The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-30
Few Passengers Are Thought to BE
Seriously Injured-Train CoIlided
with Cut Of Freight Cars.
RELIEF TRAIN DISPATCHED
CREWS SENT. FROM INDIANAPOLIS
AND HAMILTON.
Wires Were Down and Details of the
Wreck Scanty-Dead Engineer
known Here.

Sons injured and passenger train No. S6. on
the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton Rail-
road. demolished in a collision with cut
of cars on a freight train on the curve in
the road one-half mile east of oxford, o.,
at 1890 o'clock last night.
From the meager details received In In
dianapoIis over the long distance telephone
wire from Oxford 1t seems that the passen-
with three or four freight cars that had
been detached from a switching train and
were rapidly descending the sharp grade
at that point. The engineer of the pas
senger train. which was running at full
speed. did not catch sight of the
freight cars before the distance was so
small that Stacking of speed was impossi-
bic. The engineer. Edward Cohn. could
not get out Of the cab of the engine in time
to jump and was killed at his post. The
fireman jumped and saved his life. On the
front Of the mail coach. back of the engine,
two young men. unknown and supposed to
be tramps stealing ride, were caught in
the wreck and instantly killed. John Con-
ner, mail clerk. living in Hamilton, o.,
was severely injured, but was attended by
the physicians who went to Oxford on the
special wrecking train from Hamilton and
will recover.
Immediately after the collision a fire
started from the engine and the train
burned rapidly. A mail coach. a baggage
car, two day coaches and a smoking car
were burned. but the Pullman sleepers on
the rear Of the train were detached and run
out of the fire. The engine was derailed. as
were also the freight cars. The wreck of
the passenger train was complete and the
coaches were piled on top of each other.
burning until late In the night. Among the
passengers were several persons who suf-
fered slight injuries from burises and
scratches. none of them serious.
The injured were attended. by Oxford doc
tors, who were first on the scene, and the
search In the wreck for dead was prose-
cuted by citizens from that place. From
the reports of the conductors and train off,
cials all escaped alive with the exception
Of cohn. the engineer. and two young men
stealing ride
The train was No. S. on the Cincinnati
Hamilton & Dayton. and left Hamilton, o..
at s:57 p. m. The telegraph wires along the
railroad were down last night and the local
officials of the road could not learn the de-
tails of the wreck.
Word was received in this city late last
night that the wrecking crew from the c..
III. & D; yards would be needed at the
wreck at Oxford. The train was immedi-
ately sent No particulars could be received
by the railroad telegraphers on account of
the wires having been put out of service.
Word was also received. through an un-
oficial source at the Union Station that the
time of train No. 3s would have to be an
nuled. This was taken as an indication
that the train had met with an accident
somewhere between this city and Cincin-
natl. No official word had been given.
Union Station the Monon trainmen. who
were waiting for the arrival of train No.
So, began to make up train for Chicago.
Train Nc. 36 was to have arrived in this
city at 1s:45 and should have left for Chi
cago at 12:55 o'clock. The Monon left on
time with new train.
Train No. 80 Is considered a very fast one,
running between Cincinnati and Chicago.
IT is generally made up of mail car. COM
bination coach. day coach and several sleep
ers. II Is a fine train in regard to equip
ment.
Attaches at the Union Station last night.
when they learned OF the wreck and the
death of Engineer Edward Cohn. expressed
their deepest regret Cohn is supposed to
have been fifty-six years old and man of
family I'm Cincinnati. He was said to be
a jovial, good-natured man. well trained
In his work. 1t is thought that when the
particulars of the wreck have been learned,
that Cohn met his death In the discharge
of his duties and not due TO any careless
ness on his part The men in this city who
knew him said ne was one OF the most con-
scientious trainmen that entered the Union
Station.
The telegraph poles at the scene of the
wreck were knocked down by the demoI-
ished cars and all communication by wire
was cut of.