South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-10-15

road was left at our office by friend who
it win be seen was witness of the pain
full scene which he describes.
FAIRvIRw, Sunday, about o. clock.
This afternoon, as the train for Lam
caster was approaching Fairyiew, the
axle of the forward car, or car next to
the baggage broke, which Immediately
preeipi,ated the body Of the car upon
the railway, the fragments of the axle
ripping up the bottom of the car in
which was Mr.. Gibson of Philadel-
phia, bound to Cincianati with his wife
and children. His wife and child fell
through and nearly the whole train
passed over her body. / cannot pic
ture TO you the heart rending scene that
ensued when Mr.. Gibson was called to
the spot where his wife lay naugled
corpse, with the child, about 8 months
old,by her side, covered with the blood
Of its decd mother. The top OF her
head was cut off, and the brains on
both sides the rail, the body, feet, arms
and legs broken to atoms. Heavens
what a sight the distracted mar ten
Derby dragging from the spot the re-
mains Of his Julia calling upon her 10
frantic ordinations; but she coald on
y answer by an expiring look Of ago
ny. He next picked up his babe, and
believing it too was dead, ran around
among the crowd imploring assistance,
when it was impossible to afford him
the lsast consolation. The child was
miraculously preserved. / was next
called to witness another scene which
beggars description.
A black man, who had vainly at
tempted to leap from the cor when the
accident took place, fell upon the
ground, & the ear running off the track
upon the side he jumped, the wheels
passed over both his legs and cut them
off in the most shocking manner, grin
ding the dirt and clothing into the
mangled flesh. He lay writhing in the
mos. exeruciating agony, under the
body Of one Of the ears, until enough Of
assistance could be rendered to raise
the car off bin. He will not, it is be-
lieved, survive.
9 A gentleman in the forward ear had
his left arm broken, 81 breast much in
jured, but i. is possible he will recover.
The train was propelled at the rate
Of Is 10 IL miles per hour at the time
Of the accident, and ran not more than
the length Of the train, or so yards, ere
it brought up.
] was with my family ip the next car
to the ono in which Mr.. Gibson was in,
and the fragments over which we
passed, tore up the bottom without any |
injury to any Of its passengers. 1t was
a miracle that we sscaped-one OF cur !
wheels was spokelsss, nothing but the
naked rim was left to give assurance it
ever was rail road wheel. Even the
rails, for a considerable distance, were
TORN from their fastnings, and some
were broken.
This seems to be one of those aeei.
1ants against which it 10 difficult TO
guard, unless by some new arrange
nent of the wheels and axIes Of the
ears, or perhaps by thicker flooring
% the cars.
1t is mentioned to us that the engine
md one car was Immediately despatch
I'd to Lancaster city for medical or
'urgical aid for the sufferers, and tina.
before 1t returned, the cars were set in
ln the hope of conveying the woun-
led towards medical aid they had gone
Q a short turn, when the locomotive
:ame sweeping round, and was not
shocked until il came 10 contact with
he cars and did mnch injury.
For the Intelligencer.