The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-30

Chicago
rnIBLE coLLIsroN-rwo TRAINS IN RuINs-NF-
TEEN TO TWENTY KILLKD-YROM FIFTY TO SIXTY
ihe following particulars copied from the Chicago
Ths e.prss train which left this city at nine o'clock
last night on Southern Michigan road, came In col
hson the crossing about eight miles out with an
emigant and freight train coming into Chicago ON the
Michigan Central Railroad.
The locomotive Of the express train struck the sixth
car filed with passengers and in moment the locomo
tive tender baggage car second class Of the
express train together with three emgrant cars Of the
ss ON. first
class passenger thrown upon its side Groans
and cries assaed the Of those who FASTENED from
the rest Of the first class which retained their posi-
Those in this car aided to escape from the
fusion and from the danger Of suffocaton, and 1t
found that were dangerously injured, though
several received severe bruises.
The which presented ite ON the other side Of
the Central track cannot be fully described and time will
not esce the memory of that terrible and heart rendng
spectacle from the mind Of the unwilling beholder.
We saw Q heap of ruins from beneath which shrieked
upon the midnight air, cries for help mingled in
strong dscord with the deeper toned Of the dying
the rubbish while the unnured were fully employ ed in
rendering assistance to those unable to extrcAe them
selves.
heart rending. Here sat poor woman with broken
limb and her little daughter stood by her side, weeping
dead LIS sister by his tide, wringDg Ter hands cry
ing Aen bruder, mein brudsrW
Here child crying 80 my father" There woman nan
mApgled features but partially concealed by cloak, and
at Her side only a faithful dog.
Three children from three to ten years OF age were
taken from the water and placed side by side at the
head Of sat the bersaved father No one came near
to claim the other two.
An infant was picked out of the ruins unframed but
mother could be found Tor II.
Those most dangerously injured we're conveyed into the
unharmed and rendered comfortable as possible
With the struggle between life and death seemed
uncertain.
IS ,n'.
nature and the sympathy of many true heart found
expression in timely action.
1t the general opinion that from y TO 10 bodies
lay beneath the ruins though it impossible to
with any accuracy Four bodies had been taken out
From so 90 seriously injured, and OF these
The emgIants on the Central road SUI
feIed the most
Tie news Of the collision which occurred about 10
O'Clock brought to this city by the locomotive Of the
enigrant tram Messengers we're patched city
from the depot and Drs Palmer and Clark and one Of The
editors Of the Tribune, we're soon under way At the
Central railroad depot, locomotive and passenger car
were in waiting for them and BY IL O'CLOCK they had
lea ched the fatal scene.
ed Immediately to do all in their power for the grooming
sufferers In the Of two hours they had admins
tered less relief to all At half past two the first
class passengers from Chicago transferred to the
Central passenger car, and brought up to the city
Up that time no locomotive had come from the city
to bear the wounded and who had been crush
ed in the of that read and yet four hours and half
had elapsed since collision, and yet those poor
lures in all the sgonies of broken limbs and smashed DO
that road
concentrate at this crossing hanked with water on
both sides that the getting from place to anoIher
is at ali points difhcult-at some impossible
The ruin OF the in itself terrible sight. Piled
up the lay immense heap of Wheels iron rail
iDgs srlipters d9ors SC On side lay the crushed
locomotive, st emitting steam as late as tso o'clock
above the waters edge the baggage car OF the ex
press train, With one half perfectly sound not even the
end glass broken The other end bad burst open, and
portion OF the trunks had rolled do Nn the heap IN the
water below.
one edge of the car appeared the bald head and
one hand Of old Ire leg of one and the body
Of another also visible beneath the car.
t. The east O. the ruins burnt bright fire, kindled
from the pnt.rs whose light ickered the quiet
forms Of three childrem and shone brightly upon the
passengers who gathered around it. Another fire
also burning west OF the express train.
The Chicago Journal OF Tuesday evening says
We have just returned from the OF desoaon and
horror where the Coroners jury are sitting upon the
lifeess Of seven bodies Such sight is almost
Undesirable. Limbs completely smashed heads bruised,
and blood covering the hoors women anxious to get
sight of their dead neutrality-suspicious. Of their children
One is filed with the wounded still living but in
jured fatally.
One man. John Williamson. Of Lake station was in a
dying condition-his lower limbs completely smashed
Drs. McVckar, Brainard, Whitney and others Of the
medical faculty were administering the suffering with
and all the attention that kindness and
ton could tow WAS freely volunteered on al siees at
the hands Of those present.
streets filled With men, women and children, going
and coming FROM the sckening There much
of the sufferers and will wait until the report Of
the Coroners jury, trusting that its verdict win be in de-
tail and emphatic
The streets filed with those that injured but
not atay--their friends taxing them home and taking
the best OF them Every carriage is filled in carry
ing of the injured.
The engineer on the Southern road was saved by jump
ing from the locomotive into the water before the COLI
sioo took place bis locomotive s perfect wreck, among
the Of other ruins and lad he not jumped he would
of course been smashed in the wreck Whether he
versed the engine before saving himself is not known.
1t is judged he did not bis train clear through
the other to the passenger back OF the baggage
before stopping, this broke down directly where
the roads
THIS careless toying with human life appears to be be
coming ashionabs and favorite pastme of railroad
companies, which virtuous indignation, without tear,
should stamp ndeby upon the brows of such wholesale
murderers.
The following persons committed to await the
verdict of the jury :-Robt. Whiting, fireman; II. L.
Whitney, conductor; Edward Davis, engineer, the
Michigan Southern railroad ard Moses NJ Tyler conauc
ter Thomas Backman engineer the Central road
Tie ured persons have been distributed to different
houses, to be taken care OF.