Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-05-21
FACTS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
STATEMENT OF rHoMAs HICKS.

sEArEMENT OF THOMAS HICKS.
Mr. Thefnas Hicks, the artist, was in the
first car, with Miss King of this City. They
occupied q seat within four Of the rear end Of
the car, on the right hand side, facing the en-
CINE. Mr.. Hicks describes the scene as fol-.
lows. The cars were seemingly going at the
usual rate, wben without warning or intma-
ton Of any kind, he beheld the front part of
the car rushing toward him in fragments, the
passengers being tossed 10 the air like chatf
dashed up against the top Of the car, and
thrown about in hurricane Of destruction -
In an instant be found Miss King gone from
his side, and himself crushed under the par
italy fallen roof OF the car, and surrounded
by choking atmosphere, in the midst of a
shapeess mass OF ruins, dead bodies on every
hand. and tie darkene1 car rapidly filling
with water. He began feeling among the
wreck and under the water for bis companion,
but she was nowhere to be found He con-
tinued the search till the water had risen to
his chin. a time which he judged TO have been
abous ten minutes, when, despairlng of her
recovery ne looked about for a mode of es-
cape Just behind him, at The corner of the
car, he beheld an aperture through which he
crawlcd out upon the top. Here he fingered
with view to renew the search for his COM
paniou when he was accOstcd by some one,
who asked him for whom he was looking
lie described the lady's dress, when his inter
locutor informed him to his inexpressibe as
constituent and Qualification that she had Just
gone out upon the track. He ascertaned
afterward that the front of the car was stove
tn atoms by the conclusion, and that the top
OF it was spkt open lateraly Oh the side where
be sat, and this occasioned that side Of the
roof to fall. 1t also appeared that during the
instantaneous process of splitting open the
top Of the car and the fall of the ceiling, Miss
King, without knowledge or agency of her
own. had been projected through the creVice
upon the top Of The car. And here, without
even having been wet but with severe
wound in the face she found herself with
another car precipitated upon it. which passed
her and tumhied over into the river beside
the wreck Of he first. Her escape, and the
manner of it especially, was a miracle. Mr..
Hicks called out when he discovered the
means of escape. TO those in the car, if 50 be
there were any living to hear, pointing to the
way Of getting out. But he saw but one
person avail himself Of the notice, or escape
in aay way. Miss King, while upon the tor
of the car, saw hand thrust out of the wat
er. which proved 10 be that of person strug
gIing under the rubbish She resolutely re
moved the obstruction and saved the mans
| life.
Narrow Escape.
DR.. Russell, Of Hartford, narrowly escaped
with his life. He was in the Car hich bruk,
in two, and was among those who did not ial
into the draw. He owes the preservaton O
his life undoubtedly, to an act of kindness OF
his part, in renqui>hing his seal in the for
ward car TO accommodate sick man. IL,
took his seat in The third car. and when tn,
accident Occurred, { e man whom he had ,on
lsideratly served WAS among the killed, will
nearly all the rest in the i'll fated car.
i MIR. John Ii. Mrder, o: Gardiner, Me-, VIII
was in the first passenger car, states that b
sased himself by breaking through the top @
the car, and though drenched through an
much chilled, he succeeded in drawing out {
the car, Peater Hadly, Of Gardiner. Me- JAIME
Cobent, and James Ring aud wife. Of Rich
mond, Me. The distance from the level {
the track to the level of the water is statet
to be some Is feet
Dr.. Levi Ives, Of New Haven, was sitting il
The saloon or smoking car, asleep, at the tim
Of the accident, and being awakened by th
plunge Of the car into the water. made rus
out Of the cars, and proyidentially succeede
in reaching the shore in safety There wer
a number of others whose escape was equal
wonderful.
Mr.. Edwin Bollss, Of Hartford. was aboar
, He would have taken the forward car at Ne
!, York. but found il full, and in consequence
his life WAS probably saved. He says thi
one man in the forward car escaped wh
under water-hOw, he himself knew not =
, and swan to the surface. Subsequently !
succeeded in saving a woman from the wTec
: He went to Burlin or Mildletown.
3 Two sisters of VIM IL. Gilbert-Mr
+ Charles Il. Sackett and child, and Miss jar
. G.lbert-wers in the car which broke befo
, it fell The forward part Of the car fell, lea
ing them on the very edge. the child beir
caught Just as about to fall overheard.
The wife and son(aged 10 years. Of Mr..
Taylor, residing at No. l4l Eighth st.. Ne
4 York City. left the City for Norwich, Com
Ito place the lad at boarding school, MIR. Ia
lor accompanied them 10 tie depot. corner
! Canal St, aud Broadway. just before the ira
left; Mrs Taylor and child desired to tai
: seats in the second passenger car, but we
b prevented in consequence Of the being dens
/ lly crowded. fhey then made an effort
&c: in the iirst ear, but could not TOR the san
reason as above stated. An extra car "
!. then placed on, and Mrs. Taylor and chi
Is then took seats in that car, which proved fc
= tunate for them, for had they been in eth
l. Of the ears they first attempted to enter, u
doabtedly their lives would have been lost.