Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-07

s,;II remaining with me In the same apartment VI
the car. AID how we all got out, coufu not
afterwards recullect. The escaping steam prov
ed TO come from the safety valve, and OF course
gave US nothing more than very-,ery NOT oa''i.
The forward car, next the engine, was drawn al
ter il. and thrown over with all ITS passengers
The next plunged into it, aud stove II bark IN
pieces. And each car run against ITS Predeces-
sor in the same manner, making more or Tess
spIinters, until all were brought up at rest, anu
heuan to disembogue their occupants, each actu'
ated by the impulse of self-preservation. Soon
however. thew began to help one another. and to
Inok after the killed and wounded Alter seeing
INV own APARTMENT cleared of its tenants, ran
around in front of the circe-(fur the wreck now
made a circe.) and the first thing which attract
cd INV attention was the dragging out OF the En-
eineer, who Law buried under the Englne--the
machine having turned bottom upwards The
moment lie was drawn out.he stood upon has lee.
but his face and head frghtfully 'lsfiSu'ed WIT.
blood aud dust. Some one Immediately g'asPeo
his hand, and shouk it very cordially. consraiu-
latinp him for his life preserved. He was car
ried away. and have not heard from him since.
and therefore cannot tell how much he was injur-
ed. Through the exceeding mercy OF God, n"
other person was hurt, worthy OF notice, SD lar
| as have learned. Twoor three trains soon az.
rived from opposite directions, and were Obliged
to stop, as our wreck covered the whole way
Men, women, and children of the peasantry came
pouring in from the adjoining farms, as they wit
messed our misfortune. And by the help OF all,
we soon threw of from the ways our disabled cars
found three of them in a condition to be USE.
in onr necessities, although not sound--borrowed
an engine, which happened along, ma having
packed in again, thick enough indeed, proceeded
to Manchester, and arrived only two hours after
the regular time.
What was the occasion Of this misfortune.
have not learned-nor was it possible, in the con-
fusion of the hour. to ascertain If the engineer
should live, he, perhaps can tell, il his interest
will permit him to BE- honest Before this accident
occurred, l rode upon the railway with very
comfortable sense Of safety. But from that place
to Manchester, must confess my nerves were
not sufficiently composed to enjoy 1.-THE less so,
perhaps, from deep conviction that our ears. at
ter the shock and injury they had received, were
unfit for use--especal'y, that It was exceedingly
presumptuols The thought of such an arrest is
friehtiul-even terrible. II the bank had been
hsh, as IN many places it is thirty and forty feet,
and in some instances far terrific still. the
whole train must inevitably have plunged full
speed, and every thing, aud all, dashed to pieces
below. There would scarcely have been chance
for single life. As it was, the bank was about
six feet in elevation, and Of easy descent. The
engine plunged into the sand, and was instantly
turned bottom up. by the pressure of the train,
and the connexon between. God, IN mercy pre-
vented, that it should be no worse. But for
this accident. [ could look upon those trains
in progress, with great zest. But the charm to
me is gone. When see them now under their
greatest velocity, shudder at the sight. 1t is
to be observed, that the velocity of these trains.
in the course of a trip through, is variable: some
times quite slew, and then agar dart ing forward
with amazing rapidly, as in froIIc-or TO make
up for last time.
The rate of progress for the first class, in or
der to accomplish their routein the allotted time,
an hour and half, must average little more
than twenty miles an hour. The extreme rate is
often, in the same trip, more than thirty miles
the hour. 1t may be recollected that the whole
distance of thirtytwo miles has been run in fifty
seven minutes. That accidents of caamitous
character will sometimes occur, in these flying
voyages, is to be expected They are generally,
however, hushed up by the powerful influence of
the company-the presses of Liverpool and Man
chester participating in the local spirit. | am
crepiby informed, that more than thirty-Iives
have already been sacrificed on this railway
And it is understood, that If the accident of to-
|
verpool and Manchester, the world will never
know its true character by that medium. An &C.
quaIntance of mine has come from Liverpool this
afternoon By the railway, without having heard
any thing of this affair. till Imet him. When
fiuskissOn falls victim, all the world knows il !;
but when poor man perishes, his name is never
mentioned.
For myself know not when shall be persuad,
ed to launch upon railway again in these flying
vehicles. To have escaped from the verge of
death, very naturally sets one upon calculation
of the chances of such exposures. The slight
est obstacie-a pebble stone, no bigger than
hens egg, is adequate to throw an engine from
its track, when under full speed. The failure of
any part OF the complicated machnery-a not
frequent occurrence with steam engiues--is CON-
petent, in these locomotives. to the production Of
frgh'fuI disaster. The occasional beedlessness
of some one Of the many employed upon these
ways, may produce the same caIainituus results.
And we all know. that custom. in peril inspires
presumption. And while do not withdraw NV
congratulations for the advantages of steam to the
purposes of life do We: soleinoy declare n v oni