The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-07-12
Dreadful Railroad Accident!
4 Is ful Crash ON the Susquehanna Rail
road.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE!
MANY NDED, &C .

u
ever occurred in our midst, happened yester-
day afternoon, near the city, on the Balti-
more and Susquehanna railroad.
We are indebted to the extras issued by
the morning papers, for many Of the details
of the terrible calamity.
Early yesterday morning large number
Of excursionists repaired TO Riders grove, 9
miles out on the railroad to spend the day
The accident occurred about one mile this
side of the Grove, between the upward train
for York and one of the trains containing a
portion of the excursonists, on their way to
the city. The scene of the accident Yves a
curve of the road about midway between the
Relay house and Riders Grove.
Three trains, full Of ladies' and gentlemen,
with children, left the city durit G the day, to
participate in the celebration. Returning,
one of the trains left Tor Baltimore at 2 o.
clock, another started at 5, and the third,
with which the accident occurred, at about
Is minutes later.
At 25 minutes past O'Clock yesterday az
ternoon, the regular train for York left Cal
vert station, consisting of four passenger
cars and baggage car-all with the excep-
ton of the last car were filled with passen-
gers. Dir. VIM. Scott was conductor, ac-
Of the road, who were repairing to Riders
Grove to assist in the arrangements for the
safe return of the excursionists. On arrv-
ing at tie Relay House, the York train, ac-
cording to orders, proceeded to 10y off on the
Green Spring switch, where the Instructions
were that it should wait until the excursion
: train or trains passed.
The Express train from York, due early in
81 Iay oh had hoo ~ ,Nff q
> was waiting at the Relay, and after it had
passed down for Baltimore, we waited for
: one excursion train. Of about sixteen cars,
: crowded to excess, which passed down with
cut giving any information 10 the conductor
that two other trains were coming, which
unfortunately proved TO be the case.
. The road now being supposed TO be clear
e the York train took the main track again
}, and proceeded on, and had scarcely got fully
under weigh, when, about three-quarters oil
nile from the Relay, and about a mile from
y Riders, terrible crash accompanied by a
! rush of steam, brought all who were uninjur.
ed to their feet, and on escaping from the
wrecked cars, most heart rendlng scene
e presented itself, that it were impossible tc
!. describe in all its horrors.
The locomotive attached to the excursion
u tached to the other train was in front. aGt
d literally plowed its way into the cars Loaded
IT with passengers, in front.
About half a dozen cars were crushed ant
shvercd to atoms, and a large number o
% their unhappy inmates either killed upon IN,
- spot or dreadiully injured. The scene is des
e cribed as narrowing to the last degree. Sew
:. eral of those killed and wounded were 81
:, caught in tue wreck of the cars, that thel
= could not be released for considerable time
q On all the platforms OF the wrecked car:
e the destruction of life and limbs was imme nse
e and the cars being closely wedged together i
- was utterly impossible for more than an hou
to relieve any of them, although the scream;
OF the sufferers caused the most gu perhumaI
!; exertons for their succor.
. On the platform at the head OF the Excur.
sion train four men were caught by the fore
part of the engine, two Of them were instant
e ly killed, aud the two were fast by their limbs
IT suffering the most excruciating agony, and
h almost roasted by the smoke-pip of the 10
comotive. They both tainted from excursion
before they could be rescued, requiring NOR,
e than an hour of incessant labor, and one o
e them subsequently, died.
, Two or three were instantly killed also oil
the front platform OF the York train, one 0
Z whom was Bsnjpmin Merryman, the baggage
master who met death standing mantully a
his post at his brake, endeayoring to checl
i the destruction.
" The accident occurr ID at twenty minute
" past O'Clock, and it was half-past seven o.
:, clock before the last body was taken from
" the wreck. The dead, the dying and III,
IL wounded, were strewn about on the gras
is some of the bodies horribly mangled, willis
ID the broken limbs and deep gashes in the bod
les of the wounded renderedit certain tina
many were injured beyond recovery.
Messengers were sent to the city, immedi
n ately after the accident, for relief and mum
At Der OF physicians, whose names we did nc
10 ascertain, were soon on the ground, as ais,
were number from the vicinity, who labor
J. ed unremttingly to relieve the sufferings O
s the unfortunate creatures strewn about.
The trains from the city did not, however
reach the scene of the accident until after
T. O'Clock in the evening, at which time Their,
:, were about 5000 awaiting conveyance home
- ali the excursionists having arrived from thu
scene of their festivities 10 the scene of death
~ The principal portion of the sufferers wer,
l. in the excursion trains, although several o
lg those in the accommodation train were alst
ID killed and wounded Several persons, anon!
- them Dir. Emanuel Stocketi, saved them
= selves, on hearing the whistle blow, by leap
&c ing from the cars 10 the ground, while goin:
ts at full speed. Those who escaped in thi
re way, received, as lar as we could learn, blu
y. little damage.
The bodies of The dead were all placed il
u one, and piled up one upon another, present
8. ing CHASTITY spectacle. Most of them ha
of been Instantly killed by the crash, some o
ed them being horribly crushed and mutlated il
manner to sicken the beholder of the spec
tacle. The wounded were made as easy a
nc possible, and in most of the cases, thei
DIS friends were at the depot, and had them i'm
n; mediately removed.
nd AS far as can be asCertained, about 40 per
sons were killed outriuht aud I00 sevprel