The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-07-12
Two or three were instantly killed also

Two or three were instantly killed also
on the front platform OF the York train
one Of whom was Benjamin Merrynan
the baggage master. who met death stand
ing mantully al his post at his break, en-.
deavoring to check the destruction.
The accident occurred al 20 minutes
past five O'Clock. and it was half:past sew
en- o'clock before the last body was taken
from the wrecks The dead. the dying
and the wounded were strewn about on
the grass, some of the bodies horribly
mangled, whilst the broken limbs and deep
gashes in the bodies OF the wounded, rem
dered it certain that many were injured
beyond recovery.
A powerfully built man, one OF the men
connected with the engine. was drawn ou,
from the ruins al 7 o'clock, with severe
bodily injury but the moment he was re.
lieved from the pressure he became in
sensible, and in his dying agonies his body
fairly bounced from the earth.
Messengers were sent to the city, i'm.
mediately after the accident, for relief,
and number Of physicians, whose names
we did not ascertain, were soon on the
vicinity. who labored unremtiingly to re.
lieve the sufferings Of the uniortunat crea-
lures strewn about.
The trains from the city did not. how
ever. reach the scene Of the accident until
after o clock III the evening. at which
time there were about three thousand walt
ing conveyance home, all the excur,ionis,s
having arrived from the scene OF their tes-
,ivities to the scene of death
The principa! portion Of the sufferers
were in the excursion trains, although
several of those in the accommodation
train we're also killed and wonnded.-
Stocke,, saved themselves, on hearing
the whistle blow. by leaping from the cars
TO the ground. while going al full speed.
Those who escaped in This way. received
so far as we could learn. but little damage
The bodies OF the dead were all placed
IN one car and piled up one upon another.
presenting ghasily spectacle. Most OF
them had been Instantly killed by the
crash. some Of them being horribly crush
ed and mutilated in a manner 10 sicken
the brholder Of the spectacle. The wound
in most OF the cases. their friends were al
the depot. and had them Immediately re-
moved.
A large number Of gentlemen remained
on the ground all night. rendering every
possible aid in extrcatipg the dead and
wounded.
| Here follows lis, OF the names OF the
| killed and wounded; but as they were
probably all unknown to our readers, we
have thought it unnecessary TO publish
them. The killed number 40. and the
wounded over SO, as far as ascertained
1t is probable that many of the wounde,
have since died.
1t is not the time perhaps TO speculate
about the cause Of this accident. Thai
gross careiessness or bad management il
running the trains are among the causes
no one can doubt. but just achere 10 lay
the blame is probably impossible.
We have been told by several passen
gers. that the conductor of the excursio,
tram, thought he could make the Relay
before the York train would start. and wa.
under very iull head Of steam for tha, pur
pose. The conductor Of the York trail,
was under the Impression that the excur
sion train would remain at Riders unit
he passed up. and from what we can learn
this was proper. as the regular time of thu
York train had expired when i, left ,bs
Relay.
At meeting Of the Board Of Directors
of the Baltimore and Susquehanna Rail
road Company. held this morning. the fol
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That the Secretary be direct
ed TO address communications to the Su
perintendent Of Transportation and thu
Master OF Machinery. requiring full re
port of the collision between the Accom-
mediation and Excursion Trains. on The
afternoon Of the 4lh inst. and that thu
Secretary call meeting Of the Board a:
soon as said reports are received.