Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-08-12
The Camden and AmbOy Railroad Acct
cident-AddifionnI PnrffcnIars

tAis awful CdtdslOpu6s NhiChs ithS ulb6i(-Hlu6
out of hundred similar occurrences, can be at
tributed only to the grossest careessness and will
ful neglect of the ordinary rules of safety, by run
ming trains ont oftlme upon a single track.
The writer of this account was in the Phadel-
! phia train, which left Camden some minutes af.
ter nine, aud ran with great speed and regularity,
and apparently under excellent management, un-
| til we reached the station few miles from Old
bridge Here the train was stopped the time re-
qured by the schedule for the passage of the train
| due from Amboy. The train not arriving we
finally moved on slowly and cautiously, repeated
ly whlstilng, until within few hundred yards
OF Oldbrldge, where there is a sharp curve in the
road.
Tn reaching this point, the whistle of the ap-
preaching train from Amboy was heard when the
engine was reversed, and the train from Camden
brought almost TO a stand A number of the pas
sengers, whose attention had been attracted by
the signals, observed the Amboy train approaching
at the rate of 20 miles an hour, and the break
men and engineers jumping from both trans-
Those OF the passengers near the doors also Jump
ed, and the passengers generally braced them.
selves up to meet the collision in the best posi-
bic manner
The train from Camden consisted of FIVE mas
senger cars, in front of which were two cars heav-
lily loaded with baggage, which, together with
the fact that the speed of the train had been
J checked, doubtless prevented a more serious re-
suit was in the first car of the Camden train,
and Immediately jumped from my seat towards
the center of the car, holding on to the arms of
the seats to steady myself and watch the result,
expecting the first effect OF the collision on the
front part of the car. ] had scarcely moved three
feet along the passage way between the seats
| when heard the crash of the rear part of The
| oar ;ob al. -.
car commenced to fly from under my feet, and
the arms of the seats which my hands were
resting began to fall to pieces.
In one third of The time that am describing
| 1t, the whole CAR, one of the most beautiful that
| ever Travelled In, was mass of ruins, with
portion of the freight of which fell on the track
before the train had ceased its motion. MIR first
| feeling after the ruins ceased to move beng
! that OF establishment and thankluIness at my mi
raculous escape, with only few trlhing bruises,
which in the excitement of assisting to rescue nv
fellow passengers from the wreck, did not feel
or know that had sustained for some hours after
The only persons injured in the wreck in this car
was Mr.. Ii. c. Carey, of Philadelphia, and
lady, who we succeeded i'll rescuing from per-
llous position, almost damned up TO the roof of
the front of the car, with but slight Commissions.
All of those seriously injured in this train, were
IN the second passenger car, among whom were
Rev. James Purviance and family, of Missssippi.
and P. c. Martin aud family, of Baltimore
On going for ward to the Amboy train, a most
appalling spectacle was presented, the first two
passenger cars being driven together, the rear
part of the first car passing 10 and through the
second, up TO within six feet of the bac<tloor,
which was occupied as ladies' saloon. On the
first seat beyond the ladies' saloon of the second
car was seated Mr. Duslin's servant and child
and an Irish woman, all three fwhom were
crushed down on the seat, the rear timbers of the
fist car having apparently struck them all three
| on the head, causing instant death. They SEEM
ed to have crouched down to avoid the approach
ing tlnlbers, but were unable to get below their
! reach.
On the seat directly in front of them was the
unknown man who was killed, and Mr. Dustin
and the rest OF his family were in close proximity
| How they escaped the fate oftheir Youngest child
and nurse, seemed inexpcable. Mr. Dustin.
however, exhibited the most remarkable presence
of mind and forethought, and in few minutes
succeeded in rescuing hB wife and two youngest
children, all escaping witha few cuts and bruises.
After conveying them to placeof safety, the sad
intelligence of the fate of their youngest child was
brought to them. When taken from the wreck
its forehead was black with confused blood, its
death having been instantaneous Ii was beau
uful, hearty child, about two years of age, and
the grief Gifts parents was deeply commiserated
by all present
The rear portion of the first car having shot
over the floor of the second, the passengers in the
first car were fixed to their seats IN the mass Of
the ruins of the two cars, and all were more or
less bruised. 1t required about thirty minutes of
very laborous work, including cutting away with
axes portion of the cars to rescue them, in which
| the passengers worked with unremtng exertions
The residents of Oldbridge threw open their
houses, and rushed to the assistance of the in
Jured. leaving nothing undone thai could alleviate
their suilerlngs. A messenger having been sent
to Amboy, train soon arrived with number Of
physicians, and supply of laborers TO assist in
clearing the road, and starting the relief trains
that mad arrived, with the passengers to their re-
spectve destinations.
The four dead bodies were laid on the grass in
front of d dwelling, few rods from the accident.
and so soon as the sufferers were all relieved and
rendered as comfortable as possible, there was
call for meeting of the passengers.
Tables and chairs having been procured, on mo-
ton OF Gusiar Suhrman, of Baltimore, the meet
ing was organized by the calling of Joseph Harri
son, Esq, Of Philadel phla to the chair
MIR Harrison, on taking the chair, stated that
the constant occurrence of these appalling railroad
butcheries called for the most prompt and ener-
getle action on The part of the people as well as
the dulnVIIueS. lie nad mad considerable rail-
road experience, and he was ready to affirm and
prove that there never a railroad collision for
which the slightest shadow of well grounded
cause could be given. They admit of no excuse,
ana those who cause them should be treated as
| wiu murderers. On route such as this.
Where the profits must be immense every d.
rector and stakeholder is responsible, as there
should have long since been double track laid
and telegraph lines erected, to prevent these al.
most semi weekly wholesale destruction ofhuman
1T. 1t is folly for them to say that they do not
want accldents-that they do not wish their cars
and locomotives destroyed. We at least. with
these dead bodies laying around us, will receive
no such plea. Why, sirs, the life of that infant
was of more value to its PARENTS than all the cars
ana locomotives the company own, or ever will
own.
Joseph Sender, Esq of New Jersey, also ad-
dressed the meeting, declaring it as his firm con-
vction, that nothing but the hanging up by the
neck, under the decision of Judge Lynch, Of some
score of conduciors and engineers, will put stop