RAILWAY ACCIDENT

[Welland Telegraph April 10, 1903]

A bad accident occurred Monday morning about half past three when G.T.R. train No 8, the Chicago flyer, drawn by engine No 567, smashed into yard engine No 638, and string of freight cars, at this place.

The flyer was in charge of Engineer Ashby and conductor H. Bell Jas Crossett was engineer on the yard engine. The flyer is the fastest train coming here from London and consists of a baggage van, a coach and a pullman.

The yard engine was backing down the yard with a long string of freight cars, when the flyer crashed into it. Both engines are badly damaged, and to look at the yard engine was to wonder how it was possible for the engineer and firemen to get out alive, as the tender was jabbed right through the cab up against the boiler and the cab broken to pieces. Engineer Crossett was badly hurt, but the fireman escaped without a scratch. He says he does not know how it happened but he suddenly found himself lying on the track beside his engine. It seems miraculous that these two men were not instantly killed, as they had scarcely any warning as to what was coming. The men on the other escaped without injury, but Conductor H. Bell was badly cut up about the face and head and several passengers were badly shaken up.

The cars of No 8 remained on the track though considerably damaged, and were taken down by a Lehigh Valley engine. Both engines are badly damaged, the lighter engine being smashed the most. Many freight cars are broken or derailed, some even 200 feet from the collision were damaged or thrown off the track. One box car in particular. The second from the engine was thrown into peculiar shape. It is split in half and the trucks coming together elevated the centre part about 20 feet.

There are two semaphores up the track a little way to guard against such accidents. Sunday night these were in charge of Switchman George England. He claims that both semaphores were up and that the No 8 should have stopped. Engineer Ashby could not have seen them in time, but he evidently tried to stop, as the track was sanded for about 100 feet back. There is a sharp curve at the scene of the wreck and doubtless this had something to do with it. Large crowds visited the place Monday.

Dr Wilson, the G.T.R. physician, was early on the scene and  assisted by Dr Kellam, did good work in helping the injured. Jas Crosssitt was removed to his home, and by latest reports is doing well as could be expected. Conductor Bell’s injuries were dressed at the station and he proceeded to his home in Sarnia by the early express. Another man injured was F.H. Stevens, a theatrical manager, who was removed to the St Catharines hospital. He is doing well also.