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An Excursion Train on the Springfield Southern Goes Through a
Bridge into the Canal. One Man Killed and Several Injured
Severely.
On Last Friday evening about 6 o'clock, the
people of Waverly were called upon to witness their first frightful
railroad disaster, and we are satisfied that it the earnest prayer
of all that they may never again witness such a scene. The
accident occupied to an excursion train on the Springfield Southern
Railroad, which was returning to Jackson from Niagara Falls.
The train arrived at this point shortly before 6 o'clock, all safe and
sound having on board about 150 men, women and children, mostly from our
neighboring town of Jackson. All was joy and happiness aboard the
train, the tired excursionist anticipating a speedy and safe return to
pleasant homes and anxious friends, never dreaming that they were
soon to meet with a horrible accident, which would turn their joy into
the deepest sorrow and sadness and strike terror into the hearts of all.
The train shoved out from the depot at about 6 o'clock, and soon
disappeared from view around the curve, leading to the bridge across the
canal below town, when the crowd which had collected to greet the
returning excursionists started back to town, thinking that all was well
with their Jackson friends. Suddenly their ears were greeted by a
loud crash, accompanied by a dull heavy thud, as though caused by the
falling of some heavy body. All eyes were quickly turned in the
direction of the train but no one for a moment supposed that any thing
happened it. For a minute or two there was a dead silence,
when suddenly there came a doleful sound from the whistle of the
excursion engine which was quickly taken up by the engine on the side
tract at the depot, and all at once became convince that something
terrible had happened. Hardly had the whistles sounded the
mournful alarm until the word came that the bridge had gone down with
the train. The terrible news flew like the wind, and soon from all
portions of town great crowds of excited people where seen herring in
the direction of the bridge. Arriving on the grounds a few moments
after the first alarm, we found that it was indeed true that the
structure had gone down with the ill fated train, dealing death and
destruction on all hands. It was a terrible sight. There in
the canal lay the demolished bridge, on top of which was a wrecked
coach, while from either abutment hung badly damaged cars, wedged in by
falling timbers of the bridge. Terrified women and children were
screaming at the top of their voices, panic stricken men were rushing
wildly about, the wounded were crying for help, while in the cruel
embraces of the crushed timbers of the bridge lay poor Davy Dungan,
silent in death. It was a frightful heart-rendering scene, and is
one we hope never to witness again.
Just how the accident came about, is still a
matter of general dispute, and perhaps ever will be, but the most
reliable evidence we have on this point in the statement of Mr. Ralph
Leete, the engineer in charge of the train. Mr. Leete says that
just before his engine left the bridge he looked back and observed that
his train was out of shape, but before he could realize the true
situation of affairs, the third coach had struck the west corner of the
bridge and knocked it off the abutment. Seeing that the bridge was
going, Mr. Leete says he put one all the steam possible to clear the
engine and tender and prevent their being drawn back on top the wreck,
which he luckily succeeded in doing. It is evident from this
statement, and the marks of the wheels on the ties, that the third car,
above referred to, jumped the track about thirty feet from the bride,
and ran against it with the above effect. Several other
responsible parties, who were eye witnesses to the occurrence, make
statement to this same effect, the only difference being some of them
claim that the second car did the damage.
The train consisted of three coaches and a
caboose, all which contained passengers. Young Dungan, the only
person killed outright, was in the caboose, next to the engine, in
company with some young friends. When the crash came it is said
the unfortunate young man rushed our on the platform and attempted to
save himself by jumping, but he was caught in the falling timbers and
crushed to death. He fell in the water close to the edge of the
canal, where his body remained until about 6 o'clock the following
morning before it was taken out. Every effort was made to recover
the body sooner, but unfortunately there were no means at hand for
removing the heavy cars and timber to that it could be gotten our
sooner. No other parties in the caboose were injured and if young
Dungan had remained quiet, he would have in all probability escaped
uninjured seriously. The other parties injured seriously, were
Thos. Dungan, brother to the deceased, James McLaughlin, of Wellston, P.
M. Washam, and Mrs. Jacob Birtch, of Jackson. The latter, it was
rumored on our streets yesterday, had since died of her injuries.
The former was taken home yesterday on the noon train but is still in a
dangerous condition. Among those not seriously hurt were Miss
Maria Poor, Jessie Laird, Geo. Davis, W. A. Steele, Effle Clara, Ed.
Crossland, W. F. Scott, Mrs. Davis, Jessie Murfin, George Blagg, Maggie
Snyder, Arty Monahan.
The excursionists behaved with great coolness
and judgment under the frightful circumstances, and ever body on board
appeared to be helping each other to escape from the wreck, Many
brave acts sere performed by those who escaped uninjured but we have not
the name of the heroes and can not make special mention of them as we
wo'd like to do.
The people of Waverly, without any exception,
did everything in their power for the wrecked excursionists.
Everybody threw their houses open to them and stood ready and anxious to
render the unfortunate stranger ever kindness and attention possible.
The Railroad Company acted with all the
promptness possible under the circumstances and by noon Monday the wreck
was entirely cleared away, a new bridge was up and the road was opened
to business as usual. (Note train wreck was 7th of
August) 11 Aug 1880 Waverly Watchman
Note: The passenger station was on the west side
of town, on the south side of SR 220 (West North Street), and on the
east side of the tracks.
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