One of the worst railroad wrecks that has occurred on the Erie for several years resulted from a head-on collision between two heavily loaded freight trains at Servia, about 6 o'clock last evening.

Wm. A. McColly (McCauley), the engineer on the west bound freight train, Engine No. 776, was instantly killed and the fireman on the same engine was badly injured. The cause of the wreck was due to the confusion of the orders between the operator and the dead engineer. At first the red block signal was given the engineer and then changed to the white which, of course, meant the way was clear, at the same time the engineer, on an entering freight train from the opposite direction received the same signal.

The train on which McColly was engineer was a double header and was drawing 58 cars, all of which were heavily loaded, the other engine was drawing but 20 cars. They came dashing together, just in front of the depot, where the front end of the head engine on the west bound train was lifted up by the snow plow that was on the other, and the whole engine, engineer and all were thrown with a crash on the porch of the depot. It is thought by many that McColly tried to escape death by jumping through the window of his cab, as he was found with his head and shoulders out and crushed under the engine. His heart was found twenty feet from his body and brains could be seen as far as fifteen feet away. The fireman was found still in his place of duty apparently uninjured, but it is thought he is hurt internally.

The wreck was cleared away early this morning and traffic is again resumed.

William A. McColly was about 45 years old and a good Christian man. His home is in Huntington where he leaves a wife and two grown boys. He was a nephew of John M. NORRIS, of this city.