The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-04

Tho injured were:
GEORGE SMITH.
JOHN CoDwEEN.
II. G. DEGRAFP.
JAMES MCGIDL.
JOHN KRATIS1.
JONAH CLARK.
A. P. JONES.
Their injuries consisted principally
of broken limbs, and none were be-
lieved to be fatally hurt.
Thomas Hawley and Joseph Morgan;
two others, are in a serious condition,
and it is feared will not recover.
The dead and injured were employed
in Richardson's glass works at Findlay,
Ohio, which shut down yesterday for
the summer, and they were on their
way to Corning, N. Y, their homes
They were all on the extra car attached
to the train, and the only one known to
have been killed on the sleeper WAS the
nurse.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
A Youngstown special says: The
east-bound vestibule No. S, due at
youngstown at 2:55 a. m., was very late
and was running on orders. When
the stop was made at Ravenna the En-
glneer and fireman OF the passenger
train went to work to repair the engine,
and the train was detained several min
utes. A flagman was sent back but
went only few feet, almost two car
lengths. Suddenly, around the curve
west of the city came train No. 50, COM
posed Of Swiftss meat cars. The train
was running twenty-five miles an hour
and coming down a heavy grade. The
engineer supposed he had clear track,
and it being q through tain, 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 warning could be given the peo-
pie in the doomed train.
WHO Is TO DIAMEP
George Holman, the engineer Of the
freight train, in an interview, said he
could not see how he could be blamed.
He further said: 81 could have stopped
the train but the rails were wet and the
sand would not take. was not warned
in time, and could not sec the lights
on the rear Of the passenger Grain owing
to the darkness and fog. ] reversed the
lover as quickly as possible and with
the fireman jumped from the train, sus-
taininga severe fracture OF the right
hand"
Mr.. Holman seems to think that the
brakeman Of the passenger train, Fred
Boynton, could have tagged him from
greater distance.
Next in front Of the coach containing
the glass workers was "dead sleeper"
a coach containing no passengers, which
doubtless prevented the accident from
being much more serious.
How many OF the glass blowers were
killed is not definitely known, us the
bodies were burned. A lew escaped
from the car, but it is feRred that at
least twenty were killed.
nEARrRENDINd SCENES.
One poor woman was seen pinioned
in the wreck, though apparently but
slightly hurt, whose piteous appeals for
help will never be forgotten by the spec
tators. The flames had not yet reached
but were slowly reaching her. Strong
and willing hands swung axes as they
were never swung before. On crept the
flames. twas q battle between life and
death and death was gaining The heat
was becoming more intense every in
slant. Men who were no longer able to
Withstand the flames gave place to 9th
ers with the rapidity OF lightning, But
4 was useless fight, the choppers had
to fall back and abandon the woman to
her fate. In a moment, the flames
caught her dress and leaped to her
head. Her piteous cries OF Save me,
save me-" as the flames enveloped her
form, and the expression of agony in
her face as she sank down in the debris
caused the stoutest hearts to grow sick
with horror. How many more such
frightful tragedies, though unseen, oc.
CURED in these brief moments, will
never be known.
The remains were carried to the
depot as soon as recovered and laid in
rows. They presented q CHASTITY sight,
though not nearly SO badly mutilated
as might have been expected from the
nature OF the accident. Some Of them
have already been identified, and it is
believed nearly all the others can be us
soon as their friends arrive. In the
early morning the bodies were taken
uptown and placed in an improvised
morgue in IN old store room. A com.
mon spring wagon was used, thirteen
being hauled in a single load. They
are being rapidly prepared for the in.
spection OF friends and for burial by
local undertakers.
4 TRAMP's TESTIMONY.
A wrecking train responded from
Kent, and about daylight workmen
commenced clearing away the debris
This took several hours, but the track
at 9:l5 o'clock q. m. was cleared so that
trains could pass. There was not much
OF q blockade, owing to plenty OF sidings,
and trains being Immediately stopped
at all points east and west. A tramE
who was stealing ride on the rear enc
OF the passenger train, said to repor
ter that the flagman did not 20 bach
over a half car length, and that there
was no time for the engineer to stop the
freight train. He has been arrested tc
be held as witness. There is stretch
OF straight track west OF the depot al
least half a mile long, but the grade Il
very heavy, and it is difficult to stop Z
train. Being late at night it is probable
the brakeman could not or did not re
spond as promptly as they might IL
daylight.
THE sUPERINTENpENT's STATEMENT.
1t Is asserted by Superintendent Mat
tison, who Is investigating the disaster
thnk tho ncrihnnk WINS due 10 tho nnrn