was very foggy, and the en-
gineer, of course, expected that the Mon 1
teZuma side track would be all right for |
him. The first indication l had of the acci- |
dent was when felt the sudden application |
OF the air brakes. A moment later came the |
crash. That is about all / can tell, except |
that the engine went clear through the |
cabOose of the freight train and then rolled |
down the embankment The day coach 4
telescoped the smoker, and when l got out |
of the doors they were all mixed up with 4
the express and baggage cars. The sleeper /
did not leave the rails"
William J. Wilsey, agent in securities in /
San Bernardino, Cal, was among the in 1
jured taken to the House of the Good Shep-
nerd in this city. He was on his way home /
from Boston, and expected tonight to meet /
his wife and two children at Detroit Mich,
where they had been visiting. He was in /
Jured about the knees and hip and a severe 1
wound in the groin.
HE WAITED TO BE CRUSHED.
He said: 81 was in the rear end of the 1
smoker when the crash occurred. 1 had time /
to know what was happening, and as the /
baggage car crashed through the smoker 1 |
could see it bowling down the men like ten |
pens. just turned my back and waited to /
be crushed. In an instant 1 was up to my /
neck in debris and felt that / was hurt, but |
managed to eXtricate myself and crawl out |
upon the top of the wreck. found a travel |
ing acquaintance, John f. Bowdish, a brush /
manufacturer Of Boston, pinned down in q /
narrow space at the end of the coach, un- 4
able to move, so tightly wedged in. If the |
car had gone q foot further he would have /
been crushed to a jelly.
by this time the wreck was on fire and /
before we had chopped away the timbers
that held Bowdish the flames were right /
upon us. Then we crawled back into |
ing idle. II it hadn't been for the heroic |
work of the passengers themselves many of |
the injured would have been roasted alive.
The member of an opera company that was
on the train did splendid work. i saw" /
said Mr.. Wilsey, "a brakeman of the freight 4
train standing by the side of the track, crazy
with excitement / asked him for Gods |
sake man how did this happen?"
"Oh, my God" he fairly shouted, al told
them to go back; told them to go back"
'W hat do you mean? Back where?"
Back from the freight
81 asked him then if he meant that the
freight did not send back any light, but he |
would not say anything more. think that
here may be a clew to the cause of the acci-
dent"
ALL WAS IN GREAT CONFUSION.
John +. Bowdish, of Boston, who is in the
brush business, was on his way to Detroit He
says the accident occurred between Sand4
O'Clock. He had been in a doze, but was
fully awake when the crash came. 1.-The first