The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-07
DEATH AMID DARKNESS.
A Horrible Crash on the Lake Shore
Railroad.
THREE KILLED AND MANY HURT.
Collision Between a Passenger and Freight
Train-GhastIy Scenes Among tho Dead
and Dying Three sleeping Cars Totally
Wrecked.
THREE KILLED AND MANY HURT

Fremont, o., says: A terrible wreck oc-
CURED late Saturday night at Lindsey, a
small village eight miles west of this place,
on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern.
An engine and three sleepers were badly
demolished ana three people killed out
right, while fully % were more or less
badly injured. The wreck was caused by
the collision of West-bound passenger
train and an East bound freight. Passen-
ger train No. 0, the Pacific express due at
this place at $50 o'clock, left here about
ten minutes late. The train consisted of
an engine, baggage car, two express cars,
three coaches and five sleepers. The
coaches and sleepers were all well filed
with people, many of whom were on their
way to Chicago.
At Lindsey, the next station west Of this
place, the train passed local freight, No
"a, which had been side tracked TO await
the passing Of train No. D. The train was
running at full speed and passed safely
until the 81 .epers neared the SWITCH close
to the freight, when the first three sleepers
Jumped the track and ran into the engine
OF the freight The engine was wrecked
and the sleepers crushed like egg shells.
As the sleepers were filled with passen-
gers, II seems miracle that all were not
instantly killed. The scene that followed
the collision was heartrending The
groans OF the dying. the shrieks of the in
jured and the kissing OF escaping steam
combined to add borrow to sight that
will long be remembered by those who
witnessed it. Work was at once begun to
render aid to the injured, and those who
were imprisoned in the ruins The disas-
ter was Immediately reported and an extra
composed of an engine and coach was
made up at this place. Doctors William
Caldwell, +. U. Hilbish, III. Stamn and X.
b. Meek had in the meantime been sum-
mond, and the party at once proceeded to
the scene of the wreck. The sight that
greeted them was terrible. The track for
some distance was covered with debris,
beneath which several persons were inn
prisoned. Legs, hands and arms protrudcd
here and there from beneath the ruins. 1t
was later learned that the dead were en-
gineer Edward Lafferty Of the local freight;
Charles Spane, brakeman on the same
train, and porter Robertson (colored) of the
sleeper Erie of Chicago.
On the arrival of the medical party the
injured were at once taken care Of, with
the united efforts of the physicians OF this
city, and Drs. Wolland and w. l.. Steir-
walt of Lindsey. About Is of the injured
who had received wounds of less dan
gerous character, after receiving surgical
attention, proceeded on their westward
journey on that part Of the passenger train
which had escaped damage. The others
who had received serious injuries were
taken to the hotel Nichols and private resi-
dences where they are now receiving the
best of care.
The seriously injured are as follows:
Prof Emerson, of Amherst College,
Gloucester, Mass, chest crushed, will die.
j. A. Hamilton, of Pittsburg, injured in
ternally, perhaps fatally.
Porter Stevens, (colored) of New York,
extent of injuries not known.
Porter Pelham, (colored) OF the sleeper
Orinoco, Chicago, injured internally, very
serious.
A. II. West, of Chicago, badly cut, not
serious.
Centerflelder Ryan, of the Chicago base
ball club, badly cut.
Catcher Kittridge, of the Chicago base
ball club, cut about head and body.
Those killed outright were:
Ed LAFEERTY, engineer Of local freight
No. "a; residence, Elyria; married and
leaves q widow and four children.
CHARLES SPANE, brakeman on freight;
residence. Clayville, n. Y.
Porter FERGUSON (colored), Of the sleeper
Erie; residence, Chicago.
About o'clock in the nivfHing the
wrecking train arrived at the scene and
began the work of clearing the tracks for
the passage Of trains. About a. IN. the
bodies of the three railroad men were
reached and taken from beneath the ruins.
They were taken to the morgue of John
Boyer and there put in shape for transfer
to their different homes. The bodies were
in horrible condition and presented most
sickening sight. Arms were cut off, legs
torn and manpled and heads smashed out
of all semblance of human shape.
At noon special train arrived from To
ledo containing tho officials of the road,
and an examination and investigation was
ut once instituted. The wreck was cleared
up so that evening trains can pass over
this division.
Prot. Emerson and Porter Pelham are
now in an unconscious condition and their
deaths are momentarily expected. During
the day thousands OF people have driven
from all parts Of the county to visit the
scene of the disaster.