From the August 23, 1889 Issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Terrible Accident - Andrew Wallace and Charlie Kimball Badly Scalded
A serious accident, or rather series of accidents, occurred at Big Flats last night, which resulted in the horrible injuries to two of Erie's brave engine men and the slight injury of two other persons.
Abot 10:30 last night a Lehigh Valley freight train, on the Erie eastbound track, began to cross over in order to leave the track clear for train two, then nearly due, and had got partly across, and was occupying both tracks, when an Erie freight train from the east, Gee Becker, conductor, came up on the westbound track supposing the road to be clear and crashed into that portion of the train that was on his track, wrecking both engines and blocking the track. All was confusion and chaos for the time being, and train two was apparently forgotten, and came rushing along with its load of living human freight from the west, and crashed into that portion of the unfortunate Lehigh train that still remained on the eastbound track.
The engine of train two was derailed, and was one of the worst wrecked engines that ever belonged to the road, being reduced from a thing of beauty and motion into a solid mass of scrap iron. Within her cab was Andrew Wallace, one of Erie's veteran engineers, and his cool-headed assistant, Charlie Kimball, both from this city, and both men of family. Mr. Wallace was imprisoned in the wreck, and the scalding waters of the boiler surged around him, inflicting horrible sufferings and possibly fatal injuries, and it was some time before he could be released. His fireman escaped more fortunately, apparently, but his injuries are of a frightful nature, a broken arm, scalds on back, neck, arm and limbs being a brief summary. Kimball succeeded in working his way out unaided, and knowing that Dr. Green was intending to go on train 12, which followed the unfortunate No. 2 down the road, had him sent for, and under his decisive actions the patients were covered with oil and cotton and their injuries attended as close as possible.
Two other persons were hurt, but not seriously, one being a cattle man and the other a railway man.
The two victims were brought home on train three this morning, and are now in careful hands, Dr. Green abandoning his trip and remaining with them.
Charlie Kimball is insured in some accident company, and in the fireman's brotherhood, and will be well provided for.
From the August 30, 1889 Issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Andrew Wallace Dead - He Passed Away at 4 O'Clock Yesterday
Andrew J. Wallace died at about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Only his God has knowledge of the agonies which he suffered from the time of the accident until death brought him that grand panacea for all pain, which alone could relieve him from the horrors of the torture, which, every moment, he endured, and then all the agony that rent his stalwart frame passed from him forever. His case was hopeless and mercy came to him in this world in the only guise which it could assume.
The skillful care of a worthy surgeon had done all that was possible to relieve his sufferings, and to several possible aids to recovery. He was swathed in oil and cotton, and cared for by tender hands, and taken to his once happy home by strong men with saddened hearts, and there left with sorrowful solicitude until the end came.
Not only was his body scalded in a frightful manner but the deadly steam that had been inhaled, and his injuries were internal as well as external.
Mr. Wallace was a worthy and honored citizen. During the rebellion he was a soldier who performed his duty with the same fidelity he exhibited in every walk of life, but in no contest did it require greater nerve than he displayed when he stood at his post in the face of almost certain and horrible death, when with hands on the lever and brake, he had to save the passengers in the crowded cars behind him. He could have jumped at the first alarm and let them to perish, but that was not the model he was built upon.
He perished by an awful and cruel death and they all lived. One more name has been added to the glorious list of heroes whom Death has captured while defying him to the last.
Mr. Wallace was born in Hornellsville, and was 48 years of age. He was married 18 years ago to Miss Mary Hammond, of Belmont, who with one son, 10 years of age, still survive him.
He was a member of the Masonic Order, belonging to the DeMolay Commandery of the Knights Templar, and was also a member of Post Doty, G.A.R.
