The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1893-05-09
REFUSED TO WORK.
The Air Brakes ON a Big -Four
Train at Lafayette, Ind.
Ten Killed and Many Injured in
the Wreck

which Results ON n sharp Curve on n
steep Grade-Ths Depot Shed Demo1-
ished--A Suspicion That the Brakes
Had Been Tempered With by Tramps
who Had Been Put or the Train-List
OF victims.
LAFAYETTE, Ind, May s.-As the
facts become known, the railroad dis
aster at this place Sunday morning was
one OF the most frightful that ever oc-
Cured. 1t is not yet known whether
the airbrakes had been tempered with
by tramps who had been put off ths
train, or whether by accident they got
out of order.
The Big Four tracks approach from
the west on a steep downgrade. The
train was bound from Chicago to Gin
cinuati, and was due here little be-
fore o'clock. The engine was pulling
nine cars, and when it came in sight of
the people gathered at the depot it was
noticed that the speed was not only
greater than usual, but was increasing.
AS the train rounded the curve and
came on the bridge that spans the Wa
bash river, the engine was whistling
for brakes, while the speed was in
creasing.
1t was instantly OWNED that some.
thing was wrong. and many people has
tened away from the depot. AS the en-
CINE came off the bridge it jumped
the track at the frog, and, reaching a
sharp curve, took 'header," leaving
the track entirely and plunging into the
corner of the depot. tearing down a
number of iron sheds on the east side of
the track.
The two mailcars. the expresscar- and
the baggagecar followed the engine,
and were thrown 30 or 40 feet from the
main track of the Big Four road, over
upon the track of the Lake Erie and
Western. The chaircar had the front
! trucks knocked out from under it, and
the coach dropped down upon the track,
| but this car remained for the most part
on the track.
The mailcars were piled up on the To-
connective, and were broken and spliLt-
cred to pieces. The mailcoaches, sim
| gular to relate, were thrown over onto
the east of the baggage and smoker, and
when they finally stopped in their mad
career there were almost parallel with
the smoker.
One mailcar was drumped almost on
top of the other, and down underneath
the whole mass was the locomotive,
which could not be seen. Boxcars on
the tracks of the Lake Erie and West
ern railroad were crushed like egg
shells, and forced over against the
freighthouse of the Lake Erie and West
ern company.
Two people were killed and several
hurt by the falling sheds.
Search is now being made for two
tramps who were put off the train at
Templeton. the last stop west of La
fayette. 1t is thought they may be able
to tell something about the disabled
brakes.
Engineer Michael Walsh of Indianap-
oils, taken from under the wrecked en-
Fireman Sterling McInnis of Urbana,
Ills; instantly mangled out of recogni-
ton.
Charles schaill, iron worker, of In
dianapolis, killed by falling shed roofs.
Otto Jerselson of Montreal, prospect.
i've passenger; caught in the depot
wreckage.
Mailc1erk E. D. Meyers of Cincinnati,
died shortly after the accident, uncon-
scious of his frightfu1 injuries.
Express Messenger Thomas F. McMa-
han of Cincinnati was almost instantly
killed.
Charles Myers, hackman, of Lafay-
cite. who was waiting for the train.
was struck by the wild engine and in
stantly killed.
John Lennon. driver of the mail
wagon, suffered similar fate to Myers.
Mailclerk A. R. Chadwick of Cincin-
natl. His terribly mangled body was
recovered several hours after the
wreck
Mailclcrk Jesse d. Long died Monday
morning at st. Elizabeth hospital from
internal injuries.
The Injured.
jeff Reese, passenger of Kempton,
Ind, 81 Chilly.
Richard Jones, passenger, Pontiac,
Ills, slightly.
Lewis Leltier, passenger, of Fowler,
Ind, slightly.
Sophia Bergenhahl, passenger of Mil
Yankee, severely cut in head and arm.
William Place, passenger. of Frank
fort, Ind, cut by broken glass.
Charles Roush, passenger, of this city,
leg fractured.
Nfailclerks C. A. wissel, A. w. Car
nahan and Henry Elder. slightly hurt.
Mailclerk l.. A. Westler sustained a
severe spinal injury.