Delaware, OH Train Wreck, Jan 1860

Jan 21, 1860

RAILROAD ACCIDENT.---This day two serious accidents occurred on the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad, by which at least one man was instantly killed, and many received injuries which, probably, in some cases, will prove fatal. The first occurred near Delaware village, and arose from the mistake of a switchman on a side-track, there being only one man to attend it night and day. The switch was set for a freight-train, which passed without his knowledge; but a passenger-train awoke him, and, running out, he turned the switch first one way and then another, by which the train was divided, and the cars driven against each other, several getting completely smashed. The train proceeded as soon as possible, and, when about seven miles from Cleveland, met a construction-train. The latter, hearing the whistle of the passenger-train, which was out of time, attempted to switch off suddenly, when some of the cars ran off the track, and one was literally smashed to pieces. One man was taken from the ruins terribly mangled, and dead.

Vincent's Semi-annual United States Register, Jan-Jun 1860 pages 52-53
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!