115 Years Ago, 1910 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“Two killed on Erie grade crossing. John A. Kraft meets instant death Sunday evening at Valley Street and Mrs. Carl Weber dies a few hours after accident from her injuries. Coming from church. Party of five were on the crossing but three miraculously escape death….

“Death claimed frightful toll at the Valley Street grade crossing Sunday evening at 5:15 o’clock when Erie passenger train No. 7, running an hour late, plunged out of the dusk and crashed into five people on their way home from church. One man was instantly killed, a woman was so badly injured that she died early Monday morning, another woman was painfully bruised, and [two] of the party miraculously escaped unhurt.

“The Victims – John A. Kraft, aged 50, residing in Parker Street, instantly killed. Taken to Handel’s morgue.

“Mrs. Carl Weber, aged 47, residing in Parker Street, fatally injured. She was taken home where she died Monday morning at 3 o’clock.

“Mrs. John A. Kraft, injured about the right arm.

“Mr. and Mrs. John A. Kraft, Albert Koch, Mrs. Edmund Weber and Mrs. Carl Weber, all living in Parker Street, were on their way home from the Sunday afternoon meeting at St. Joseph’s Church when they were run down. At the Valley Street crossing they found the gates lowered and a yard engine going east. When the gates raised the victims started across the maze of tracks. Mr. and Mrs. John Kraft and Mrs. Carl Weber were walking in front, while Mr. Koch and Mrs. Edmund Weber were following. They thought the tracks were safe as the gates were up.

“According to the survivors of the terrible accident, when Mr. and Mrs. Kraft and Mrs. Carl Weber were on the west bound Erie track, Erie train No. 7 running an hour late with no headlight or other lighted danger signal, tore out of the enveloping dusk. Mrs. Kraft looked up in time to see the outlines of the big engine bearing down upon them. Fright for a moment paralyzed her voice and seemed to deaden her senses. With a mighty effort she screamed a warning and grabbed her husband by the arm to drag him from the track. The pilot of the speeding locomotive tore the husband from his wife’s grasp and dealt him a terrible blow, instantly killing the unfortunate man. His body, hurling through the air, struck Mrs. Carl Weber and knocked her from the track and away from the wheels of the train.

“Train did not stop – With a weird shriek and a hiss of exhausting steam the train swept down the tracks and was soon lost to view…. Father Klute of St. Joseph’s Church was called to administer the last rites of the church to the dying woman. Orr’s and King’s ambulances were summoned. Mrs. Weber, still conscious, refused to go to the hospital, and was taken to her home in Parker Street. Mr. Kraft’s body was removed to Handel’s morgue to be prepared for burial….

“At the local offices of the Erie it was stated Monday morning that Sunday afternoon’s accident was being investigated….

“When informed that the surviving members of the party claimed the engine was running without a headlight burning or any other danger signals displayed the Erie officials claimed they had proof the headlight was burning and the guard gates were down….

“Funeral services for the late John A. Kraft will be held from St. Joseph’s Church Wednesday morning at 8:30 o’clock. Services for Mrs. Carl Weber will take place at the same church an hour later.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.