The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-27
serious railroad Aecident-Narrow Escape.

Serious Railroad Accident-Narrow Escape,
serious railroad accident occurred on the Co
lubia and Philadelphia abroad at about halfpas
II O'Clock Friday aitesnoon.
The Columbia and Philadolphia-the trunk line
Of railroad west from delphia-is owned by
the State OF Pennsylvania, different companies of
persons leasing from the State the privilege OF
ming trains of cars overit
When a mile two below Paoli, and upon "A
very sharp bend, shaded by trees that only few
rods OF the track could be seen the tender wheels of
one OF the trains again got OIL the thrack and the
last train having gained considerably upon the
other, ran upon 1t before sufficient warning could
be given TO the engineer, using terrible havoc
with the cars, and placing the lives of the passen-
gers IN imminent jeopardy
The slow train consisted of three passenger cars
only. The first (next to the tender) was full of
passengers, nearly all of whom were ladies and
children. The second contained some half dozen
gentlemen only and in the last were Thomas Ry-
land of Attention, Pa, his son, aged about twenty
four, and daughter, aged nine years; Cyrus Smith
and wife, (colored) OF Coatsvile, and two three
other gentlemen.
When the tender W heels ran of the track the en-
gineer shut OIL steam and nearly stopped the train
The conductor, Paul Hamilton, appreciating the
danger, meantime fastened forward and called to
him to keep on while he stopped the train behind
them The engineer seemed confused, and said
he could not Hamilton cried out "By God, pou
| musE' and at the same time jumped of and ran
back waving his handkerchief The engineer i'm
| medately recovered himself and put on all steam,
the tender,wh tearing up the earth as they were
dragged along.
Hamilton had scarcely reached the end of his
train, which at this time again in motion at
the rate of six or seven miles per hour, when the
fast-train came along at the rate of twenty five
| miles an hour, or more. The engineer very
promptly reversed his engine seeing Hamilton's
signal, and by that and the motion attained
by the first train, an awful sacrifice of life
avoided
The locomotive ran its length into the rear car
of the slow train, tearing to atoms the PLATFORM
bulkhead, floor, and seats in its way, ami by the
conclusion jammed that several feet into the
one forward of it, breaking up both the platforms
and heaving them together 50 closely as to make
them appear like single carriage That in
turn was jammed into the one forward Of it, break
ing off both platforms and breaking both bulk
heads
behind them, and the moment the tender wheels
got oil the track most Of them ran forward or
jumped out upon the ground. The colored man
and his wife alone did not under the cause of
alarm, and remained in their seats about the mid
die OF the car, having but moment two before
left the extreme back seats in exchange for those
a circumstance which undoubtedly saved their
lives.
Mr.. Ryand's son seized his sister, and also start
cd TO run forward, but only got about two thirds
the length OF the car when he the engine lust
striking Holding his sister above the seats thew
both escaped with some slight bruises-the girl,
however, iainting from fright on being taken out.
The most surprising escape was that of Mr.. b. A.
Hopes, OF Summer street, Philadelphia. He was
at the back end OF the forward car, of the first or
slow train and perceiving the accident to the ten
der wheels and hearing Hamilton call out that the
first train would be upon them, he started out of
the door intending to jump off the train He re-
| mcnbercd going through the door, and next being
| picked up from the ground. What happened to
| HIM meantime he could not tell, but from exami-
nation, it appeared that in the collision the platform
Upon which he stood, and the one the next car,
had been crushed upwards with great violence and
| thus thrown him TO the ground, before the cars
| touched each other.
| The colored and his wife had their knees
| somewhat bruised, but otherwise escaped unhurt.
MIR. j. A. Cunning CHAM, the agent ON the fast train,
and remained standing upon il until the instant of
collision. 1t was then TOO late to get inside the
for safety, and he jumped to the ground catching
his foot as he struck, and falling upon his head.
lie received some bad flesh wounds upon his face,
and one knee little bruised, but he was not
seriously injured.
After the accident, the forward car of the slow
train filled to It's utmost capacity with passen-
| gers, and proceeded to Philadelphia.