Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-08


the most horrible wrecks in the history
OF railroading occurred on the Big
Four road in this city at lis this morn
ing, as result of which ten men are
now dead, and many more injured. The
train was the east-bound passenger
leaving Chicago at o p. m. The acci-
dent was caused by the failure OF the
air-brakes to work. The engineer un-
doubtedly discovered this before reach
ing the cut beyond the Wabash river,
as the vigorous whistling OF the
engine for brakes could be heard
when the train was still mile
west of the city. The engineers des-
perate efforts to stop the train was
shown by the large amount OF sand
thr own by him In the bridge through
which the train came just before the
fatal crash. The engine dashed out or
the bridge over the Wabash river at
speed not less than sixty miles an hour,
crashed into the depot building, carry
Ing off a portion of the depot and train
sheds, carrying them several hundred
feet.
The engine when it left the track was
followed by the baggage car, two postal
cars and express car, and piled in one
promiscuous mass, total and complete
wreck buryIng score or more OF vic
tins in the awful pile Of debris. The
trucks of the first day coach were drag
ged out and the side Of the car knocked
into fragments, but no passengers In
this car were injured. The chair car
and two Pullman sleepers remained on
the track. The wreck was a most COM
plete one, the engine and cars being
piled up together with their contents.
To add to the CONSERVATION fire broke
out from the stove in the baggage car,
but the fire department. speedily extin-
Quished the flames. Several victims OF
the wreck were persons standing In the
depot waiting for the train, hickman.
a mail cart driver and passengers. Fol-
lowing is the
LIST OF DEAD:
MICHAEL WEIGH, engineer, Indian
apolis; frightfuly mangled, head
crushed, limb torn from body, found
under the engine.
Fireman McGINNIs, Indianapolis.
fE. d. MYERS, Logansport, mail clerk.
MCMAHON, Cincinnati, express mes
senger.
A. r. CHADWICK, Cincinnati, mail
clerk.
CHARELs MYERS, Lafayette, hack
man.
JOHN LENNON, Lafayette, mail cart
driver.
JESSE Il. LoNG, Lebanon, Ind, mail
clerk.
CHAs. ScHAHILL, passenger, just
bought a ticket TO indianapolis.
OTTo JERsELsoN, Alhambra Hotel,
Chicago, passenger going to train.
These were all frightfully crushed
and mangled, their limbs being severed
in several instances and bodies terribly
disfigured.
Following are
THE INJURED.
JEFFERSON REESE, Kempton, bruised
and cut about the head.
RICHARD JONES, H., cut about the
head.
Louis LEFFLER, Fowler, cut by glass
from breaking windows.
SoPHAs ..BERGENERAL, Milwaukee,
cut about the head and badly bruised.
WILLIAM PLACE, Frankfort, Ind,
bruised aud cut.
CHAs. ROUSE, Lafayette, leg broken
in two places.
WM. BEENTELL, Lebanon, lad, arm
and hand lacerated.
Also a number Of others more or less
injured, but not seriously.
The damage by property destroyed
will be fully $4,000. while the subse-
ouent losses which will grow out OF the
disaster will make the total a very
large sum.
THE ACCIDENT
Was caused by the failure Of the air
brakes 10 work properly. High bluffs
rise on the west bank OF the Wabash
lust opposite the city. and there is q
long and steep grade ct that point.
The ill-fated train must have been
mile up the grade from the river when
the engineer discovered that there was
something wrong with the air brakes.
for be began to shrilly whistle for hand
brakes, The speed had by that time
increased so terrifcally, however. that
It's control was beyond human agency.
With almost lightning like speed the
monster engine dashed around the curve
and across the long bridge, although
the man at the throttle had reversed
the machinery, and immense streams OF
fire were being dashed of from driving
wheels running in opposite direction 70
that OF the swiftly flying cars that fol-
lowed. just after leaving the east end
OF the long bridge over the Wabash,
the tracks describe . semi-circle, At the
midway point OF which the Union sta
ton Is located. When the engine
struck that sharp curve 10 left
the track, followed by the cars in
an awful swirl, and they piled up on
each other one hundred feet away,
after crashing through train sheds and
bringing down tons Of structural iron
10 add 70 the terrors Of the situation.
The bystanders went TO work At once,
and police aud FIRE departments quick
" responded. the latter rendering yalu-
able services In promptly checking the
angry flames which threatened the
ives OF scores Of others. in addition to
those killed outright. who we're I'm
prIsoned In the mountain Of debris
uperintendent Bender arrived st an
early hour and under the direction Of