Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-18

Shocking Rail Road Accmem.-The Phila-
delphia U. S. Gazette says The following
account of a most painful accident on the Col.
umbia Rail Road was left at our office by
friend, who it will be seen was a witness of the
painful scene which he describes.
FAIRvIEw, Sunday, about 8 o'clock.
This afternoon, as the train for Lancaster
was approaching Fairview, the axle of the for
ward car, or ca next to the baggage broke,
Which Immediately precipitated the car upon
the railway, the fragments of the axle ripping
up the bottom q the car, in which was MIR.
Gibson OF Philadelphia, bound to Cincinnati
with his wife and children. His wife and
child fell through and nearly the whole train
passed over her body. cannot picture to
you the heart-renhing scene that ensued when
Mr.. Gibson was called to the spot where his
wife lay a mangled corpse, with the child,
about l8 months old, by her side covered with
the blood of its dead mother. The top of her
head was cut eff, and the brains on both side
the rail the body, feet, arms and legs broken
to atoms. Heavens what sight the dis
tracted man tenderly dragging from the spot
the remains of his Julia called upon her in
frantic exclamations but she could only an
swer by expiring look Of agony. He next pick
ed up his babe, and believing it too was dead,
ran around the crowd imploring assistance,
when it was impossible to afford him the least
consolation. The child was miraculously pre-
served. | was next called to witness another
scene which beggars description.
A black man, who had vainly attempted to leap
from the car when the accident took place fell
upon the ground and the car running offth side
he Jumped, the wheels passed over both his legs
and cut them off in the most shocking manner
grinding the dirt and clothing into the man
gled flesh. He lay writhing in the most ex-
cruciating agony, under the body OF one OF the
cars, until enough of assistance could be rem
dered to raise the car off him. He will not
it is believed survive.
A gentleman in the forward car had his lett
arm broken, and breast much injured, but it ls
possible he will recover.
The train was propelled at the rate of ID to
lS miles per hour at the time of the accident,
and ran not more than the length OF the tram,
or 80 yards ere it brought up.
Twas with my family in the next car to the
one in which Mr.. Gibson was in, and the frag-
ments over which we passed, tore up the bot
tom without injury to its passengers. 1t was
a miracle that we escaped-one Of our wheels
was spokeless. nothing but the naked rim was
left to give assurance it ever was rail road
wheel. Even the rail, of considerable dis
tance, were torn from their fastenings, and
some broken"
This seems to be- one of those accidents
against which it is difficult to guard, unless by
some new arrangement of the wheels and axles
of the cars, or perhaps by athicker flooring OF
the cars.
1t is mentioned to US that the engine and
one car was Immediately dispatched to Lam
caster city for medical or surgical aid for the
sufferers, and that before it returned the cars
were set in motion.
In the hope of conveying the wounded. to-
wards medical aid they had gone to short
turn, when the locomotive came sweeping
round, and was not checked until it came in
contact with the cars and did considerable In
Jury.