Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-10
AN OPEN SWITCH
CAUSES A FREIGHT TRAIN TO CRASH INTO
BLOCH BROS. WAREHOUSE. Cd
A Valuable Driving Horse Killed and Othsr Dam
age Dous-AinOr Casualties Reported
About The City.

At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
there was bad accident at Bloch Bros.
tobacco factory, at Fortieth and
Water streets. The through South
bound freight train on the Ohio River
Railroad dashed into the new ware
house at the factory, owing to the
switch having been left open. The tne
driving horse OF s. s. Bloch, valued at
$500, was killed. and many OF those In
the factory were nearly frightened to
death. One OF the employees was scared
so that he jumped from the second
story, and six OF the girls tainted.
The freight leaves this city little
before o'clock. 1t was under control
Yesterday OF George Earnest, conductor,
and j. Beecher, engineer. When the
train was caring the factory, 1t was
probably going at the rate OF twelve
miles al hour. When the switch wa;
reached the engine entered II with rapid
speed before the trainmen ould realize
il, scarcely. TIE curve is snort one,
and il was thought that none OF the en-
gines could round II, but this one dld'
By the sharp curve, two OF the brake
men were hurled.off. The engineer, see-
ing the danger, reversed his engine and
jumped for his life. Conductor Earnest
also jumped, and was slightly
bruised in his fall. Inc
train with no one aboard then
ran on with little abated speed into the
new warehouse. The door OF the new
building was closed, but the engine
struck il and smashed il ii into splint-
ers. The jar shook the entire factory.
The first thing the engine came 10 con-
aact with after 1t entered the ware
house was car loaded with Mail Pouch
tobacco. 1t struck this car with great
force damaging much OF the contents.
Al the far end of the switch, about 200
feet from the entrance TO the new
building, the fue driving animal OF
Mr.. Bloch was ted 10 the bumper of
the switch. Whe q the wild train came
in contact with the loaded car 1t was
sent with great force toward the horse.
The animal saw its danger evidently
for it tried to get away. The car, how
ever, pinioned il against the bumper,
killing the valued animal instantly.
The effect of reversing tho engine
caused the machine to stop shortly after
it entered the warehouse.
The kissing Of the steam from the
engine, and the noise of the jar against
the building could be heard for four
SQUARES. 1t was then that the work
men employed just above the engine,
began 10 get scared. A panic ensued
Daniel McGlown was SO worked up that
he Jumped from the second story of the
building and received bruises. Women
tainted, and screamed, and rushed from
the building. They thought the engine
was going to blow up.
The engine was badly damaged by
the accident. The cowcatcher was
broken of and the headlight was
smashed.
How the switch to the factory came
to be left open is mystery. No cars
had been run over il since Saturday
night. Various theories are advanced
as to the condition of the switch which
caused the accident
. Mr.. Bloch was painfully grieved at
the loss OF his horse, and said he would
not have taken $1,000 for him.
1t was u lucky thing the engine did
not fly the track as it was thought IL
would, before reaching the ware house.
Had II done this it would have struck
the main building, and would have
probably resulted in loss OF life.