Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1891 — WRECKED THE LIMITED [ARTICLE]

WRECKED THE LIMITED

DISASTER CAUSED BY A BROKEN RAIL. Three Lives Lost In an Accident on the Fort Wayne Near Lima, Ohio—A Score of Passengers Braised and Many of Them Badly Injured. Death in a Crash. The west-bound limited on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Road, known as the “Columbian Express,” was wrecked by a broken rail about one and a half miles east of Lima, 0., whi e running at the rate of fifty miles an hour. The engine, baggage car and day coach passed over in safety, but the train parted in the rear of the day coach and the dining car and two sleepers were thrown over to tho north track with terrific force Tho accident happened at the east end of the long siding which 'is north of the main track. The broken rail was found about forty rods east of the switch used by the freight train east-bound, which was standing on the siding, with the engino almost up to the switch. The dining car of tho wrecked train jumped to the sidetrack and ran into tho freight engine, which telescopo 1 tho car half its length Little was visible of the engine besides parts of the cab and tender. The s eeping-ear Delphos was derailed, while the sleeper Arden, the roar car, was thrown clear over on its side into iho ditch, but luckily tho passengers all escaped with their lives and only a few were severely injured. The chief cook of the dining-car Parisian, J. 11. Manuel, was near the range when the car struck tho freight train. The kitchen and range are in the forward end of the car. Manuel was caught by the front end of the engino and wedged in over the boiler and roasted to death. The body was so firmly fastened that it could not be extricated, and he died in frightful agony. His body was not gotten out until the freight engine could be moved, w hen It dropped to the ground. Second Cook John H. tustls, < olored, was caught in the wreck by the logs, but couid not bo reached, and for some time ho directed tho movements of tho men engaged in clearing the wreck lie was terribly scalded, but was finally taken out altve. Custis only lived a short time, although he was given the best of medical attention, Tho others injured of the crew of tho dining-car were: Nelson Thompson, waiter, head cut by glass; Henry Williams, waiter, leg hurt: George W. Fo t, conductor, hurt on head and leg. Richard Smith and Will Grant, colored waiteis, escaped unhurt. H. Seiboll, the engineer of tho freight, escaped by jumping. Philip 11. Nulf, the fireman, was caught between the tank and boiler head, horribly c ushod and scalded. He was still alive when taken from ids position, but only lived a short timo His body was taken to his home in Fort Wayne. .Many of the injured men were also taken to Fort Wayne. The others were well provided for. Everything possible was done by tlio railroad officials to alleviate the suffering of tho wounded, and they had a full corps of physiciacs on the ground in a short time after the accident occurred. The track vas torn up for a distance of thirty rods east of the switch and traffic was blocked.