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Engineer Frank Maynard Instantly Killed
and Others Injured -- Several Very
Narrow Escapes -- Both Engines Demolished.

The Erie railway, which has been so free from serious wrecks for several months, suffered disaster yesterday, and the loss of one of its oldest and best engineers, Frank Maynard. Passenger train 107 leaves Elmira at 6:50 a. m. and passenger train leaves Rochester at 8 a. m. Usually the trains pass each other at Kanona, four miles west of Bath, the Rochester division consisting of a single track. It is sometimes more convenient to have the trains pass at Avoca, four miles farther west.

Yesterday morning train 107 was in charge of Conductor John McMahon, Engineer Frank Marsh and Fireman Earnest, and train 18 was in the hands of A. H. Ketchum, Engineer Frank Maynard, and Fireman Frank Marsh, jr. Augustus Wright of Rochester ws also aboard of 107 as baggageman, and George Hall of Elmira as expressman. The expressman of train 18 was Cyrus P. Bailey of Columbia Street, this city, and Mr. Hubbell of Binghamton was the baggageman. Both trains make fast time, and at 8:25 o'clock collided when about one mile east of Avoca. The crash was a terrific one, in which both engineers were almost totally wrecked and Engineer Frank Maynard met instant death. A mistake in train orders was the cause. Engineer Marsh and Fireman Earnest Saved their lives by jumping.

Expressman Bailey had no warning whatever of the disaster. He was in the middle of the car and was thrown headforemost into the end of the car with numerous bundles and boxes. He was severely cut about the head, having two scalp wounds, and had the little finger of his right hand sprained painfully. He came to Elmira on train 108 and does not suffer severe inconvenience, being able to be about as usual, except he may not make his runs for a few days.

Mail Agent James Dutcher also had a narrow escape, saving himself by jumping from the train. The baggage car of train eighteen was badly wrecked and several passengers are reported very slightly hurt by the sudden stoppage of the train.

The view of the wreck immediately after the collision was a strange one. The two monster locomotives stood with boilers perpindicular and close together, the driving wheels wedged together, the steam escaping furiously. Both cabs were broken to pieces and both tenders penetrated their entire length the ends of the cars following.

The sad part of the disaster was the death of Engineer Maynard. The head had been entirely severed from the body. It lay by the side of the track upon the snow and was picked up tenderly by Conductor Ketchum, who ran forward as quickly as he could. It took about an hour to remove the body from the wreck, so tightly was it wedged in. The left shoulder had been crushed and the right hand still grasped tightly the lever by which the air brakes had been applied. The remains were placed upon a cot and put in a passenger car which was subsequently taken to Rochester.

The sudden stoppage of the trains sent water coolers tumbling throughout the cars and dislocated several seats. Baggageman Hubbell, when train eighteen left Avoca, went back to learn from Conductor Ketchum what the train orders were. He was in the rear end of the smoking car and at the water cooler getting a drink just as the collision occurred. He fell forward on his knees and went, he doesn't know how, the entire length of the aisle. William Gilmore had a rib broken by a fall when the collision occurred, and Express Messenger Hall had an ankle injured.

The collision was on a curve, train 107 having run about three miles from Kanona when it met the east-bound express. Train 18 was at nearly full speed, the air brakes having been applied but an instant before. Engineer Marsh had seen the other train in time to get the air brakes well set, but the speed was so great that his train had not stopped when the engines met.

Frank Marsh, jr., who was Maynard's fireman, and son of the engineer of train 107, said that he was just shoveling in some more coal when he happened to look ahead and saw the fast approaching train. He dropped his shovel in an instant, shouted to Maynard and leaped, when the locomotives seemed scarcely a car length apart. The leaps was a dangerous undertaking for all, as the trains were going so fast, but far preferable to remaining on board. It seemed that nearly all the inhabitants of Avoca gathered at the scene, and physicians of the village assisted those who were hurt, so far as possible. The locomotives are not worth much for anything except for scrap iron. Probably the cost of the accident to the Erie will about to $25,000 or more.

The track was quickly cleared by the wreckers. A cable was attached to the wrecked engines, then drawn around a tree at the side of the track and attached to a locomotives. The broken machinery and boilers were thus pulled off the track to one side. None of the cars left the track.

There is much sympathy expressed for Dispatcher Sauerbier of Avon, who it appears, was responsible for the wreck. He was a Wayland boy of bright mind, but is reported to have been working very hard of late, having extra hours. There was a little confusion on the Rochester division yesterday with train 118, which usually leaves Elmira over three hours before train 107, not leaving Elmira until 107 had gone. Train 18 received orders at Avoca to meet 107 at Bath when the order should have been to meet 118 at Bath and to remain at Avoca until 107 had passed. It is said that Dispatcher Sauerbier discovered the fatal error just after train 18 had left Avoca and endeavored to recall it, but too late. He was so affected with the realization of what must occur that he ran out of his office upon the depot platform wringing his hands and moaning in great agony of mind. When the report of the wreck and the death of the engineer reached him a few minutes later, he was inconsolable and almost insane with grief.

Coroner Sutton of Bath impaneled a jury and the fatality will be investigated by him. The jury viewed the wreck and the remains of the engineer and adjourned to meet next Tuesday.

The dead engineer, Frank Maynard, resided in Elmira for a number of years as 712 Columbia street, and was well known and warmly regarded here. In 1885 he moved to Rochester. While in Elmira he was a devout member of the First Baptist church and an active man in the Railway Y. M. C. A., being one of the first to move towards organizing the association. In Rochester he was equally active in church work and esteemed highly by railroad men and church people who were favored with his acquaintance. His pleasant disposition and kindliness of heart made his home one of the happiest, where a wife and four children are now sadly bereft. He was a modest man of earnest disposition, faithful to his trusts, and had been an engineer about thirty years. Two children by his first wife also survive him.

Mr. Maynard of brother-in-law of Mrs. Sidney Dias and Mrs. T. M. Losio of this city.

This story provided to the NRHS by Richard Maynard. Richard's great great grandfather was the Engineer involved in this wreck. Reprinted from an 1888 newspaper clipping provided to the NRHS. Original article appeared in Rochester Daily Advertiser, January 17, 1888. It is an interesting account of an event of rail history.