Details of Railway Accidents in the Ottawa Area

A terrible collision with loss of life occurred three miles east of Smiths Falls between three and four o'clock Tuesday morning.  As near as can be learned it occurred in this way.  A freight was going west, followed by an engine running light, which, in turn, was followed at the normal distance by another freight train.  A number of cars broke loose from the first train, and, after some delay, were picked up by the light engine, and ere warning could be given the rear train came round a curve in the road and dashed at full speed into the light engine and runaway cars doing great damage to both engines and telescoping the cars, which then took fire and several were totally consumed.  The driver, Charlie Sims and the Fireman, William Wilson, both of Carleton Place, and both on the rear train were killed.  An auxiliary train from Smiths Falls with doctor McCallum, CPR surgeon was soon on the spot.  Sims was dead before his arrival, but his body was so caught in the wreck that it could not be got out.  Wilson was taken to Smiths Falls but was so badly hurt that he dies a few minutes after his arrival there.  
It is understood that an inquest will be held at once.  Superintendent Leonard happened to be at Smiths Falls and visited the wreck on the auxilliary train.
The 3.45 train for Montreal proceeded by way of Ottawa.  The local for Montreal was delayed three or four hours while the line was being cleared of the wreck.
Also reported in the Citizen of 1 March 1898.