This post was contributed to the Crawford County Chapter of OGS by Kristina Stearley as part of the Florence Siefert Scrapbook in 2010.
The scrapbook is compiled from undated, unidentified newspaper clippings involving events in the lives of Crawford County citizens living in or having connections to New Washington, Tiro, Shelby, Sulphur Springs, Chatfield, Bucyrus, Ashland, Mansfield, and other areas. Only minimal spelling or punctuation corrections were made. Unreadable areas are shown by underlines, dots &/or question marks. This collection has been scanned, “optical character recognized” (OCR’d), proofed, then coded for HTML by volunteers of the Crawford County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society. Since the copies are not of the best quality errors may have been made. Please contact us if you find corrections needing to be made or can verify any missing dates which could be added.
FRIGHTFUL
Martin L Callin and Jacob H Bloom hurled into Eternity Without any Warning
A T. & O. C. GONDOLA DOING THE FATAL WORK — FURTHER PARTICULARS
News reached this place last Wednesday afternoon by telephone that Martin L. Callin and Jacob H. Bloom, both of Tiro, were killed at 11:30, a. m., the same day on Plymouth street at Bucyrus while crossing the T. & O. C. track in a sleigh. The news, after further inquiry, proved only too true, and their homes which they left bright and cheerful, hale and hearty in the morning turned to be homes of mourning and sorrow at night.
The yard engine with three gondolas attached had gone north and was returning at a rapid rate of speed, the gondolas preceding the engine, when the fatal accident occurred at the crossing. The gondola farthest from the engine struck the sleigh and reduced that vehicle to a mass of ruins as well as inflicting the fatal injuries to its occupants.
Mr. Callin was thrown a distance of about 60 feet, sustaining a dislocated neck, four or five broken ribs together with other injuries. His pulse beat for a short time after the crash but life was soon extinct. On his person were found $400, and a gold watch.
Mr. Bloom was thrown on the cattle guard and sustained a dislocated neck and hip, a broken back, broken legs and inferior maxillary crushed. Death resulted instantaneously. A watch chain was found on his person but the watch could nowhere be found. The horses which were hitched to the sleigh were unhurt.
Coroner Thoman held an inquest in which testimony was given by various parties who witnessed the awful accident. After the inquest the remains were taken in charge by an undertaker and after proper preparation were sent to the respective homes of the deceased parties at Tiro; arriving at that place at about 10 p. m.
Mr. Callin leaves a wife and four small children to mourn his sudden departure. He was for a number of years a successful and one of the most prominent business men at Tiro.
Mr. Bloom leaves a wife in sorrow and affliction. He formerly was a citizen of this place and was well known by many at this place. He was at one time, brakeman on the N. W. O. but of late years was in the livery business at Tiro. Funeral services were held at Tiro; this Friday afternoon at 1 o’clock.
AN AWFUL AFFAIR
Martin L. Callan and Jacob F. Bloom Instantly Killed
On the T. & O. C. Road at Plymouth Street CrossingThe Two Bodies Transferred to Tiro.
One of the most harrowing railroad accidents which ever occurred in this city took place at 11:30 Wednesday, where the railroad crosses Plymouth street in the northeast part of the city.
Two young business men of Tiro, Martin L. Callan and Jacob F. Bloom were driving to the city in a two horse sleigh, when the T. & O. C. yard engine having a little before crossed the street, going northward, was now backing down at a rather rapid rate of speed with a box car and two gondolas attached. The view from the street, of trains north of that point is pretty thoroughly obscured, and so evidently the situation was not understood by the men in the sleigh, and just as the horses cleared the track the gondola farthest from the engine struck the sleigh with a fearful crash shivering it to pieces and instantly killing both men, the body of Callan being thrown over an embankment a distance of about fifty feet.
An examination of the bodies was made with the remarkable result of finding the necks of both dislocated. Callan had a severe contusion and abrasion of the left temple. Bloom’s scalp was cut about the ear and both legs broken, the shoe being stripped from one foot.
On the body of Callan was found over $400 in money, a gold watch, fine ring, besides notes and other papers.
In Bloom’s vest was found a watch-chain, but the watch, if he had one was lost.
By actual measurement the body of Callan was found forty-eight feet from the track, and in passing over a fence must have been pitched at least nine feet higher than the track. The body of Bloom was not carried so far but was thrown against the timbers of the cattle guard with such force as to break the strong railing. What is remarkable is that on neither one was the clothing much disarranged, and there was no serious disfigurement of the countenance of either. The horses also were caught and taken care of without showing special marks of injury.
During the afternoon the coroner received a message to have the bodies sent to their friends at Tiro, and in the evening three young men, W. H. Jeffrey, Jesse Dix and D. W. Rodabaugh arrived to accompany them. Accordingly after encasing the remains in coffins and rough boxes, J. P. Wise started on the dreary trip between nine and ten o’clock at night.
From Mr. Jeffrey it was learned that Callan was about 35. He was the principal in the dry goods and grocery firm of M. L. Callan & Co., the partner being Joseph Roerich. He was also in the stock business, and at the time of his death was on his way to Oceola to buy horses. He leaves a wife and four children. Bloom was about 31, he leaves a wife but no children.
The coroner, today, filled his report of the cases with the Probate Court, including condition of the bodies, testimony of witnesses and inventory of the effects.
Additional Particulars:
Mr. Mat Coulter was at Tiro when the sad news of the terrible deaths of M. L. Callan and J. Bloom arrived. He says he met the two victims about two miles from Bucyrus on the Annapolis Road and that they were driving along steadly. When the news arrived at Tiro there was an intense excitment. He described it as “the town was in a regular uproar” and well it might be, for both of the young men were popular and Callan was a leading business man. He leaves a wife and four children. Bloom fortunately has no children. When his brother heard the news he was nearly distracted. The Messrs. Wise took the bodies to Tiro last evening. J. P. Wise returned at noon, and speaking of the excitement, says scarcely anybody in the village slept last night.
The remains of Callan will be taken to Olivesburg in Ashland County, tomorrow at 8 a. m. where funeral services and burial will take place among the friends of his former home. Funeral services over the remains of Bloom will be held at the Lutheran church of Tiro; tomorrow at 1 p. m., after which the burial will take place in Oakwood Cemetery, near by.
FUNERAL SERMON.
Preached by Rev. T. M. Knox,At the Burial of Jacob Bloom,
Killed by the Cars at Bucyrus,February 13, 1889.
(A poetic but rather lengthy sermon was quoted here, but due to space constraints, is not included here. Should anyone wish a copy of it, please contact freiter@yahoo.com)
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