Evening times-Republican., 1903-12-24

Connellsville, Pa, Dec. 24.-When
daylight broke there We're known to be
sixty-two dead as a result of last
nights wreck on the Baltimore & Ohio
near Dawson. These bodies filed tenn
porary morgues in this city and tits be-
lieved nearly score more will be add
ed to the death list before the day is
over. OF the bodies recovered forty
nine have been Identified and eleven
are designated as unknown" Most OF
the latter are foreigners. principally
Italians With q few exceptions all The
1ead were scalded to death. scarcely
any being mangied. In the hospitals
three of the injured are expected 10 die
any moment. and five Others are in
critical condition. All the dead and in
dured are from Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and Maryland.
Injured Dying.
During the night twelve of the In
jured died from the effects OF their
terrible wounds. The train was large
" used by employees of the b. & o.
who work in Pittsburg. aud many of
them were victims Of tie catastrophe.
The scene at the wreck was awful.
Cars were piled one upon the other, ly-
ing sidewise and at angles where only
the earth supports them, while the
trucks were piled high Upon the banks
and among the bushes, as tho thrown
there by a giant hand.
Fully 200 yards from the seat of the
FIRST trouble lies the wrecked engine,
where the great speed carried her after
she struck the wreck. Almost a hun
dred yards beyond the engine is the
forward baggage coach. lying on
steep bank. A story of courage ana
heroism seldom eQuai,ed is told of Ben
iamin Nichols, steward on the dining
car HIS name is being sung with
praises by railroaders and the surviv-
ing passengers today. When the acci-
dent occurred Nichols was in the din
ing car at the end of the train. Be
fore the car had made its last lurch
Nichols leaped and was running toward
the smoker, which was reduced to a
mass of twisted iron and splintnrs.
Steam was shooting into the car, which
was on top of the engine. upon the
s.ruggling mass of humanity.
Work Of Rescue.
Taking off his coat Nichols ripped
and tore the garment cntil 1t was in
shreds. With this he plugged up the
p!pe and shut off the steam. Tempora-
~ relief had been given the sufferers,
but Nichols was not done. Long be-
fore the passengers fin the Pullman
coaches had stepped to the ground
Nichols had taken the first step In the
work OF rescue. Climbing thru a
window he leaped into the dark car
Hot, suffocating steam filed the car.
The screams of the injured made 1t
confusing what to do. Picking up the
4irst human form at hand, Nichols car
r,ed At out into the open air Placing
the injured victim upon the frozen
ground. Nichols once more entered the
ear. BY this time other reseuers had
arrived. One after another were hand
I'd out, until five We're rescued. At this
point the steward was compelled to
leap to the ground, being exhausted
and overcome by the heat and steam.
Other employees entered the car and
continued the work of rescue. They
were soon rejoined by Nichols, who
once more had recovered. For hours
the work continued, 1t being difficult
even with the aid of the wrecking crew.
Many victims were wedged between
heavy timbers. and it was o'clock be-
4ore all the injured had been removed
Following the wreck thieves We're de-
tected rohbing the dead and injured.
Two white men and two colored men
ore now in the Dawson police station,
charged with the crime.
Train Well Filled.
When approaching Laurel Run the
train was running at a high rate Of
speed. Suddenly the passengers were
thrown from their seats by the light
ming like application of the air brakes
and moment later there was ter
rifle crash. The train was made up
OF two baggage cars, two day coaches,
a sleeper and dining car. and was car
rying at least $50 passengers. The
train ploughed along for a considerable
distance and the cars We're torn 10
pieces, the passengers jumping,
screaming and falling from the wreck
as 1t tore along. Suddenly the engine
swerved and the coaches plunged down
river The minute the
cars stopped rolling. there was wild
scene. Many We're pinioned beneath
the wreckage and the screams and cries
that rent the air We're beyond descrip-
ton. Many were injured in their mad
excitement and plunged into the river.
Others, pinioned beneath the heavy
tImbers plead in agonizing tones for re
Tease. So terrific was the force of thu
wreck that nearly every passenger SUE
fered a moments Inconsistencies and
many able bodied men We're unable 20
assist In helping the injured from the
wreck on account of having tainted.
No Women Killed.
A peculiar feature of the accident 9
the fact that not woman was injured
excepting slightly.
Cause Of Accident.
The wreck was caused by the break
lng Of the castings on carload IT