Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-03

engine No. asa, 10 charge. Of Engineer
Patrick King, with Fireman w. Z.
Blanchard in the cab with him, ran
through the b. & o. yards between Six
teenth and Seventeenth streets, with a
train OF seven or eight loaded coal cars.
The heavy train started down the grade
at Chapline street all right, and ran
along In the usual manner until the
engine struck the frog Of the switch
leading 70 the new building or Baer
Bros, at the Southeast corner OF
Main aud Sixteenth. There the truck
wheels OF the engine left the rails,
presumably being thrown of by the
frog, and the big machine left the
curved track at 4 tangent, heading
straight for the PARTITION wall which
divides the restaurant OF Scott Rich
ards, No. 1925 Main street, from Il. ii.
Higgins paint store, No. 1928. When
the wheels left the rails they struck the
heavy oak planking alongside the track,
and the engineer did not realize the sit
uatiOn for couple OF seconds, but as
soon as be did he shut OF steam, whis-
lied for the brakes, and revers-
cd. The heavy weight OF
the loaded coal cars made II
impossible TO stop the engine, however,
and as she seemed bent on keeping
right on the course chosen, the engl
neer and fireman climbed out OF the
cab In short order and "let her 60"
The engine cut clear across the track,
plOWed through the brick paving, which
was never intended 10 sustain the
weight OF full-aedged locomotives, and
the pilot struck big electric railway
pole about the time the front true K
wheels hit the curbing. Neither post
or curling stopped the engine, however,
the big timber being smashed into
kindling wood, In twinkling, and the
engine mounted upon the pave
ment and crashed into the build
ing, just at the partition wall, be-
fore referred 20. A large section
OF the fronts Of both the paint store and
restaurant were knocked out. but the
momentum OF the engine had eeen con-
siderably checked by the big post and
the curblag. aud after blowing into the
brick partition wall for two or three
feet the engine came 20 standStiil. A
very little more speed Ia the engine, or
a very little less resistance In the OBJ
stacles striking IL, and the locomotive
would have landed in the cellar OF the
building, and IL would have been
a case OF having 70 tear
the house down to rescue the wayward
machine. AS IL was, il stopped just 10
the nick OF time. The cars Of the coal
train did not leave the rails, although
the fore wheels Of the tender ran
OF, and this fact aided somewhat in
checking the destructive course Of the
locomotive, as the coupling between
the engine and tender did not snap, al
though subject to a heavy strain.
While the big crowd which gathered
was specializing as TO how the engine
would be replaced on the track, the b.
& o. force went 70 work. an engine
was sent over the Terminal tracks,
through the Chapline hill tunnel, around
over the Peninsula, back through the
b. & o. tunnel, and down Sixteenth
street 70 the rear end of the coal train,
the loaded cars were tOwed out Of the
way, and then the new engine was
hitched to the one standing in the
street, and in an hour and ten minutes
from the time OF the accident the de-
rallied engine was back on the track aud
traffic was resumed over the Sixteenth
street line.
The building is owned by the Rail
road Company, and IL will not cost more
than a couple or three hundred dollars
TO make repairs. The engine was dam-
aged about the pilot, which was broke
of, but otherwise she is all right, and
but slight repairs will be necessary. A
few new bricks In the street, and side
walk, and new railway pole will COM
plete the repairs.
Mr.. Higgins Office was located just
where the engine started 10 climb into
his place Of business, and his Office fur
nlture and effects were badly tumbled
around, but the loss on this score will
not amount to a great deal. Street car
travel on Main street was interrupted
about an hour by the accident.