Killed in an Erie Wreck
Head End Collision in Heart of City -- Engineer John Diday Crushed to Death - Fireman Jumped to Save His Life and Escaped -- Both Trains were Late - Another Wreck at Ontario
A terrific head-end collision, resulting in the loss of human life, and the destruction of considerable property, occurred at 6 o'clock Thursday morning near the Thornton St. crossing.

Engineer John Diday, of Galion, was crushed to death at his post.

The trains, which came together with such mighty force, were the Wells Fargo Express, No. 14, due here at 2:20 o'clock, and the fast through freight, No. 77, scheduled to arrive in this city at 3 o'clock. Both trains were consequently several hours late and were using every effort to make up time.

The express was a heavy train of seven cars and a passenger coach, drawn by two engines. It was running at the rate of 50 miles per hour when the accident occurred. The freight train was headed by one of the Erie's new Patterson engines, weighing 85 tons. It was being driven by engineer Thomas Wilson. Wilson was backing his train into a switch when the express came into sight. In an instant the crash came and the three steaming, hissing engines were badly splintered and demolished.

The lead engine of the fast express, No. 414, was in charge of John Diday, engineer, and George Kell, fireman. The latter saw what was about to happen and jumped. He escaped with a bruised body and an injured leg. He was taken to his home in Galion on the next train. Engineer Diday remained at his post and his life went out, in a vain attempt to place his engine under control. He was badly mangled. His body was removed from the wreck, only after a way had been chopped through the debris. He was taken to Parks' morgue, where the body was prepared for burial.

The second engine, No. 851, was in charge of engineer William Wright and fireman McGuire. Neither was injured. The new heavyweight battle-ship engine on the freight train was No. 1452 and had been in use about a week. It stood the force of the shock remarkably well as only the front part was demolished. None of the engines or cars were derailed.

The freight and express trains were soon sent on their way. The wrecking train from Kent arrived at 9 o'clock and began the clearing of the track.

Second Wreck -- Erie Limited No. 8, due in Akron at 1:29 o'clock Thursday morning was seven hours late. Between Ontario and Mansfield while running at the broke, derailing the engine. The engineer and fireman were injured.

From the Feb. 2, 1900 Issue of the Akron, Ohio Daily Democrat:
Engineer John Diday, who was killed in the collision at the Thurston Street crossing Thursday, had passed through a wreck earlier in the day without serious injury.

His engine was, when it left Galion, attached to train No. 8. The train was a double-header. At Ontario, the second engine wrecked. The cause of the accident is not known, but it is supposed a broken rail or a tire coming off one of the drive wheels caused it. James Logan, engineer, and Orrie Bennett, fireman, were injured. The extent of thier inuries could not be learned altough it is said they are quite serious. They were taken to their homes in Galion and Kent.

From midnight until early morning Erie trains were detoured over the Pennsylvania and Big Four roads by the way of Crestline. The head engine, which was in charge of Diday, was returned to Galion and attached to No. 14, an express train, and its fate was even worse than that of the rear engine that was wrecked at Ontario.

Eye witnesses of the wreck in this city say that Diday made no attempt to escape from the wreck. Some go so far as to state that it was a case of suicide. He stood at his post, with one hand on the throttle, never moving until he was crushed to death.

From the Feb. 3, 1900 Issue of the Akron, Ohio Daily Democrat:
The funeral of Engineer John Diday who met his death in the wreck in this city, Thursday morning, will be held at his home in Galion at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. A number of local railroad men will attend.

From the Feb. 10, 1900 Issue of the Akron, Ohio Daily Democrat:
Locomotive with Bad Records -- Diday's Engine was in Tallmadge Wreck -- In which Huntington Lost His Life -- No. 855 Was Once Run by Late Alexander Logan -- It was Demolished in Accident at Ontario

Both engines that were in the Erie wrecks Thursday morning, the 414 at Akron on which engineer John Diday was killed, and the 855 at Ontario, on which James Logan was injured, have records of disaster.

The 414 was the engine on which engineer Z. Huntington lost his life in a wreck at Tallmadge, about ten years ago. The 855 which was wrecked at Ontario, was in a wreck at Rittman about a year ago, and engineer A.W. Logan lost his life.

The 1452 in charge of engineer Tom Wilson, was the engine ran into at Akron. It is one of the big "Mother Hubbard" engines, recently purchased by the Erie. Engineer Wilson saw train 14 coming, stopped his engine and started to back up, but was unable to get out of the way before they came together. His engine was but slightly damaged.

Engineer Diday was a soldier in the Civil War and his Army record is a most honorable one. He served his full three years, and enlisted following his discharge, remaining with his regiment until wounded. He was shot in the hip and was crippled for life. He participated in a number of the most severe battles of the war and was considered brave and reliable by his superiors. He was loyal and patriotic, ever ready to shed his blood in the defense of his country.