We have received the following from one of the parties interested in the recent unfortunate accident at Big Flats, which we publish, as it is claimed that none of the accounts of it so far given have been correct, and it is desirable that all may know the exact situation which may aid to placing the responsibility:
Lehigh Valley coal train, Extra 604, Higgins, Conductor, came to Big Flats to cross over for Erie train 12 at about 10:30 p.m., and not properly protecting himself with a flag. Ahead Extra 201, Erie, Geo Becker Conductor and William Tiffany, Engineer, westbound, ran into Lehigh Valley engine, causing the wreck to engine 201 and 9 cars and blocking both tracks. A flag was immediately sent out and train 12 stopped. The train men went to work to clear the eastbound track, but before it was clear the Lehigh Valley came behind train 12 and the Erie train, Angel, Conductor, behind him, Erie train 100, William Dickey, Conductor, behind him, then came Erie train 2, Wallace, engineer, and Brooks, Conductor. Through some unknown cause the engineer of train 2 did not see Dickey's flagman, and ran into his caboose at full speed, causing a terrible wreck to the engine, baggage, express and mail cars of train 2 and the caboose and 3 cars of train 100. To add to the horror, in the dead hour of the night, it immediately took fire and was reduced to ashes.
Engineer Wallace and Fireman Kimball were taken from the wreck in a mangled and scalded state, but still alive. Drs. Baker and Green were on train 12, which was stopped, and did everything in their power to care for the sufferers.
Wallace and Kimball were taken to their homes in Hornellsville. Wallace was so badly injured that death relieved him of his sufferings at 4 p.m.
The engine that was drawing Erie 2 when it was wrecked at Big Flats the other night was brought to this city and now stands on a side track near the depot, a complete wreck. The left side cylinder is gone, the sand box, dome, cab and bell were stripped off, and the engine burned clean to the jacket. The connecting rods on both sides have disappeared, and the once splendid machine is, in the parlance of the day, in the soup. The boiler is good yet, but that is about all of the engine that will ever be made use of.
-- Elmira Gazette
From the September 6, 1889 Issue of the Hornellsville Weekly Tribune:
Wallace's Death - A Harsh and Unnecessary Construction Placed Upon Supt Coffin's Orders
The following verdict of the jury at the inquest of Engineer Wallace has been handed down to us for publication. It is proper to say the verdict is the work of the foreman of the jury, Mr. W.L. Collins.
The Verdict -- From the foregoing evidence we, the undersigned jurors, do find that the said Andrew J. Wallace came to his death at his residence on Spruce Street, Hornellsville, NY, at 4 p.m. Aug. 21st, 1889(?).
After a careful hearing and examination of the evidence in this case, we do find:
First, that by disregarding the rules of the NYLE&W RR Co. for the running of trains on their tracks, by passing Corning station and a crossover at that point, and running to Big Flats, in the time of train 12, without orders, and by coming into collision with an Erie freight train at the latter station, a Lehigh freight train became a remote cause of the running of Erie train 2 into the rear end of Erie train 100.
Second, that W.B. Coffin, superintendent of the Susquehanna Division, of the NYLE&W RR issued the following order:
"July 1, 1889: To Conductors, Fast freight, stock and passenger trains are being seriously delayed by slow freight. These detentions can and must be avoided. Hereafter, any detention to passenger trains, by freights, will be sufficient cause for suspension or dismissal of party to blame."
-- W.B. Coffin, Sup't.
This order is contradictory, arbitrary and unjust to his employees conflicting with the general rules in the instruction book and without one single provisionary saving clause, and is easy of misconstruction as to its real intent.
Third, that W.C. Dickey, Conductor of train 100, fully complied with the rules regulating the running of trains the NYLE&W RR, by dropping flagman A.H. Williamson at East Corning station and by sending out flagman A.E. Hicks to locate his caboose and train in the event of the approach of another train.
Fourth, that owing to the fact that Flagman A.H. Williamson heard the engine of train 100 whistle off brakes, which led him to suppose that train 100 was getting safely out of the way of any approaching train, this in connection with the construction placed upon him by the special order dated July 4, 1889, issued by W.B. Coffin, Sup't of the Susquehanna Division of the NYLE&W RR, he, Williamson, permitted said train 2 to pass him without flagging it; and that Flagman A.E. Hicks endeavored to flag train 2.
Fifth, that Andrew J. Wallace, engineer on train 2, was running said train at a high rate of speed and, from some unexplained cause, did not see Flagman Hicks, who was one-half mile or more to the rear of train 100, and passed said Flagman Hicks, and ran his engine into the rear of train 100, and received injuries from which he died at the time and place aforesaid.
--Signed by the Jury