Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-01-12
President ELEcr-THE LATE ACCIDENT
The Boston Post of Saturday says:

President ELrcr-THE LATE ACCIDENT
The Boston Post of Saturday says:
We saw Gen. Pierce at O'Clock, P. NJ. yesr
terday, and found him in some pain from the
| sprains OF his h p aud back but were happy to
| learn that he received no very serious injury or
any physical harm that will produce more than
temporary effect His mind was tranquil, and
he bears his great affection ith fortitude asd re-
signation.
Mrs. Pierce more calm than on the evening
previous, and the strongest hopes are entertained
OF her being able to survive the dreadful shock
with her reason unimpaired.
The Rev. Mr.. Fuller, of Mass, who was in
the car at the time of the accident, describes it
follows:
wa. looking out at the window, when we
felt shock, and the car was dragged for
low seconds the axle OF the front wheel being
broken. Perfectly conscious of our situaton |
remember thinking what was the matter | re
tanned through the whole my consc iousness In
another second, the coupling which joined our
car with the other broke and our car was whrl-
ed violently around, TO reverse tho ends
and we were sung down the rocky ledge For
once, had 20 hope OF escaping death. I shall
never forget the GREATNESS horror which came
over US during our fall. There was not a shrek
nor an exclamation, till tho progress of the car,
atter having turned over twice on the rocks, was
arrested, and with violent conclusion, having
pared in the middle, and being broken into many
thousand fragments.
received personally few bruises and flesh
cuts, OF no particular moment, and found myself
amid a mass OF broken g lass and splintered wood,
and groaning men and women, with no limbs
broken, and with heart to praise God for His
sparing mercy. had no need to get out at any
door or window, for the car was fragmentary
ram. The next moment, covered with
blood himself-a noble fellow-said, 1--WE are
alive, let us help others" passed from one
irightfu scene to another, and the whole is before
me now as fearful vision. Men came np on
every side dripping with blood and few escaped
some cuts and bruises. Before all were rescued,
the top, covered with oil cloth took fire from
the stove, and added to the general horror and
suffering
Two incidents, among the many terrible one,
are especially present to my memory. On tia
bank sat a mother, Mis-. Stokes, of this citv
clasping her little boy OF some three four years
OF age; he had been rescued from the ruin which
had strswn the rock with splintered fragments,
and her own person was considerably burned
by the fire, but was shedding tears of graft
| tude over her rescued child, and rejoicing
| in his safety, unmindlul of her own pain But
a few steps from her | the most appalling
| scene of all. There was another mother, whose
agony passes beyond any description She could
| shed no tears, but, overwhelmed with grief, ut
tered such affecting words MS never can forget.
| 1t was M rs. Pierce the lady of the President
| elect; and near her. in that ruin of shvered
wood and iron lay more terrible ruin, her only
son. one minute before SO beautiful, full of life
aud hope. She was supported by her husband
and Prof Packard.
| General Pierce was himself wounded in the
back, but not severely, and the wounds of the
spirit far exceeded any bodily suffering; yet,
while deeply affected, he showed all the self
possession and nerve which only characterizes
| great heal ted and noble mon, and which few
would manifest under similar circumstances. He
gave all nesdful directions about the recovery of
his little boy still entanged in the wreck about
him, and then afforded all that comfort and SYM
patty to his partner i'll sorrow which was appro~
PIRATE to the time. She was conveyed to
house near and there she gave vent to the grief
which rent her heart, while he consoled and
comtorted. | may not draw the veil from that
picture. Sacred the holy privacy of sorrow,
and the hearts of those who have suffered eau
| feel what my pen must not describe.
Soon were able to convey the wounded aud
the dead to the nearest house, which happened
to be that connected with the poor farm in An
dover, where every possible kindness and atten-
ton were rendered. Go with me, Mr.. Editor
to that house, and look with me awhile on that
of suffering and sorrow. In Que room
were Gen. Pierce aud his lady, in the opposite
apartment lay the mortal remains of their little
boy-and oh so sad sight The blow by which
no instantly killed, struck his forehead and
wasso violent as to remove the upper portion of
the head leaving part of the brain exposed
The face, with the exception of a bruse about
the right eye, still remained uninjured but baths
ed in blood. Gen. Pierce and lady, meanwhile,
retired to tho house Of Mr.. Aiken.
In tho same room was lady. Mrs Newell, of
Hillsborough, considerably bruised aud her face
cut. Her little daughter, twelve years of age,
lay near with her foot so badly injured that am
putation will be necessary. She .boresAer pains
sweetIy and patiently. In another Room, Mr..
kittridse, Of Pelman, lay with his leg broken, ard
Mr. Chids, OF Henniker, sat bravely up, though
with face covered with blood. Others much
bruised had gone OIL in the train which returned
for us from Lawrence. Every attention which
could possibly be paid to those injured was given
at this house, where of the wounded were
carried. The physicians were prompt in their
services, calm, kind, aud tar us one not of the
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