The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-28
THE PERILs OF THE RAIL.
Express and Freight Trains Crash into
Each Other at the Rate OF Sixty
Miles an Hour-Passengers
Roasted Alive.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Sept. 21.-What
will undoubtedly prove to be the most
diastrous accident that ever occurred in
the history Of the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago Railway, which
is operated by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, took place this morning at 8
o'clock in what is known as Browns
Cut, a mile and a half west of the
village Of Shreve, Wayne County,
Ohio. Train No. s, the fast East bound
passenger express train, collided at that
point with the first section of freight
No. IS. West bound. The passenger
train was about one hour late, and was
running at the rate of sixty miles an
hour. 1t is stated that the engineer and
fireman on the freight, while standing
on side track at Shreve, fell ssleep and
were awakened by hearing train
rushing by. Thinking that it was No.
s, the engineer pulled out on the main
track and had just got under way when
the train came.
The collision occurred on sharp
curve and a cut where neither crew
was able 10 see the other train approach
ing. the engines come together with
such awful force that the mail car and
smoking car of the express were throwr.
on top of the passenger engine, and a
freight car, filled with printing presses,
was thrown over the freight engine.
The passengers and trainmen who
escaped say the accident had hardly
taken place before flames burst forth,
and they believe that but two or three
persons were killed outright, the others
having been pinned down in the cars
and slowly roasted to death. Twelve
| blackened trunks have been taken from
the wreck. ~.
The fireman on the freight train
must have had a horrible death, as be
was caught in the cab and his fright
fully burned body dangled in the air in
view of hundreds who visited the scene,
the wreckers being unable to get it
because of the heat. The poor postal
clerks imprisoned in the mail cars
which were thrown upon the passen-
ger engine had no chance to escape and
they were doubtless all burned to
death. All fatalities occurred in the
two locomotives, the postal and smok-
ing car and the day coach. The sleep
ers did not leave the track and the pas
sengers, beyond a shaking, escaped
injury.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
P1TTsBURG, Pa, September 21.-A
specia. from Wooster, Ohio, says: A
Chicago express train crashed into
freight train on the Fort Wayne road
at Shreve, Ohio, this morning. Seven
people were killed outright, three seri-
ously injured and others were slightly
hurt
The Chicago express, known as train
No. s, ran into the first section OF
freight train No. IS.
The express was approaching at full
speed when the freight, which had
been lying on siding, suddenly pulled
on to the main track in front of it.
Before either train could stop, they had
collided. 1t is thought the engineer Of
the freight train did not understand
his orders. Both engines were ditched
and ground into shapeless mass.
They were followed by six cars of the
express, including the postal car, two
express cars, the baggage car, the
smoker and one coach, together with
five of the freight cars.
The names of the killed and injured
have not yet been ascertained. The
killed were: the fireman of the passen-
ger train, the fireman of the freight
train, two postal clerks, one freight
brakeman and two passengers.
The wreck was caused by blunder,
but who was responsible for it has not
yet developed. Superintendent Starr
said this morning that there was no
confusion Of orders as there was no Or
ders. No one knows why the freight
pulled out, but the supposition is that
that the fast freight running between
the limited East and No. 8 went by
and the freight crew mistook it for
No. s. How such mistake could oc-
cur Mr.. Starr does not know, as he has
not seen either the engineer or the con-
ductor of the freight tram. -
The fire completely wiped out all
trace of baggage and express matter
and mail and some of the bodies of the
killed. There is not a remnant or bone
to be found of one of the postal clerks,
an express messenger or two ladies,
who were going from Bucyrus to Espy-
vile. The financial loss by the wreck
cannot be estimated. 1t is reported
that in the mail burned there was about
$4,000 in bills. This is only what was
in registered packages. The express
matter was all burned except thirty
six silver bricks worth at least SIS, 900.
These were taken out of the car yes
terday afternoon. Probably fifty or
sixty pieces of baggage were destroyed,
but what their value is the company
as yet do not know. saseonorary
track has heen- cee.sEructed whieh a.