The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-01-19
The Late Deplorable Railroad Accident

The Manchester Daily Mirror, of Thurs
day evening, contains a letter from Rev.
Mr.. Fuller, of Lawrence, who was a pas
senger in the cars, from which we quote
the following:
Two incidents among the many terrible
ones, are especially present to my men,
ory. On the bank sat a mother. (Mrs.
Stokes, Of this city, clasping her little boy
ofsome three or four years of age: he had
been rescued from the ruin which had
strewn the rock " ith splintered fragments.
and her own person was consid derably
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 I saw the
most appalling scene of all. There was
another mother, whose agony passed be-
yond any description. She could shed no
tears, but overwhelmed with grief uttered
such affecting words as Inever can forget.
1t was Mrs. Pierce, the lady rf the Pres
ident elect; and near her, in that ruin of
shlvered wood and iron, lay more ter
ible ruin, her only son one minute before
so beautiful, SO full oflife and hope. She
was supported by her husband and Prof.
Packard.
General Pierce was himself bruised in
the back but not severely and the wounds
of the spirit far exceeded any bodily suf-
fering; yet, while deeply affected, he show
ed all the self possession and nerve which
only characterizes great-hearted and noble
men, and which few would manifest un-
. der similar circumstances. He gave all
neednl directions about the recovery of
his little boy, still entangled in the wreck
about him, and then afforded all that
comfort and sympathy to his partner in
sorrow which was appropriate to the time.
She was conveyed to house near by, and
there she gave vent to the grief which rent
her heart, while he eonsoled and com
forted. may not draw the veil from that
picture. Sacred is the holy privacy of
sorrow, and the hearts of these who have
suffered can feel what my pen must de-
scribe.
Soon we were able to convey the woun-
ded and the dead to the nearest house.
which happened 10 be that connected with
the poor-farm in Andover, where eyery
possible kindness and attention were rem
dered. Go with me, Mr.. Editor, to that
house, and look with me a while on that
scene OF suffering and sorrow. In one
room were Gen. Pierce and his lady, in
the opposite apartment lay the mortal
remains of their little boy-and oh! so sad
sight! The blow, by which he was in
stantly killed, struck his forehead, and
Wds sovioient as 10 remove She upper
postion Of the hoad, leaving a part of the
brain exposed. The face with the excep-
ton Of a bruise about the right eve, still
remained uninjured, but bathed in blood.
Gen. Pierce and lady, meanwhile, retired
to the house Of Mr., Akin.
In the same room was a lady, Mrs
Newell, Of Hillsborough, considerably
bruised and her face cut. Her little daugh-
ter, twelve years Of age, lay near, with
her foot so badly injured that amputation
will be necessary. She bore her pains
sweetly and patiently. In another room
Mr.. Kittredge, of Pemsn, lay with his LEG
broken, and Mr.. Cbilds, Of Henniker
sat bravely up, though with his face COW
cred with blood. OTHERS much bruised
had gone on in tho train which returned
for us from Lawrence. Every attention
which could possibly be paid to those in
juref was given at this house, where most
of the wounded were carried. The ply
siciaus were prompt in their serviees,
calm, kind, and, so fer rs ons:ousof thepro-
fession can judge, judicious.
After the head Of The little boy had
been tenderly cared 6or By the physicians,
and All llpossible done to restore the look oi
life, he was carried by us to the house
where his parents wers. I shall never for
got the look Of extreme pain that ehildS
face wore; and yet there was something
resigned and tender impressed by the skful
hand Of death. He was not cold when he