Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-22


Many of Them Burning to Death
in the Ruins of the Cars-Mail
Clerks and Express Messengers
Die at Their Posts Of Duty.
CLEVELAND, o., September 21.-What
will undoubtedly prove to be the most
disastrous accident that ever occurred
in the history of the Pittsburg, Fort
Wayne and Chicago Railway took place
this morning at o'clock in what Is
known as Browns cut, one mile and a
half west of the village of Shreve, ..
Train No. s, the fast east-bound pas
senger aud express train, collided at
that point with the first section OF
ireightNo. IS west-bound.
The passenger train was about one
hour late, and was running at the rate
OF 60 miles an hour. 1t is stated that
the engineer and fireman on the freight,
while standing on the side-track at
Shreve, fell asleep, and were awakened
by hearing train rushing by. Think
ing that il 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 a sharp
curve, and in the cut where neither
crew was able TO see the other train
approaching. The
ENGINES CAME TOGETHER
with such awful force that the mail car
and smoking car of the express were
thrown on top Of the passenger engine,
and freight car filled with printing
presses was thrown over the freight en-
gine.
Passengers and train men who es-
caped say the accident had hardly
taken place before flames burst forth,
and they believe that two or three per-
sons were killed outright, the others
having been pinned down in the cars
aud slowly roasted to death. Thirteen
bHrned and backened trunks have been
taken from the wreck.
LIST OF KILLED.
Following is a list of the killed:
GEORGE SMITH, Crestine, o., passen-
ger fireman.
D. E. REESE, Massillon, o., postal
clerk.
R. S. ALLEN, Columbana, o., postal
clerk.
G. e. MANN, Chicago, postal clerk.
J. d. PATTERSON, Beaver Falls, Pa,
postal clerk.
A. D. GLENN, Allegheny, Pa, front
brakeman on freight train.
n. HAMMOND, Allegheny, Pa, fire
man on freight train.
Two BODIES who, the conductor said,
had tickets for Espyville, Pa. One
lady and child, who boarded the train
at Mansfield, o., for Alliance.
ONE OTHER unknown.
SAMUEL JACKSON, express messenger,
Chicago.
JAMES LAUKERK, Massillon, O., pas
senger.
J. D. RHODES, Mahoning, Pa, pas
senger.
The cars wrecked were five freight
cars, one postal car, two express cars,
one baggage car and two coaches. The
wrecked cars were totally destroyed by
fire. One coach and the sleeping cars
on the express train were not wrecked
and escaped the flames. The missing
persons perished in the flames.
The force Of the collision must have
been terrific, as the postal, express and
smoking cars were completely tele-
scoped. There were five clerks at work
in the postal car and four were instant
lv killed and the fifth one was fatally
iniured. The flames communicated
from the FIRE box OF the engine to the
postal car, and in short time the car
was
A BLAZING MASS.
From there the flames swept TO the two
exnress cars and before the passengers
succeeded in checking the fiery element
the baggage car, the smoker and day
coach were reduced to ashes. The
flames did not spread to the wrecked
freight cars.
All attention at first was paid to the
Messengers imprisoned in the burning
smoker and day coach. Two or three
of them were pinned down by broken
timbers and were powerless to move.
They made desperate efforts TO free
themselves as the flames swept toward
tLem. and their cries for help were
beartrepding, All that could be done
VAS being done by those outside, buT
the fire swept upon them so quickly
that they finally had to stand back while
the moor. helpless victims pinioneddown
in the car seats, perished before their
eyes. - -. -,
saved from cremation were laid out on
the ground q short distance from the
grack and were covered with blankets.
The injured were tenderly cared for 10y
the citizens OF Shreve, and were given
every attention. Gu. - 800
q passenger on the train, said that ne
US half asleep when he was aroused
~ tho shock of the collision. He said
there was terrible rumbling noise ana
almost Instantly the air was nlled Win
cries and screams for help. lie was
ninned 70 the floor of the car by wreck
zoe but finally, with great difficulty
he freed himself and went, with others
- the aid OF lady who, with hei
cbild was held by the heavy timoefs.
Tbev worked with might and main to
rescue the two, but were finally
DRIVEN BACK BY THE FLAMES
and compelled to leave the woman and
ohIld IN their fate. Mr.. Weltman salo
~ 49, cries that came from the imprisoned
saooIs 80 we're such as he can never Tor
pet pe The fireman OF the freight train
es. have had a horrible death. as he
vas caught In the cab, and MS Irlgnt
s0iiv burned body dangled In the ar in
,,seye S ~ hundreds who witnessed the