Philip Bliss should be a familiar name to Christians today, because our hymnals are filled with his songs. He was raised in a farm home where the Word of God was respected and music filled the evenings. In his twelve year, he was converted and joined the Baptist church at Tioga, Pennsylvania. After the War between the States, he and his talented wife moved to Chicago where they opened a music publishing business. It was there he met D.L. Moody, who persuaded him to leave the business world and assist him in evangelism. It was at that point he helped to fill gospel churches with gospel songs.
Sadly that ministry was cut short on this day in 1876. Philip and his wife were returning to Chicago by train from Pennsylvania, after spending time with his mother and sister. In the will of God, a bridge collapsed near Ashtabula, Oho, and the train on which they were riding plunged into a ravine sixty feet below. Several of the cars were crushed and began to burn. Philip survived the crash and crawled out a window, but his wife was still inside. When he returned to rescue her, they died together in the smoke and flames.
– Source: This Day in Baptist History II, Cummins and Thompson