Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-01-15
THE LATE pEpLoRApE ACCIDENT.

THE LATE DEPLORABE ACCIDENT.
letter from the Rev. Mr.. Fuller, Of Lawrenc,
who was passenger in the cars at the time
of the accident to Gen. Pierces son. He
says;
Two incidents among the many terrible
ones, are especially present 10 my memory
On the bank sat mother, (Mrs. Stokes, OF
this city,) clasping her little boy of some 3
or years Of age he had been rescued
from the ruin which had strewn the rocks
with splintered fragments, and her own per-
son was considerably burned by the fire, but
she was shedding tears of gratitude over
her rescued child, and rejoicing in his safety
unmindful Of her own pain.
But few steps from her saw the most
appalling scene Of all. There was another
mother, whose agony passed beyond any
description. She could shed no tears, bu,
overwhelmed with grief, utter such affecting
words as never can forget. Ii was Mrs.
Pierce, the lady of the Presiden, elect ; and
iron, lay a more terrible ruin, her only son,
one minute before so beautiful, so full Of life
and hope. She was supported by her hus-
band and Prof. Packard
Gen. Pierce was himself bruised in tie
! back, but not severely, and the wounds of
the spirit far exceeded any bodily .nlleIing
yet, while deeply affected, he show ed all
| the self possession and nerve which only
| characterize. great hearted and noble men.
aud which few would manifest under SINH
lar circumstances. He gave all needful di-
still entangled in the wreck about him, and
then afforded all that comfort and sympathy
TO his partner in sorrow which was appro-
pirate 10 the time. She was conveyed 10 a
house near, and there she gave vent TO the
grief which rent her heart, while he consoI
cd aud cOniorted | may not draw the
veil from that picture. Sacred is the holy
privacy of sorrow, and the hearts of those
who have suffered can feel what my per
must describe.
Soon we were able 10 convey the woun
ded and the dead 10 the nearest house
which happened TO be that connected witt
the poor farm in Andover, where every pos
sible kindness and attention were rendered
Go with me Mi Editor to that house, an,
look with me awhile on that scene of suffer
ing and SORROW. In one room wee Gen
s Pierce ard his lady, in the opposite apart
memt lay the mortal remains of their Iiltl
boy-aud oh so sad sight The blow
by which he was instantly killed, struck hi
forehead and was so violent as 10 remov
the upper portion of his head, leaving paI
of the brain exposed The face, with th
S exception Of bruise about the right eye
$ still remained uniujured, but baihed i
blood. Gen. Pierce and lady, meanwhile
5 retired to the house Of Mr.. Akin.
In the same room was lady, Mrs. New
: ell, OF Hillsborough, considerably b,uise
: and her face cut Her liiil. daughte
y twelve years of age, lay near with her foc
., so badly injured that amputa,ion will be ne
= cessary. She bore her pains sweetly an
patiently. In another room Mr. Kiuredg'
Of PeIman, lay with his leg broken, and
Mr. Childs, Of Henniker, sat bravely VI
:, though with his face covered with blood
Others much bruised, haG gone on in III
: train, which returned for US from Lawrenc,
9 Every attention which could possibly
paid to those in ujured was given at this hou:
n where most of the wounded were carrie,
i The physicians were prompt in their Sc
>, vices, calm, kind, and, so far as one on,
, the profession can judge, iudicious.
, After the head OF The little boy had bee
tendery cared for by The physicians, and ]
possibly done 10 restore the look Of life, /
was carried by us TO the house where
Of extreme pain that child wore ; and y
there was something resigned and tend
impressed by the hand Of death. He w
" not yet cold when he was in the room
i Mr.. Atkins house, dressed jus, a. he hi
u been at the moment of the calamity. II
t. form which had left the house but lit
il more than an hour before, full Of life al
happiness, with heart full OF hope al
brigh, aspirations, was born back 10 tho
S. who had parted from him-that heart NO
al hushed aud stil--lhat form moloness, al
T. the limbs. fast growing rigid under the il
ID touch OF death.
a. The Boston Traveller SAYS
- There i. difference of opinion amo
those who were present, as 10 the cause
this dreadful disaster. One of the passe
gers informs us that in his opinion it was /
III breaking of wheel, rather than an AK
u that led TO The occurrence. The train, viii
consisted OF the locomotive, tender, and o
passenger car only, was under very RAP
H. headway end of The coupling was brok
x, and the car thrown from the track so su
er denly, that the passengers had scarcely
,r warning of the destruction that threaten
as them. The car was whired from The el
,s baukment with great velocity, and wrench
- in two apparently before it struck t
ground at the foot Of the embankmer
which was covered with sharpened rou
stones. In the fall it was literally shaller
oi into pieces There was coal fire burni
u' in a stove in The car, and this aggravated /
IS. circumstances Of the accident, several pC