Ashtabula River Railroad Disaster - Aftermath

Aftermath

The crash was heard in the town and the alarm was raised. By the time the townspeople reached the bridge the wounded passengers had made their way to the shore and the fire was burning fiercely. When the Ashtabula Fire Brigade arrived, the immediate instructions from railroad employees were to get the wounded out and to clear a pathway up the side of the ravine. After this no water is put onto the fire, even after there are reports of living still in the wreck.

The survivors were led, carried and conveyed on sleds to hotels and private houses in the town, there being no hospital. However, people assisting also stole money and valuables from the survivors and dead, $1500 (about 33 thousand dollars today) being returned following investigation by detectives and after the Mayor had made a proclamation. The dead were moved the following morning. The railroad bridge was re-built with temporary underpinning.