One Killed and Many Injured in Wreck
Chicago & Erie Flyer is Ditched Near Lima
A curve near the bridge over the Auglaize River at Conant, a village nine miles west of Lima, was the scene of one of the worst wrecks the Chicago & Erie has suffered in years, about 4:35 o'clock, Wednesday afternoon (09/22/1910), when Chicago & Erie passenger Train No. 4 was ditched by spreading rails.

One passenger was instantly killed and thirty-seven injured, six of whom it is claimed, are perhaps fatally hurt.

The train involved in the accident is a through flyer from Chicago to New York, and it is estimated was running fifty miles per hour when it struck the curve and the rails spread. The locomotive left the track immediately and, in doing so, snapped the coupling between the tender and the baggage car. Then it half-buried itself in the earth on the right side of the right-of-way. The baggage car and four day coaches, trailing, plunged down the embankment, two rolling over as they went, until they reached the river bed. The two Pullmans making up the remainder of the train remained on the rails, and were saved by the breaking of another coupling.

Help From Village
Residents in the vicinity hastened to the scene of the wreck and did everything possible to lend relief to the injured, and assist in their escape from the tangled mass of debris. As soon as the railroad officials at Lima received word of the accident, assistance was sent from there and the dead and injured were removed to that city, where the hospital accommodations were found wholly insufficient to the accommodation of so many patients. Several of the injured were taken to hotels where they were given surgical attention. Every surgeon in Lima was called to the service and worked both at the scene of the wreck and in the city.

The only person instantly killed was Mrs. Langdon Strail, aged seventy-four years, whose residence was in Brooklyn, New York. Mrs. Strail was returning from California with her son, James H. Strail, who escaped uninjured. An examination of the body of Mrs. Strail developed the fact that she bore no marks of violence, and had probably died of shock occasioned by the accident.

A Marion Man Hurt
Among the injured was John L. Milligan, of this city, who had been staying at the Werley Hotel. He left here last Monday, had been at Spencerville, and was enroute home. Trainmen say he was buried to one side when the wreck occurred and was stuck, his left ear being almost severed from his head. Aside from an injury to his chest, he suffered internal injuries.

When he was given attention by the trainmen last evening, he appeared in good spirits and did not seem badly injured. Later, it was reported that his condiction was serious and reports were circulated here to the effect that he had died in the hospital at Lima, whither he was taken. Al Korte, proprietor of the Werley Hotel, left, this morning, for the scene of the wreck and will be at the bedside of the injured man. If his condition permits, Korte will bring him home.

The following telegram was received from Lima regarding Milligan's condition by the Star at noon:

"J.L. Milligan, of Marion, is patient at the city hospital here, and the attending surgeons entertain hopes for his recovery. His chest and lungs were crushed in the Erie wreck, Wednesday afternoon, and grave fears were entertained during the night, but his condition is much improved. All other patients are doing well."

Prospect Man in Wreck
Jacob Kline, of Prospect, was also numbered mong the injured, having suffered a fracture of one of the bones of his hip and a number of bruises. Kline is well known in Prospect. He had been away from home several days, however, and little was known as to his whereabouts. His condition is reported not serious, and it is believed he will recover.

Jerry Darmody, conductor of the ill-fated train, was only slightly injured. He arrived at his home here, early this morning, and was able to be about without difficulty today. A slight bruise on the left leg was suffered by him, and a cut over the left eye. He was not, however, injured to any extent and will not be kept from his work.

Albert Hosler, of Columbia Street, the brakeman on the train, was slightly injured as was also John Thompson, baggageman, who had a narrow escape from serius injury in the baggage car, which left the tracks but was not overturned. Leo Sweetman, the engineer, was uninjured. He, together with his fireman, Edward Tuesch, stayed at their places on the engine when it left the tracks.

