The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-07-08
(Ffom the Baltimore Clipper
Terrible Railroad Accident!
Twenty five to thirty Persons Killed,
And Great Number Wounded.

One of the most terrible railroad accidents
that ever transpircd in our country, took place
on Tuesday afternoon, on Me Baltimore and
Su ;quchanna Railroad by whicl, about thirty
persons were killed and much larger num-
b rmorc or less wounded. some of them but
slightly. while the extent and nature of The
injuries ofoihcrs are of a character to render
it likely that they also will be called upon to
swell the fearful catalogue of mortality.
The scene of the accident was a curve of
the road about midway between the Relay
House and Rdcr's Grove at which latter spot
the Grand American Celebration took place.
Three trains, full of ladies' and gentlemen,
with children. left Baltimore during the day.
to participate in the cclt b alton. Returning,
one Of the trains left for Baltimore at two
o'clock, another started a five and the third.
to which the accident occurred, at about fif-
teen minutes later.
1t seems that the accommodation train for
York, with two passenger cars attacked UNI
der the direction of VIM. Scott, conductor,
started on its way up shortly before o'clock.
with Instructions to lay off at Riders switch
until one Of the excursion trains should pass.
This heidi, and the second return train pass
cd as directed The accommodation train then
started and dreadful to relate, an excursion
train from the Grove had also started.
They met about thrcc-quarters of a mile
above the Relay House, at the turn If an alb
rupt switch, and came together with n fearful
crash.
The locomotive attached to the excursion
train was behind, pushing the cars; that at
tachcd to the other train was in front, and
literally plowcd its way into the cars, loaded
with passengers, in front.
About half dozen cars were crushed and
shivcrcd to atoms, and large number of their
unhappy inmates either killed upon the spot
or drcadfully injured. The scene is dcscrib-
cd as ha rowing to the last degree Several
of those killed and wounded were 80 caught
in the wreck of the broken cars, that they
could not DO released for a considerable time.
Axes and crow bars were brought into re-
QUESTION, and those alive and unhurt made
supcrhuman efforts for their relief. The cry
for water from the suffers was continued, and
several persons were engaged constantly in
supplying them. 1t was not, however, until
the locomotive attached to the excursion train
had been attached to the crippled mass, that
the dead and wounded were got out.-A large
number of those who escaped, walked to town
while others came in in whatever vehicles
could be obtained.
Immediately upon the auth oritics at CAL
vert Station being informed of the disaster,
they dispatched locomotive and cars to the
spot. taking the prccaution to send number
ofphysicians along. The train, with the sur
vivors, and the killed and the wounded, came
in at half-past IL o'clock. The scene at the
depot was borrowing in the extreme. An i'm
mcnsc crowd Of those who had friends and
relatives at the Grove was assembled and the
state Of terrible suspense was painful to be-
hold Wives and mothers, brothers and Sis
tiers, ran up and down the platform, eagerly
questioning as to the killed and wounded,
anxious yet dreading the reply, which might
inform them of the melancholy fate of some
one near and dear.
The bodies were taken out of the cars, to
the number of twcnty-scven, and laid upon
the platform, when inquests were held over
them by Coroners Stevens and Goldsmith.
The testimony adduccd was as stated, and
the jury deferred the rendition of their ver-
dict until to-day. when they will meet and
take further evidence in the case.
The principal portion of the sufferers were
in the excursion trains, although several OF
those in the accommodation train were also
killed and wounded. Several persons, among
them Mr.. Emanuel Stockett, saved themselves
on hearing the whistle blow, by leaping from
the cars to the ground, while going at full
speed. Those who escaped in this way, re-
e,, wa co,ll l,orn lut Ettle