Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-25
The Late Fearful Railroad Accident.

| nN AusO CUl AS0lhI Udu ASIIuCnl
The Rev. Mr.. Fuller, Of Manchester, N H..
was in the car at the time of the accident. ant
furnishes the editor Of the Mirror with the fol
lowing interesting account. of the late fearful
railroad accident at Andover: .. .-.
was looking out Of the window. when
we felt severe shock, ana the car wa,
dragg ed for few seconds, the aSlc of the from,
wheel being broken. Perfectly conscious OF
our situation, remember thinking what was
Tho matter. RETAINED through the whole my
consciousness. In another second, the coup
ling which joined our ar with the other, broke,
and our car was whircd violently around, 30 as
10 reverse tEe'ends, and we were swung down
the rocky ledge. For once had no hope of
escaping death. shall never forget the
brcathlcss horror which came over us during
our fall. There was not shrek, nor an cxcla-
nation, till the progress Of the car, after having
turned over twice on the rocks, was arrested,
and with violent conclusion, having parted
in the middle, and being broken into many
thousand fragments. l received personally
few bruises and flesh cuts, of no particular mo.
mcnt, and found myself amid mass Of broken
glass and splntered wood, and groaning men
heart to praise God for his sparing mercy.
had no need to get out at any dvor or window,
for the car was fragmentary ruin. The next
moment q man covered with blood himsclf-a
noble fellow--said, 'wc are alive, let us help
Others passed from one frightiul part of
the scene to another, and The whole is before
me now as fearful vision. Men came up 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.
The incidents, among the many terrible ones,
are especially present to my memory. On the
bank sat mother. Mrs. Stokes Of this city)
clasping her little boy of some three or four
years of age; he had been rescued from the ruin
which had strewn the rock with splintcred
fragments, and her own person was considerably
burned by the FIRE, but she was shedding tears |
Of gratitude over her rescued child, and rejoic
ing in his safety, unmndful Of her own pain.
Bet few steps farther saw the most appalling
scene all. There was another mother, whose
agony passes beyond any description. She could
shed no tears, bnt overwhelmed with grief ut
tered such affecting words as never can forget |
II was Mrs. Pierce, the wife of the Presi dent |
elect; and near her, in that ruin of shiv-
eled wood and iron, lay more terrible ruin,-
her only son-one minute before so beautiful,
so full Of life and hope. She was supported |
by her husband and Prof. Packard.
General Pierce was himself bruised in the |
back, but not severely, and the wounds of the |
spirit far exceeded any bodily suffering; yet,
white deeply affected, he showed all the self
and nerve which only characterizes
great hearted and noble men, and which few
would manifest under similar circumstances.
lie gave all necdful directions abont the r recov-
.ry of his little boy, still cntangcd in the wreck
ibout hlnl, and then afforded all that comfort
and sympathy to his partner in sorrow which
vas appropriate to the time. She was convey
ID to house near, and there she gave vent to
he grief which rent her heart, while he CON
oled and comforted. may not draw the veil
rom that picture Sacred is the holy privacy
# sorrow, and the hearts of those who have
uttered can feel what my pen must not de-
Grille.