Porter's Leg Cut Off
Perhaps the most severe injury suffered by any of the crew was that of J.A. Snowden, a colored train porter well known in this city. According to the trainmen, Snowden was probably in the vestibule between two coaches when the crash came. His right leg was cut off and many serious wounds were inflicted.

Of the thirty-seven passenger injured in the wreck, practically all were in the third car.

When seen regarding the wreck this morning, persons who were on the train declared that few of the passengers were very seriously injured. Many were cut and bruised about the face, and at first it appeared that many were very badly injured, but investigation disclosed the fact that many had suffered only minor bruises.

A special train was made up in this city, about 6 o'clock, when the news of the wreck was received here, and the trip to the scene was made in good time. A number of railroad men went from here, among them being Thomas Burke, foreman of the car repair department, and W.W. Sanders, agent. Some went with the wrecking train, which passed through here enroute to the wreck from Galion. Agent Sanders did not get to the wreck, being detained in Lima.

Marion Party
After the injured had been given attention and the coaches replaced, the party returned to this city, using the engine of No. 4, which had been wrecked, also the baggage car. Considerable delay was experienced and the Marion party did not arrive home until 2 o'clock this morning, althought it left the scene of the wreck at 10 o'clock in the evening.

The passengers aboard the train passed within sight of the scene of the terrible wreck at Kingsland, in which forty-two persons were killed and many injured, Wednesday afternoon, and the minds of all were naturally fixed on it, and it was being discussed by many when the train plunged into the ditch. As to the cause of the wreck, there is considerable mystery. Railroad men say that the cause is not definitely known, although it is supposed that it was due to spreading rails. In the vicinity, much work had been done ballasting the road and it is the belief of the trainmen that the rails gave way.

The coaches were somewhat damaged, but were not in the condition that might have been expected after rolling down the embankment which is quite steep.

Heroism of Nurse Saves Porter's Life
Miss Marian Lane Plays Tragic Part in Wreck
The condition of John L. Milligan, of this city, who was seriously injured in the wreck of Erie passenger No. 4, near Lima, is somewhat improved today, and it is the belief of the attending surgeons that he will recover. This morning, all the injured were recovering nicely, but Milligan's condition was much more serious than was first thought. Marion men, who were with him at the hospital at Lima, Thursday, stated today that while his condition was very critical he was bearing up nicely.

The life of J.A. Snowden, the well-known colored train porter, was probably saved through the heroism of a young trained nurse, Miss Marian Lane, of Los Angeles, California. After she had been hurt herself, she devoted her attention to the porter's welfare and stopped the heavy flow of blood from his severed right leg. After the arrival of surgeons, she fainted from exhaustion and shock and, today, is in a serious condition and relatives have been sent for by wire.

The members of the crew residing in this city were able to be about today, and the injuries suffered by them are not serious. Conductor Harry Darmody, Brakeman Albert Hosler and Baggageman John Thompson, of this city, who were slightly injured, will probably be summoned by the officials investigating the wreck today.

Coaches Badly Damaged
The coaches of Erie passenger No. 4, which were in the wreck near Lima, Wednesday evening, in which one passenger was killed and thirty-seven persons injured, were taken through this city Friday evening, and attracted much attention. The coaches were very badly damaged and it is a mystery that only one life was lost in the wreck. The windows were broken and the sides and ends of the coaches were crushed in.

An investigation is being made by the officials regarding the wreck and a number of the officials were on the scene of the wreck all day Friday.

The condition of J.L. Milligan, of this city, who was injured, is considerably improved.

Railroad Company is Held Responsible
Coroner Returns Finding as to Wreck at Conant - Tracks are Found in Very Bad Shape
The Chicago & Erie Railroad company is held responsible for the recent wreck at Conant near Lima, in which one person was killed and thirty-eight persons were injured, in the verdict of Coroner A. Pfeiffer, of Allen County, who returned his verdict Monday. The coroner says that the section men had recently raised the tracks at that point, using cinders as ballast, and that the wreck was due to the fact that the rails were higher in the center than at the joints.