This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: wrgasfireside Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.venango/6443.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The book CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP YESTERDAY AND TODAY published by Pennsylvania Record Press of Rimersburg, Pa. in 1976 has the following on page 146; "The Ride to Death A short line railroad which ran from the coal mines to South Oil City, had been sold by the Cranberry Coal Mine Company to the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On August 4, 1882, a locomotive and 17 cars of coal started from the Cranberry Township mines under the command of Geo. Wright as engineer, David Morgan as conductor, and B. McLain as fireman. Morgan was on the car next to the engine, young Aiken and young Latshaw were about midway on the train, and the balance of the men were on the last car. The train started out slowly and the men took care of the brakes, seeing that they were in good shape, as the down grade was very steep and the train very heavy. The long grade began near the Cranberry Mine and the long train picked up speed at once, and soon all control was lost until it attained a frightful velocity. The force of the cars was plain as trees and earth were torn up as if by an earthquake, and the cars seemed to have jumped thirty or forty ! feet. Two men were killed outright here, and two more died later. The rushing train continued on down the track and in many places the ties were moved several inches from former positions, so great was the strain upon the steel rails. At this time a young rider, Latshaw, was thrown and killed. As the train sped on the engineer, Wright, firemain, McLain, and a young boy by the name of Aiken. a rider, jumped and were showered with coal and debris. One survivor was interviewed the next day after the ill-fated ride, and told how the entire train left the tracks and piled up. He told that there was no idea of any mal-function of the train brakes as it set out from Cranberry, but within the few minutes that it gained the terrific speed, until the rate was 80 miles per hour. When the final crash came the engine ran into the ground and stood almost upon end. Fragments of the cars were scattered far and wide, track was torn up and the crew and riders thrown in all directions, along ! with the coal. RObert McGinty, Charley Gannon, Conductor Morgan, Donal d Mehring were killed outright, and in all eleven men died within a short length of time. The scene of the disaster was one of grief and distress, as wives and parents gathered to learn the fate of their loved ones and Mrs. McCullock, Davis and Jackson tried to relieve the suffering of the dying. The railroad was abandoned, as natural gas came into use and the demand for coal was not sufficient to justify rebuilding the railroad." In another part of this book it mentions that the coal mines were located near the head of Sage Run and the railroad tracks followed Sage Run into Oil City. As for the Great Cranberry Fire and Flood, I think this is actually the Great Oil City Fire and Flood which happened in the late 1800's when Oil City was flooded causing the ruture of huge wooden storage tanks to spill their flammable petroleum products onto the top of the floodwaters. The resulting mess caught fire and burned the town down to the waterline. Many lives were lost in the fire and flood. I'm sorry I don't have anything handy give you the eact date but there should be something available on line about it. Two Oil City newspapers (The Derrick and also the Blizzard)are available on line at Ancestry.com and may been of help in researching these events. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.