The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-03

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF TUE Loss OF LIFE ANT


the late disaster the Erie Railroad near Lacka-
wsxen yesterday despatched reporter the spot,
in order 20 learn the true of the affair Many of
the principal facts correct but the particulars as
heretofore published are incorrect. The following
statement may be relied having been received fro
the actors the scene the of the property de-
stroyed, and the superintendent OF the abroad.
On Wednesday, at about fifteen minutes past one
O'Clock, p. NJ, the freight train down came 70 the
bridge Hurburt's Brookan insignificant stream
let about three miles above Laekawaxen The brook
and ravipe through which it bridged over by
an iron bridge OF sixty.rne feet span and elevated
about twenty Eve feet above the water The train was
frsghttd as follows
Beet cattle belonging to James Gilchrist of Bruins
wick, Ohio, 1l3,
Sheep belonging to Joseph Bryant of Marion coun-
ty, Ohio, 2s6; hogs belonging to the same 265.
Sheep belonging toA. 3 Dickinson, OF uornby, (near
Corning) New York, 100.
Accompany ing the live stock the owners above
named, and Alanson Graham, 7. Campbell Clapp, and
Mr.. Randall, their assistants, (drovers)
Belonging TO the train, the engineer, his assist
ant, and several brakemen. There were seventeen
besides the engine and tender At the time the
train approached the bridge, it going at an ord
nary rate but the engine had but just got fairly OFF the
solid track, when the engineer heard crack and tlt
something giving way, whereupon he put on all the
steam possible, and succeeded in getting the engine
which a very powerful upon the other sidei
but just he had cleared the bridge il went down with
a crash, carrying the tender with II the cars fol
lowing, tumbed into the abyss one after another
until fifteen OF them, with their contents, we're
piled up in the gap The engineer and his assistant
saved themselves by jumping of on either side of
the engine Their brakeman whose name was Patrick
Tice, went down and was buried among the cattle aud
broken cars Mr. Clapp, promising yoang man about
10 years of age, and nephew of Alexander Campbell
the leader Of the religious sect known Csmpbetes
ALTO went down with them. and instantly killed. by
the disocaton of the vertebra of the neck. Randall
drover, Mr.. Dickinson's assistant was also pre-
cpitated with the the abutment. Mr..
Gilchrist and his assistant Mr. Graham, were on
the sixteenth car. and discovered that something
wrong in time to save themselves by leap
ing off. They escaped without any, but slight
injury. MT Bryant had stepped of the car short
time before while it going at slow rate but
unable to get again. and lamentins his fate at
being left behind This, however, probably saved his
life he would, in all probability, have been with
Mr.. Clapp, had he reeained his place.
The scene just after the accident ad occurred is
described by those who witnessed it, as being piteous
in the extreme, and horrible to behold. There
hundred noble wrthing in tortures, and
making the whole active by their thrOes made
In the vain endeayor to extrica:e themselves Some
with their horns broken of, some with their backs
broken, and some only held fast by masses Of the
ruin being piled upon their limbs Their cries are
represented AS having been at the same time heart
rending and hideous. Some. mad with pain their eyes
starting their sockets with rage seemed bent
wreakipg vengeance whatever object was nearest TO
them Others tubdued by their sufferings, mozned
and seemed to impors release. The sheep simply
| bleated, and the few of them that happened To
escape went quietly to nibbling grass ~ the road
side Quite differently the swine. They were
belligerent and those beneath the ruins fought
lNxffb aarh oil ar lOny IA lsft
them, while the more lucky ones that escaped made
for the woods II flying from some impendng danger
A. soon a the momentary panic had subsided the
men who had escaped injury set to work TO relieve
their companions II soon ascsrtained that Ran
and we're both alive and by dee pairing Soon
Randalls voice heard lie called out for water and
waved his hand, which was at length seen. linen
with water and pat into his
hand III withdrew his hand exhausted the moisture,
and returned the handk to sight again IL was
new found thsta powerful OK foaming with rage and
throwing his head around In agony would prevent
the men from working In the i%nedia,e vicinity;
/ II was necessary 70 shoot him TO prevent his
doing Isehisf The OK wa. therefore shot
he caused the death OF Randall Il subsequently
| The sapae OK lay partly across Tice the brakeman
both were dead when extricated. Randall was about
Thirty i've years Of age and leaves n wife and four
! children His body was cohined. aud sent 20 his
friends in the Western part Of this state Tice II IL
thought married; he lived near Port Jervis,
and HE bosy was also conveyed TO his friends. Me
Bryant saw that every possible attention was paid TO
nov In q.iet and beautiful little churchyard near
the scene Of The accidtn mt
! Mr. Hstch the conductor, is somswhat bruised but
by 10 m'sus sriously hart His assistant could not
have be- much injured for he was engaged yesteriAy
| in cleaning the iron work 9f TIE engine
About rs head Of cattle 15O hogs asd lb7 sheep have
been saved and viii probably soon be In marketable
condition. As soon as possible locomotive was
brought to the spot and by means OF ropes made fast
20 g. the cattle drawn out Of the Tavine Men
were Immediately set TO work sknning the dead ones
and securing the taow. They had disPoscd OF 81 IN
this way whtn the stencil became ntolsrsbls and IL
Was found necessary TO cast the rema inder into
trench dug for the purpose aud to cover them with
II impossible to estimate tho loss at present. The
/ engine h somewhat injured; The tender nearly or
quite ruined and for the other the woed work
Of tue nus,n that vent down Is not worth carrying
from the ,pot The trucks will be saved, more or less
injured The cattle we're very handsome ones; have
been shout two years preparing for this market. Mr.
Glebrist thinks they were worth SCI 80 each The
Probably the current market price would be safe
criterion by which 20 judge In addition to the value
named ~ slO COO but the superintendent said Il
impossible 20 tell yet. what the amount of damage
should be estimated Ne can imagine what caused
The bridge to give way 10 was Inspected only last /
week and pronounced perfectly safe There are but
tuo other iron bridges ca the road and these are 4
small ones TIE Railroad Company have already set
hands % build wooden supports 70 them. Men are at
work day and night In building temporary bridge /
Which the trains pass until permanent I
work be erected The trinteud Of the work
said would be done hy twelve o'clock last night.
The facts contained Ia The above statement may be 4
relied they were cleaned On the spot from the l
persons Who escaped only with their lives, and IRON
other eve witnesses.
Randall behaved coolly aud bravsy while he lived. /
lie dd not dsspair but converted well he could.
At one time, when HE friends cutting With \
axe he teid be carsfal men. don't chop my head n
you're cutting too near ny head lie DID not muir
muir grow pcevish. Ticc. the brakeman. also de-
ported hinseli maniully His was broken but /
he kept up coed spirits long his strength rrm.in-
cd. They did about three o'clock but Their bodies /
not released till eleven
one fact relative 70 this snair ought 20 be mention.
ed. Whsn the catastrophe took place. two men we're
al hand grinding ssythe and requested TO
lend hand IN helping 90 oxtricats two fellow crca-
lures. Who only needed prompt relief 90 save their
lives bot the scythe grinders kept AZ their work,
and vhtn they had accomplished What they about
walked OF 20 hay teli and resumed mowinH while 4
they left strangers 20 procure help best they could
Such conduct Is u Is aendish
Police Intelligence.