The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-10-12


port could be heard II was thought by
many TO be visitation OF an earthquake.
Wives went all over the house to see what
had dropped and .nitors of large build
inRs, atter investigation were in guam
dry to know what had really happened.
The cause of the disturbance was fifteen
miles away and as IL was all over In .
minute no serious damage to Canton pro'
perty resulted.
The first section of freight train No. 70
was bowling along q couple OF miles west
of North Lawrence, and was making q
run of 35 miles an hour. Conductor d.
M. Long was running the train, which was
o local, and had taken on "a cars Of
dirt at Crestline to be used at the M. q G.
junction, near Massillon. Five other
cars were taken on at OrrviIle and were
taken in next to the engine. II was two
OF these cars that caused all of the trouble.
As the train was running along past the
Samuel Baer farm, west of North Law,
renee, the fireman seid he thought there
was some Are In the car next to the engine.
He bad j1st ma1e the remark when an
awful explosion occurred, and everybody
that was within 100 yards of the train was
perceptibly shocked, Among the cars
taken on at O.rville was one labeled mer-
chandise. The merchandise referred to
was ALI kegs of powder, containing 30
pounds Of the explosive each. Now there
is rule of the compaDy that no powder
or other explosive shall be placed where
there Ia probability OF II being disturbed
In any way. This car of powder
was for the Canton Hardware Co., OF this
city. There were way bills for oil, but
the conductor Gays that while he knew
that explosives were not allowed to be
put next to the engine, and should not be
nearer than six cars removed,
he allowed these cars to be
next to the engine, a direct violation of
rules of the company, Whatever theory
may be advanced will not initiate yainst
the fact that the kegs of powder were
directly next to the engine.
Engineer e. r. Colvin, Fireman Tom
McCann aud Head Breakman w, W.
Rockhill were In the engine when an
awful explosion occurred in the car
directly behind the engine. All three Of
the men were knocked down by the force
OF the conclusion. Fireman McCann was
at work shoveling coal into the furnace
when the explosion came, and he was very
badly injured. He was thrown against the
furnace and contact with the furnace
added to the burns aud bruises he had al
ready received by the explosion.
The noise of the explosion was heard
for great distance and the car in which
the large quantity of powder had explod'
ed was blown into splinters. A News
DEMOCRAT man drove from Massillon
TO the scene of the wreck
last night. Upon arriving there before
10 o'clock everything was in an awful con-
dition.
When the explosion took place In the
hrst car, a second car that also contained
powder and was coupled on directly back
of the first car exploded with terrible
report and added to the destruction
already accomplished.
A peculiar feature of the eff air was the
manner in which the cars acted after the
explosion. 1t would be supposed that the
cars would have been blown clear off the
track, but while there was nothing left of
them that had the semblance of car, ex-
cept the trucks. the trucks did not leave
the track but stayed on until bridge was
reached, about 800 yards from the scene
OF the explosion. At this point the
engineer hal regained his feet and had
shut off the motive power, intending to
stop. As soon as he did SO the crush Of
the back cars was too mach for the trucks
and the frail pieces OF wood connecting
them, to stand, and they left the track.
The engine pulled draw-head from the
platform of the car and did not do down
in the general destruction, but seventeen
cars Of the train commenced to pile up
and soon the iron bridge gave way. The
trouble was augmented by the giving way
of the bridge aud the gully was In q
moment filed with cars aud they piled up
about 30 feet in height. There 10 single
track at this point and more effeciual
wreck to block traffic could not be i'm
agined.
After It was all over II was found that
the three men In the engine were badly
| injured. Engineer Celvin sustained
burns about the face and arms, but is not
dangerously injured. he 10 81 years of
age, married. and resides at Crestline.
Fireman Tom McCanp was badly
burned and when seen by NEws-DEMo-
oRAT representative was suffering awful
| agony. The flash from the explosives
| had burned his face and hands In q terri
| BILE manner aud as he was thrown against
the boiler his injuries were made much
worse. He 10 aged 2b years, is unmarried
and lives at atAlliance.
| Brakeman Rockhill was not ss badly
hurt as his friends. He sustained some
injuries TO his head and was burned to
some degree but not dangerously. He II
81 years of age, resides al Alliance and
has wife and family.
These three men were taken In the en-
gine to North Lawrence, where they were
quartered at the Pollock House where DR.
Neal Hardy attended them and j. j. Pol.
lock, a fellow workman, lent every aid
possible to relieve their suiferings.
CANTON BOY INJURED.
On the car which took three newspaper
men TO Massillon was Durfee Borden
who had In his pocket telegram from
the scene of the wreck, stating that hii
son was injured and wanted to see hin
and that II was necessary for him TO bs
prompt. He was prompt and arrived AZ tho
bedside OF his son short time after hs
received word of the disaster. Charles NJ
Borden and Sam McDermit had been tc
the Orrville fair and were getting bach