Eastern times., 1853-01-13
Fatal Railroad Accident!
THE ONLY SON OF THE PRESIDENT
ELECT INSTANTLY KILLED.

We exceedingly regret TO be called upon
10 announce the sudden and instantaneous
death of Benjamin Pierce, ii or IL years OF
age, the son and only child OF General Frank
Pierce. the President elect. The sad event
vas caused .by an unavoidable accident on
the Boston and Maine Railroad, and the cir
eumstances attending il are painful in the
extreme. The following are the particulars.
Upon the arrival al Andover yesterday at
ternOon. of the Express train which left the
depot in this city, at quarter past IL O'Clock,
b., Gen. PIERCE his wife and son, who had
pnssed the night AT Andover, ut the house of
his brolher-in-Iaw, Mr.. Aiken, took passage
for Concord, N. II. The train consisted of
the locomotive and tender, baggage car,
one passenger car, 10 which were about 60
passengers.
The train proceeded at it's usual speed un-
til il reached the Poor House Ledge, nearly
opposite the Andover Poor House. and about
half way TO Lawrence, when the forward
axle of the passenger car broke, turning the
truck and dragging the car about twenty
rods in that condition, when the coupling
which attached it 10 the Eaggage car parted.
and caused the passenger Car to run off the
track and down an embaUkmenI of len or
twelve feet. The CONSERVATION of The pas
sengers Gun hardly be imagined, much less
described, as in far less time than is occu-
pied in penning the fact, the car in it's de-
scent down the embankment had turned end
for end, and upon reaching The foot OF the
bank, completely upset, SO that the bottom
was up, and the top stove IN pieces upon the
rocks.
AT the moment OF the accident, Gen.
Pierce and his wife were seated on the for
rd hnP do Of fhea qia
while his son saI on the forward seat on the
opposite side. Al the instant of finding that
something was wrong, Gen. Pierce threw
one of his arms around his wife, and extend
ing the other towards his son, called him by
name, but in an instant the car rolled over
and down the embaDkmenI, and death had
forever sealed The lips OF their much loved
child, who was soon after found with his
head shocking crushed.
Gen. Pierce and his amiable lady very for
tunarely escaped with only few very slight
scratches and bruises. Their deep distress
upon learning the sad fate of their son, was
sorrowful to witness, especially thar of The
almost hean broken mother. As soon as the
painful circumstances in which they had
thus suddenly fallen would permit. Cen
Pierce and wife, together with the remains
of their son, were conveyed back TO Ando-
yer, 10 the residence OF DIR. Aiken which they
had left but very short time before in their |
usual health and spirits. Here every atieu- |
ton in the power OF kind hearted friends |
were afforded the deeply afflicted parents. |
Mira. Pierce seemed almost inconsoiabIe, and |
Was nearly frantic with grief.
IL il indeed most remarkable fact that OF !
the sixty passengers In the car, but one life |
was LOST land il is equally remarkable lhat |
with thar exception only three were seriously
iniured.-Boston Journal Of Friday.
Nh. AND MRs. P1KRcH.-Tbe Posi- Of SAT-
srday morning says:
We saw General Pierce at O'Clock, p.
IA. Yesterday, and found him in some pain
from the sprains of his hip and back, but
were happy 10 learn that he received no very
serious INJURY, or any physical harm thst
will produce more than temporary effect
His mind was tranquil, and he hears his
great afflcton With foFtitude and resigna-
ton.
Mrs. Pierce was more calm than Oh the
evening previous, and lhe strongest hopes |
are entertained of her being able 10 survive
the dreadful shock With her reason uDim-
paired