The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-06
RAILROAD HORRORS.
Nineteen Killed in Ohio and Fif-
teen in West Virginia.
FLAMES ADD TO THE HORROR.

Al Ravenna, o., a Freight Train
Crashes Into an Eric Express Train,
While ut Farm Station, w. Va, q
Passenger Train Plunges Trough
Burning Trestle-Ndany Injured.
CLEVELAND, July 6.--At Ravenna, O.,
on the New York, Lake Erie and West
ern railroad, train No. 8, fast express,
bound for New York, while standing at
the depot awaiting orders was dashed
into from the rear by the dressed meat
express, No. SO, from Chicago. A day
coach on the rear was completely tele-
scoped and nineteen passengers killed
and twelve severely wounded. The
coach and two sleepers forward took fire
and were consumed, burning MANY of
the bodies SO that they were almost un-
recognizable.
A special train was sent from Youngs-
town with surgeons and nurses to care
for the wounded. The fire spread SO
rapidly that it was impossible to rescue
many of the injured, and they were Gre
mated in the wreck. The accident, in
tho loss of life and property, is the most
extensive ever suffered by the Erie rail-
way.
The most of the dead and injured have
been employed at the Richardson Glass
works, Findlay, o. They lived in Corn
ing, N. Y, and were on their way home,
occupying day coach attached to the
rear Of the train.
Story of the Disaster.
The east bound Erie vestibule No. 8.
due 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 passen-
ger train went to work to repair the en-
gine and the train was again DELAYED
several minutes. A fiagman was sent
back, but went ouly a few feet, at most
two car lengths. Suddenly around the
curve, west of the city, came train No.
W, composed OF meat cars. The train
was running. twenty-five miles an hour,
and coming down heavy grade. The
engineer supposed he had clear track,
and it being through train he was not
expected to stop at Ravenna. He called
for brakes and reversed his engine,
but all to no purpose. On came the
freight train with but slightly decreased
speed, and no word Of warming could be
given to the people in the doomed train,
A few feet west of the station the engi-
neer and fireman jumped, alighting
safely. A moment more and the heavy
freight crashed into the passenger train.
Incidents of the Wreck.
m fanH Ahalsap sap4stijii A Miiqad qdgata.dG 9aa dGG.gsRs.
raj and chief of staff, were on the train
on their way to Buffalo to attend the
reunion of the Army Of the Potomac,
but both escaped without injury.
On the person OF Willie Kain, of Corn
ing, N. Y, a glass blower, was found
$500. The boy had been saving this
money to surprise his widowed mother,
and death stopped the journey.
Thomas Keyille was taken out of the
wreck alive. He was terribly crushed
and burned and his sufferings were
awful to behold. In an agonizing voice
he called to friend, Billy, for Gods
sake get an ak and kill me-" He died
soon after.
1t is asserted by Superintendent Mat
tison, who is investigating the disaster,
that the accident was due to the care
lessness OF the passenger crew. The
train was in charge of Conductor Boyn-
ton, and his son was rear fagman, who,
instead of going back, leaned against
the rear coach until the freight was in
sight, and then 1t was too late to stop it.