The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-15
THE TUNNEL CAVES in
And Throws a Locomotive and
Three Freight Cars of the Track.
LUCKILY NO ONE is INJURED.
Tho watohman sets tho Danger Sign.
nj, But the Engineer fails to Notice
it-.-The Watchman's shanty Struck
and Thrown on the Terminal Track.
Trains Use the Latter system, and
Run into the Union Depot.

The predictions Of those people who
knew the condition OF the timbers at
the east end Of the Hemp8eld tunnel
wore fully realized yesterday, when
that end of tho tunnel fell in. 1t was
about 4 o'clock in the morning. Night
watchman Pat Manley was standing
near the portal Of the tunnel, close to
the shanty in which he lives, when he
heard the cracking Of timbers, followed
bya shower of rock and dirt which COW
cred up the railroad track. He knewa
freight train was duo out from Wheel.
ing, and selling red lantern he waited
until most Of tho stuff had fallen and
rushed through the tunnel toward the
other end, his head barely missing be-
ing struck by the stones which wero
still falling down, lie arrived at
tho place where pipe is being
laid on this side OF the creek. In q few
minutes engine 534. in charge of Engi-
rcer John Spc and Fireman Hugh Han
non, came bowling along, No attention
was paid 10 tho signal, and the train
went on through the tunnel. Shortly
afterward Manicy heard the crash. and
when he arrived at the east end Of the
tunnel, IL looked to him MS ii an earth.
quake had passed oyor that section Of
the country. Tho engine had plowed
through the mass that obstructed tho
track, but the tender broke loose and
was thrown off the track up against the
bank Four freight cars were deratIed,
aud three OF them were mashed up con.
siderably. One was thrown end for end
across the track, one end having mash
cd in tho side OF Manley's shanty and
pushed it over on the Terminal. The
cars were sad wreck, with iron and
wood work inextricably thrown to-
gethet.
A HORSE AND CART
we're in one of the cars, and though the
car fell to pieces. the horse was uniu-
jured, and stood on the floor OF
tho car looking about him. He was re.
leased from his perilous position and
was quartered in a stable nearby. The
other cara were loaded with ice and
scrap iron.
Had anyo the Manleys been in the
shanty, some one would doubtless have
been killed. Mrs. Manley had got up,
however. at three o'clock, to prepare
her sons breakfast, and as he had al
ready gone to his work, no one was in
the house.
The wrecking train at Findleyville
was Immediately dispatched for, and
arrived at o'clock. A big gang Of
men was put to work, and did not finish
clearing away the debris until ! o'clock.
During this time all trains on tho Pitts
burg division used the Terminal tracks,
which connect with the B. & o. near
the tunnel. Had there been no con-
nection the road would have been
blockaded, but as it was the Terminal
track and Union depot proved their
usefulness.
1t is said that the engineer mistook
the watchman's lantern for one that has
been used on pile of bricks lying on
the street, aud though he saw the
Waterman, he supposed it was man
gathering up the lanterns, as the day
had already commenced.
An lNrELLIGEnCER reporter was Out Nv
the scene OF the accident. Everything
was then already cleared up, but pieces
OF the rotor pine timber, which had
been serving as supports for no one
knows how many years, were still lying
around. That no lives were lost through
the almost criminal neglect TO renew
the old pine wood timbers is q piece Of
good fortune the railroad company can
congratulate itself upon. Over the top
of the tunnel portal and along the sides
on the outside the rock seems ready
to fall, and will have to be trimmed
away pretty soon.