An accident occurred on November 11, 1866, one mile east of Wesleyville, between Harbor Creek Township and the City of Erie, a little after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. A party of workmen had been employed making track repairs at this point, under the direction of a man named, Mahoney, two rails had been removed for the purpose of substituting new ones, and when the train appeared in the distance, one of the rails remained to be placed in position. An effort was made to put down the rail with dispatch, but it was found to be too long.
In this dilemma, it was only possible to avert the calamity by means of a signal at a proper distance from the break; but the nearest approach to this, was a signal given a short distance off by a man who swung his hat. This signal the engineer did not see, or it was too late; and the train came rushing on to its doom, at a speed of nearly forty miles an hour, on a down grade. When the locomotive struck the break, the engineer instantly saw the threatened disaster, and reversed his engine. The locomotive was displaced from the track without serious injury to the engineer and fireman, and the ten cars of the train were thrown clean from the track; some of them completely wrecked, and their passengers thrown into indescribable confusion. The first passenger coach was literally crushed into fragments. Four of its occupants were killed outright, and by its destruction most of the severer injuries were inflicted. The Express car had its roof entirely carried away, and all the cars, with the exception of the last one, were more or less damaged.
Mrs. West, of Milwaukee, was found completely wedged in between heavy timbers, and covered with the debris. In her grasp was her little boy, dead. She clung to him, without uttering cry or groan, and all unconscious that his young life had been crushed out. She only released him from her hold when informed of his death, and afterwards, with heroic patience and fortitude, awaited the time when the energetic hands should rescue her from imprisonment. She was taken out badly crushed.
One man had his hat cut in two by some flying fragment, but escaped without injury; and numerous others had narrow escapes from death.
A report of the accident was at once conveyed to Erie, and two cars were promptly dispatched to the wreck to carry the sufferers to the City. The cars made a second run to the scene of the difficulty, and by 8 o'clock in the evening, the dead and the wounded were at the Union Depot in Erie, where provisions had been made for their reception and care. W. S. Brown, Esq., one of the Directors of the road, hearing of the accident, promptly summoned the best surgical and medical aid the city afforded, and was untiring in his exertions throughout the night to alleviate the sufferings of the injured. His efforts were heartily seconded by Mr. Jerome, an employee of the road, and by as many of the citizens of Erie as could render effective service. Everything that could be done in favor of the wounded was done. Out of the number wounded only fifteen or eighteen remained in Erie, recovering. The others, being able to pursue their journeys, continued onto their destinations.
Superintendent R. N. Brown reached the wreck as soon as possible after the accident, and remained on the spot during the night. By his directions the debris was removed promptly, and yesterday the trains passed over the road as usual.
This being the most terrible disaster, at that time, that ever occurred on this road; only two human lives having been upon it since its construction; the man in charge of the gang, near Wesleyville, confessed before a Coroner's jury that he, and he alone, was to blame for the casualty.
The list of the killed and wounded is as follows:
Killed:
DR. WHEELER, Elbridge, N. Y.
JOHN H. WEST, aged 4 years, son of MRS. ANNA WEST, Milwaukee, Wis.
THOMAS C. HUNT, Nunda, N. Y.
MATHEW HARLAND, Sheridan, Iowa.
Wounded:
JOHN OAKSON, Muncy, Ind.; collar bone broken.
P. BROWN, New York City; head cut.
WOODFORD THOMAS, Cleveland, Ohio; eye and arm slightly injured.
H. STOUCK, Milford Centre; slightly injured.
MISS ALMIRA WHITE, Richmond, Penn.; body and hip badly injured.
JAS. WHITE, Richmond, Penn.; hip slightly injured.
MRS. ANNA WEST, Milwaukee; badly bruised.
MISS E. WEST, Milwaukee; three fingers broken.
PETER GROVE, Williamsville, N. Y.; leg hurt, not badly.
DENNIS CONNOR, Rochester, N. Y.; knee and ankle slightly injured.
CHARLES HUST, New York; head cut and injured internally.
JOHN HUST, New York; not badly injured.
MRS. KATE ALBRECHT and two children, New York; slightly bruised.
MARY GERRYNOT and three children, Rochester, N. Y.; slightly bruised.
MRS. CONNOR and daughter SARAH, Buffalo; both hurt in hip and back.
MISS SARAH AMY, Erie, Penn.; injured in stomach, slightly.
ALEXANDER LEE, Weston, N. Y.; injured in head, slightly.
MRS. ALEX. LEE, Weston, N. Y.; injured in arm and head, slightly.
DANIEL HUBBARD and wife, Unionville, N. Y.; injured in head, slightly.
JOHN BROWN and son, Rochester, N. Y.; both slightly injured.
WILLIAM B. GRAFTON, Worthington, Ohio; head and ankle injured slightly.
E. C. ROBINSON, Springfield, Mass.; head, neck and shoulder injured slightly.
J. McDONAHUE, New York City; head and arm slightly injured.
FRANCIS LYNCH, New York City; head cut, not dangerous.
EDWARD CARTWRIGHT, Buffalo, N. Y.; head cut, slightly; has returned to this city.
WILLIAM BRIDGEHAM, Silver Creek, brakeman; head cut slightly.
JOHN PARKER, Norwalk, Ohio, employed on Cleveland and Toledo road; head and side injured slightly.
S. VEDDER, Stockton, N. Y.; injured inside slightly.
RACHAEL McCLELLAN, New Mumford, Penn.; side and arm slightly injured.
FRANCIS MORAN, New York City; slightly bruised.