The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-16
A CRASH IN THE STORM.
Passenger and Freight Meet on the
Big Four Railroad Near
Cloves, Ohio.
Change of Schedule and Disregard
Of Orders the Probable
Cause.
Five Bodies Recovered and Probably Ten
Moro Under the Wreck Diniculty
In Getting Details.

Freight No. A. north bound, was ordered
to stop at North Bend to allow an accom-
mediation train for Cincinnati to pass
The summer schedule went into effect to-
day, and under the old schedule the trains
passed some miles further on. Instead Of
stopping ct North Bend, the engineer pulled
ahead and approached Cleves, running at
the rate Of twenty miles an hour. AS tho
the train appeared. Chas. smith. the tele-
graph operator, rushed to the signal wires
and put up the danger signal. Either ii
was not seen, or the engineer could not con-
troll the engine, for the train sped on. At
the same moment the passenger came into
sight, and the iron monsters crashed into
each other, with a roar that sounded
above the storm. Both engines were bat
tered into shapeless mass, and rolled
of the track. The cars behind were mashed
into kindlinR ana the track for a
hundred feet torn up. Telegraph poles
were broken and it was two or three hours
before notice Of the wreck was sent out and
special train went to the scene from Gin
cinnati People from the village and the
surrounding country gathered and did all
they could to rescue the wounded, many of
whom were taken away and the number
cannot be definitely stated tonight. tt is
claimed that some of the wounded are in a
dying condition. Not person on either
train escaped uninjured.
With She arrival of the special train the
work Of getting out the dead began. Up to
SIX p. m. five bodies were recovered, four
shooklnRly mangled and crushed out Of hu-
man shape. Under the freight was found
the crushed and scalded body of William
Hidds, the engineer, and Fireman Hiram
Bruce. both Of Indianapolis. Phillip Glib
bon and David Harwood were found under
a splintered freight car, nearly every bone
OF their bodies being broken and their
faces horribly disfigured. The fifth
dead body was that of Berry Edwards, en-
gineer Of the passenger train. Fireman
Henry Tyrell jumped before the crash, hut
was caugat under the mass of wreckage and
was 30 badly crushed that he cannot SUR
vive the night. John Schroeder, conductor
OF the passenger train, was injured in like
manner, and can live but a few hours.
George w. Hundler, a commercial traveller
of Mianasburg, was crushed between two
seats, being bent almost double. He can
not survive. "Bonny'' Keefe. freight brake
man, who had just reached the top of
car whom the collision occurred, was thrown
over the telegraph wire, forty feet into a
stream of water, which saved his life. He
thinks there are at least three tramps un-
der the wrecked freight. Some of the pas
sengers On the express are positive that
several Of their number were also killed. It
is certain they are missing, but possibly
they are among the wounded, scattered
around the town.
Later advices say that David M. Sher-
wood, of indianapolis, conductor of freight,
was killed. Mrs. Moreland, of North Bend.
was slightly injured. Five to eight pas
sengers who are supposed to be in the
smoker. which is buried in the wreck, are
missing, and nothing is known as to their
identity. The wrecked freight was going
west and tho passenger was going to Gin
cinatti from Lawrenceburg, with about
thirty passengers.
Fire started in the wreck. but people
rushed to the scene and prevented holo-
caust. Fortunately relief was prompt and
everything possible was done for the
wounded.
pathetic incident was the death of
Brakeman Gibbons. He fingered till this
afternoon, conscious all the time. He left
his young wife an hour before the accident,
and all his grief and talk was about hsr.
In the agonies of death, till his tongue was
stilled, he spoke only of her. Again and
again he begged some one to pray, and an
old colored minister responded to his plead
ings and knelt at his bedside. There was
scene Of solemnity that will not soon be
forgotten by those who witnessed it, and
silent tears moistened every eye.