Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-01-15
Accident to Gen. Pierce and Fami7y.-We


gather from the New York papers some addi-
tional particulars of the railroad accident, by
which Gen. Pierce and wife were injured and
their son killed The train was composed of
baggage and passenger car only. The exact
cause of the accident is not definitely ascertain
ed; one of the axle trees is supposed to have
broken; some say it was the journal on which
the wheel plays. The day was very cold-the
thermometer pointed at zero-and the accident
was doubtless owing to the frost in the IRON
works of the i'll fated car. Mrs. Pierce and the
deceased son had been absent four weeks on
visit to relatives in Boston and Andover. The
accident happened near the latter place Gen.
Pierce went to Boston on Tuesday morning, and
with them attended the funeral of Mrs. Pierce's
uncle, Hon. Amos Lawrence, on the same after
noon. They remained at Mr.. Aiken's, in An
dover, whose lady is a sister to Mrs. Pierce, and
were expecting to return in the evening.
The train in which they went left Boston at
noon on Thursday, and the accident happened
inst after it left the Andover depot, twenty miles
from Boston, at about one. They had not been
in the cars five minutes.
General Pierce, after the accident, appeared
composed, but Mrs. Pierce was taken away in a
very high state of mental anguish. Her screams
were agonizing. The little boy was their only
child, an elder brother having died some ten
years ago. At she time of the accident, Gen,
Pierce was conversing with Mr.. Young, the SUI
intendent of the new Mills at Lawrence. Pro-
fessor Packard, relative of Gen. Pierce, was
in company with Mrs. Pierce and her son, and
the party occupied the forward part of the car,
which divided in the middle. They were all
thrown into heap, one over another. Master
Pierce lay upon the floor of the car, with his
skull frightfully fractured The cap which he
had worn had fallen of, and was filed with his
blood and brains.
A little girl of Mr.. Newall, of HiIlsborcugh,
had her foot crushed. Mrs. Newall was badly
injured, and Mr.. Newall had leg broken. Mr.
Horace Childs, bridge builder, of Henniker, was
badly but not seriously bruised Several women
were severely bruised. The car is said to have
broken near the middle. The baggage car in
front was not thrown off. A brakeman stood
ON the end of it and witnessed the accident I'M
harmed. A dispatch, dated Concord, Thursday
evening, says:
Considerable apprehension is felt here lest
this melancholy fatality may prove serious in its
consequences to Mrs. Pierce She has been for
several years in delicate health, caused partly
by the loss of her first child The boy killed
by this accident, was almost ilolized by his
mother and father. The announcement of the
accident, at o'clock, caused great excitement
in the House. A member came in and said
that Gen. Pierce himself was dead. The floor
and galleries were crowded-the charge of bri-
berry against Judge Butler being under eOnsid-
Grafton, the Governor, Council, and most of the
Senators were present. Instantly every men,
Der was on his feet, and EXPLANATIONS of regret
were heard from every one. The veteran Icha-
bod Bartlett, of Portsmoth, the Oldest member
a political opponent, but strong personal friend
of Gen. Pierce-was observed to weep ike q
child. Others were much affected.
The House adjourned instantly, and the men,
berS rushed to the hotel and telegraph Office, and
the most intense anxiety to obtain particulars
has prevailed ever since.
The little boy was great favorite with our
town people. he was agreeable, kind and
generous, and much beloved by his playmates.
When asked, the other day, "Well, Benny, how
doyou expect to like living at the White Htqse?"
he replied, Il don't know about going there to
live at all. would rather go out to live on a
farm
Boston, Jan. Cen. Pierce and lady are
now staying at the House of John Aiken at
Andover. Neitheref them have received much
physical injury, but Mrs. Pierce is prostsated
with grief at the loss of her son.
Mr.. Newell, of Cambridge, one of the passen-
gers, is injured beyond the possibility of recov-
ery.
Boston, Jan. Cen. Pierce and lady are
still at Andover, suffering slightly from their
injuries, and overwhelmed with grief at the loss
of their only child. The funeral will take place
at Concord tomorrow