Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-14

ductor Me00 neaTd the engineer
whistle for brakes when ap-
preaching Jackson. He claims
he turned the automatic brakes without
effect. The cause which operated
against the engineers lever made the
automatic car brakes impotent. 1t is
claimed by the men that there was no
time then to apply the hand brakes be-
fore the crash occurred.
William Whalen, engineer OF the en-
gine which crashed into the other, was
able to see an Associated Press reporter
tonight, to whom he gave the follow
Ing account Of the accident:
1--WE left Detroit at 6:55 with one OF
the best engines on the road aud train
OF twelve coaches. The engine worked
remarkably smoothly tor new one,
and was congratulstihg myself upon
the fine manner in which ii was work
ing. We stopped at Divenois Avenue,
slowed up at Wayne Junction and stop
ped at Ypsllanti. The air worked all
right at these points. AT Ypsilanti
there was a large crowd about the
train and around the engine. This
IS the hardest point on the line to stop
as it is down grade, but we had no diff
fculty. We made no other stop till we
reached jackson. just east Of jack
son Junction / turned the air brake and
finding it worked all right shut it off.
As we crossed Elmer avenue | applied
the brakes again, when l found they
did not work on the train, al
though they did on the en-
u NJ
brakes two or three times and reversed
my engine. l spoke TO the fireman, Jo-
seph Kindling, aud told him the brakes
did not work and to look out for him
self, at the same time pulling the lever.
l held the throttle till we were within
three car lengths Of the rear Of the
other train, when l went out through
the cab window, as l could not get to
the Rangway. My fireman jumped first.
l fell on a rail, iujurinR me severely,
and was whirled around several times,
nearly falling under train Oh the next
track. l think a truck box struck me
as fell. l was dazed for few min
utes, bat recovered aud found both OF
my legs badly injured. The doctors
think the right one is fractured, and
the other is badly bruised from the
knee to the ankle. can give no expla-
nation as to the cause Of the air brake
refusing TO work. The only reason l
car think Of is that while stopping
some one might haYe turned the shut-off
cock in the rear Of the tender or front
OF the first car, do not know that
this was done, but can think of no other
reason"
This wreck is the first Of consequences
on the Michigan Central road for four
teen years. On October 10, 1879, the
west-bound Pacific express crossed into
a switch IN this city, killing Is people
and woundinE 35. Jackson people re-
gard IL as o coincident that these hor-
rlble wrecks occurred in the yards in
this city in the same month and the
same day Of the week-Friday.
In all parts Of the city tonight people
are gathered in knots discussing the
latest accident and the one Of fourteen
years ago, which occurred within q.
stones throw OF the place where the
debris marks the place OF to-day's
wreck. At the Michigan Central Sta
tion railroad men are gathered in grouds
discussing the horror. The acci-
dent happened probably one hun
dred yards east OF the depot.
The wrecked cars and engine made q
great pile OF wrecksge. They were
forced together in one huge heap OF un-
recognizable timber and iron. Ropes
we're stretched to keep back the
surging mass Of peoplt who crowded
and jostled each other TO gain
a view of the pile OF timber
and iron which covered the injured and
dead. The passengers who were not in
jured hurrledly scrambled from the two
trains and gathered about the wreck
age. Those who had missing friends
pressed forward In frenzied grief
and many sad and touching
scenes were enacted. AS the
news spread people began to arrive
from all parts OF the city and surround
ing country. Curious people climbed
upon box cars and every point Of van
tage. The factories in the vicinity shut
down. Everybody gave what assistance
ne could.
DR.. Glenning, OF Ithaca, n. Y, was
standing on the platform OF car 492 an
instant before the crash came. He
jumped, escaping with but a few
scratches. Frank Fraley, OF Elmlra,
y. Y, was in the last car eating of
basket OF peaches with q friend when
the crash came. A huge timber struck
him in the forehead, knocking him un
conscious. His friend was killed, but
he escaped BY crawling out the coach
window.
James A. Hook, Of New York City,
was q passenger on the forward train.
II saw the engineer OF the New York
Central Jump before the crash came.
The most terrible agony was depicted
on his face, and he stood bearing down
on the throttle in his futile effort to
avoid the accident. Some one has blum
dered, but do not think it
was Whslsn. When the locomotive
crashed into our train series
Of cries that froze my blood filled the
air Once before have heard such
cries. 1t was at Gettysburg. After
the crash lost my head with the rest
and rushed wildly about doing what I
could to aid the rescuers. My hands
and arms are cnt but know not how Il
My wife and daughter es-
capped by a mlrocls. They were wedged
in between two seats. My daughters
hand is slightly scratched but my vile
is not hurt at all. :"
One of the passengers in the tele-
scoped coaches who escaped alive was
eating lunch when the collision oc-
Cured. In front of him sat a newly
couple who were enjoying a
trip TO the Fair. They died in each
others arms, crushed to death by the
Of the coach which fell upon
them.
NEWSLER.
OMAHA, NEB., October 13.-S. 81. Clark
has inst been appointed receiver Of the