8 DIE IN WRECK OF FAST EXPRESS

Operator on the Baltimore & Ohio Fails to Turn

ALFRED DALBY IS CRIPPLED

Richard Carle's Musical Director Has His Arm Amputated---Members of the Company Escape.

WHEELING, West Va., Sept. 28.---Eight persons were killed and a score injured at Bellaire, Ohio, at 3:15 this afternoon, when the Chicago and Wheeling express train on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad crashed into a freight train which was moving slowly on a siding. Alfred Dalby of New York, musical director of "The Spring Chicken" musical comedy company, was so badly hurt that his right arm was amputated.

The wreck was due to the failure of an operator to throw a switch. The west-bound freight train had received orders to meet the express at the western limits of the Bellaire yard, and was moving slowly along the siding. At the point where the wreck occurred there is a sharp curve which prevents the engineers of eastbound trains from seeing more than a few feet ahead.

The passenger train swung around the curve very rapidly, being three hours late. It should have gone on is safety on the main line. The switch to the siding, however, had not been turned and the train shot onto the siding and into the freight. There was scarcely time to apply the brakes and no time for the engine men to jump.

The two big engines were reduced to junk by the impact, but the worst damage was done to the smoker, which was telescoped so completely by the baggage car that every seat was thrown out. Every occupant of he smoker was killed or badly injured. The passengers in the other day coach and the two sleeping cars were tumbled from their seats, but not seriously injured.

General Manager Fitzgerald, who was in the neighborhood on an inspection tour, and General Superintendent W. C. Loree of Wheeling personally superintended the rescue work. Great difficulty was experienced in removing the injured passengers from the smoking car. Work was slow, because almost every movement of the debris caused some one to shriek with pain, the victims being entangled in a mass of timbers and twisted irons.

Among the passengers on the wrecked train were the members of Richard Carle's "The Spring Chicken" company, which was to have played at Wheeling this evening. All the members of the company escaped serious injuries except Alfred Dalby. He had been riding in the smoker, and was found with a heavy timber tightly binding him by the arm. The arm was so badly crushed that it had to be cut off.

Engineer H. A. Lipscomb of the passenger train was caught beneath his engine. It was found impossible to remove the broken iron from his body on account of the way in which one of his legs was entangled. Escaping steam across his face made it impossible to administer anaesthetics[sic], and the physicians amputated the leg as he lay there conscious. Despite the burning steam and the pain of the operation, he bore it bravely. It is feared, however, that the man will die.

The list of dead follows:

HEINZE, MICHAEL, Wheeling.
SHAW, WILLIAM, Wheeling. BERERON, CARL, 1,587 Twenty-seventh Street, Milwaukee.
GALBRAITH, I. N., freight engineer, Newark, Ohio.
MOTZ, F. E., freight conductor, Newark, Ohio.
SEITZ, HARRY, newsboy, Massillon, Ohio.
LIPSCOMB, H. A., passenger engineer, Newark, Ohio.
ROSE, F. L., Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio.
W. C. DOSANT,
D. E. KNEER,
E. J.BLUBAUGH, mail clerks, Newark, Ohio,
and DENNIS DAILY, Pittsburg, all were fatally injured.

At the office of Supt. Loree to-night it was said that the railroad officials were not yet certain which operator was to blame for the accident, but a thorough investigation was under way.

At Wallack's Theater last night Charles Marks, Manager of Richard Carle's productions, received a telegram from Mr. Carle to the effect that "The Spring Chicken" company, which left Zanesville, Ohio, Friday night, was in the Bellaire wreck and all were unhurt except Alfred Dalby, the musical director, whose right arm was badly injured.

Mr. Carle said that the company was in a rear car when the collision occurred, while Dalby was in the smoker alone.

Drury Underwood, manager of "The Spring Chicken" company, communicated with Mr. Marks by telephone last night, and said that Dalby would recover, but would be unable to resume his duties as musical leader for some time. He added that the company was to give a performance last evening.

Alfred Dalby was general music director for Carle & Marks, and made he orchestration of all of Mr. Carle's music. He had been with "The Hurdy Gurdy Girl" company, now playing in New York, all Summer, and only recently joined "The Spring Chicken" company. Mr. Dalby is well known in musical and theatrical circles.

The New York Times, New York, NY 29 Sept 1907
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!