The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-02-23
BROKEN RAIL CAUSE
OF THE ACCIDENT
Strange Fatality Has Fol
lowed Family Like A
Nemesis

was scalded to death in his cab, an
iron bar lying over his left hand when
he was found, indicating that he was
held helpless while steam and hot
water from broken pipes leading from
the boiler, practically cooked him
from his head to below his knees,
says the Newark Advocate. His suf-
fering, however, probably was of only
few seconds duration.
A farmer and his son, waiting at
the road crossing to allow train No.
80 to pass, were eyewitnesses to its
wrecklng near Quaker City Tuesday
about 1880 O'Clock. They say that
the baggage car left the track first,
pulling the tender after and that
when the engine finally rolled over on
its side, It had almost stopped. Old
railroad men are unanimous In saying
that when a locomotive leaves the
track at high speed 1t invariably will
turn turtle" and head in the oppo-
site direction. Floyd's engine was ly.
ing with the cab down the bank and
the pilot pointing to and near the
rails, headed in the same direction
that the engine had been travelling.
This fact would bear out the wit
nesses' testimony. It Is likely that
the baggage car pulled the tender off
the track, and as this is rigidly cou-
pied, the engine also was ierlted off
the rails and its speed considerably
retarded. A spreading or broken rail
is assigned unohicially as the cause.
The fact that all the cars were de-
rallied, and that scores of the 100
or more passengers we're not killed.
is due 10 the fact that the cars we're
all Of steel construction, and did not
telescope or collapse when jammed
together by the sudden impact ONLY
two passengers were slightly injured,
Mrs. Maddie Mike, Syrian woman
of New York en- route to Byesyille,
and d. s Stout of Smithfield, w. Va.
on his way to New Concord.
One wreck train was sent from
Benwood and another from Newark,
! the former having to suspend opera.
tions soon after its arrival by the
! breaking OF the cable on the main der.
rick. which snapped when 1t was at
tempted to lift one OF the steel coach
es.
IL was noon Wednesday before all
the cars were placed back on the
rails and the main tracks opened for
traffic.
Undertaken James A. McGonagle
went to Quaker City Tuesday after
noon and brought the body of Engi
neer Floyd to Newark. arriving in the
city at 1890 o'clock. The body was
prepared for burial and taken to the
home, 40 North Morris street
The funeral took place at . O'Clock
Thursday morning from the Church
OF the Blessed Sacrament Rev. Faith
or Charles II. A. Watterson celebrat
ing requiem high mass Interment
was made In Mt Calvary cemetery.
The dead engineer was born TO a
railroad life in Newark 50 years ago
His father was William Floyd, a sec
tiou foreman for the B. & o. whc
moved when his son William was {
little hoy to Frederick. and then tC
New Concord When only about II
or II years Of age, william, the young
er, began work on the section II
1881 he came to Newark and went Il
work in the B. & o. shops. taking q
job as fireman the following year II
1887 he was promoted to engineer anI
for the last 70 years has been run
ming passenger"
In 1884 he was married to Mis-
Mary Linehan. who died IS months
ago. There are FIVE children OF thii
marriage living. James William. Ma
rie. Anna OF Newark, and Thomas o
Mt Vernon.
As has been noted. strange fatal
ity has followed the Floyd family lik'
Nemesis. Two brothers OF the de
ceased were killed on duty as b. & O
engineers. Edward received injuries
In a head-on collision between tw,
freight trains Just east OF zanesvill,