Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-07-06

coal region has been sold Ior $4,000
-
HORRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Twenty-four Persons Killed and Thirty
| three Seriously Injured.
Our citizens have already heard Of the collision
Of cars on the SnsquehanIa railroad, on the even
ing Of the fourth of July, and their hearts have
been panied on learning the outlines of this truly
sad and affective event, which there is little or
no doubt, judging from the account which follows
was the result of gross and culpable careless
| ness
| Mr.. c. c. Fulton, who s one of the propretors
of the Baltimore American, and was passenger
in one of the wrecked rains, has furnished the
| following particulars for that paper, which were
| yesterday published in IN "extra" from that es-
Enlistment The narrative Of the accident will,
we doubt not, be foundas reliable as il was pos
| sibl, 10 obtain amid tie excitement, and heart
rendng scene by which he was surrounded.
| From the Baltimore AmGican-Extra of yesterday.
| Al about o'clock Las evening report reached
the city, which spread with telegraphic velocity,
from one extremity 10 the other, that awful ac-
cident had occurred 70 two OF the trains on the
Susquehanna railroad, bringing home the excur-
| sionIsts 10 Riders Glove, whittier from four 10
| five thousand of our citizens had proceeded in
special trains in the curly part Of the day. Bad as
| The accident proved to be, rumor magnifed it ten
fold, causing the greatest CONSERVATION and dis
| tress among the friends and relatives of those
absent, and Calvert sia,iof was soon thronged
| with an excited massof people, anxiousy waiting
up TO past midnight for intelligence from the scene
OF the disaster.
the regular train for York left Calvert station con
sisting OF four passenger cars and baggage car
\ all with the exception of the last car well filled
with passengers. Nh William Scott was con-
ductor, accompanied by Mr.. Hons and other
| officers OF the road, wio were repairing TO Riders
| Grove TO assist in tn arrangements for the safe
| return of the excursiolists.
| On arriving at the Telay House, the York train,
| according 10 orders Proceeded to lay off on the
Green Spring switch, where the instructions were
! that il should wait Until the excursion train or
trains passed. The cypress train from York, due
early III the day, which had been thrown out Of
time, was waiting at ne Relay, and after il had
| passed down towards Baltimore we waited for
one excursion train, o about sixteen cars, crowd
ed TO excess, which pissed down without giving
any information 10 th' conductor that Two other
trains were coming which unfortunately proved
| 10 be the case.
The road being nov supposed 10 be clear the
| York train again took the main track and pro-
cecded on, aud had SCARCELY got fully under weigh,
when, about three quarters OF mile from the
| Relay, and about mile from Riders, a terrible
crash, accompanied by rush Of steam, brought
all who were unnjured 10 heir feet, and on escap-
| ing from the wrecked cars a most heart-rending
| scene presented ITSELF thu il were impossible 10
describe in all its horrors.
| Immediately in advanc. Of us was train con-
sistng oil two passenger c,rs and the ten burthen
cars, which had been fttecup 10 carry passengers,
all of which were filed TO overlooking. This
train was backing down owards Baltimore, the
locomotive being reversed and the two passenger
cars at the head the tran. The locomotive ON
the York train was going head in its usual posi-.
ton, and, although neiihC train was moving at
extra speed, the Two passenger cars al the head
oftbe excursion train Offered but little resistance,
and were completely cruhed together, the rear
ear passing entirely throuA the foremost one, and
both being filled with passengers, the destruction
OF life and limb was almos Unprecedented.
The centre Of the foremost car was filed with
the dead, dying and woun,ed all wedged together
in one mass with the fragments OF the and the
seats so compact. that il required half hours
time and the use Of axes 10 rescue the wounded.
A number Of females andchildren were taken out
from among the dead scarcely injured, whilst
through the floor of the could be seen the pro-
truding limbs OF some who had been INSTANTLY
| struck dead. a
Among the dead in the centre of this car IA
Mrs. Robinson, named ID the list below, young
and beautiful woman AID Henry Clay letters,
the son OF Madison Jefiers a bright and beautiful
boy, the bodies Of whom we're SO wedgcd amoug
the fragments of the Two ears which had been run
throuBh eucn otner IKE tccScope, tnht III was
impossible to cxtricaie thin, without hauling Of
the fragments Of the uppe car by the locomotive,
which was also necessary 10 release the large
number Of unfortunate creatures who still re
| NAMED wcdgea botween he forward cars, some
still alive and others dead In removing the cars
Mrs Robinson's body was literally torn 10 pieces,
but in the effort 10 recover those in whom life still
remained, II became necessary 10 disregard the
dead.
On all the platforms of he wrecked cars the de.
/ Gf ~ LII
cars being so closely wedged together IL was
utterly impossible for more than an hour 10 relieve
any OF them, although the screams of the sufferers
caused the most superhunan exertions for their
snccor.
On the platform at the head Of the excursion
train four men were caught by the fore-par ofthe
engine, two of whom were Instantly killed, and
the other two were fast BY their limbs, suffering
the most excruciating agony, and almost roasted
by the smoke pipe Of the locomotive. They both
tainted from exhaustion before they could be res
cued, requiring more than an hour Of ncessant
labor, and one OF them Subsequently died.
Two or three were instantly killed also on the
front platform Of the York train one of whom was
Benjamin Merryrnan, The baggage master, who
met death standing msnfplly At his post at the
break, endea vorng 10 check the destruction.
The shrieks OF the women and children over
the bodies OF their husbands and fathers and over
the Wounded, was enough 10 appal the stoutcst
heart Several Of those who were crushed ON
the platforms had their wives with them, whose
appeals for their rescue was incessant. The wife
OF Martin Boyd was compelled 10 stand and see