The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-07-12
From the Baltimore Patriot of Wednesday.
Dreadful Railroad Accident.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE!

GREAT LOSS OF LIFE!
One of the most appalling accidents
which ever occurred in our midst, hap
pened on the afternoon of the 4ih, near
the city, on the Baltimore and Susque.
hanna Railroad.
We are indebted to the extras issued BY
the morning papers for many Of the de-
tails Of the terrible calamity.
Early yesterday morning large mum.
ber Of excursionists repaired TO Riders
Grove, 9 miles out on tine Railroad. to
spend the day. The accident occurred
about one mile this side OF the Grove, be.
tween the upward train for York and one
of the trains containing portion Of the
eXcursonists. on their way to the city.
The scene Of the accident was curve
IF the road about midway between the
Relay House and Riders Grove.
Three trains. full of ladies and gentle
man. with children, left the city during
the day. to participate in the celebration.
Returning. one Of the trains left Tor BaIi-
more at two o'clock. another started at
five. and the third, with which the acci
dent occurred, a, about fifteen minutes
later
At 25 minutes past o'clock yesterday
afternoon the regular train for York lett
Calvert Station. consisting of four pas
senger cars and baggage car-all with
the exception Of the last car were filed
with passengers. Mr. William Scott was
conductor. accompanied by Mr.. Flollins.
and other officers of the road. who were
repairing to Riders Grove to assist in the
safe return Of the excursionis:s. On ar
irving at the Relay House, the York train.
according to orders. proceeded to lay 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 the
day. which had been thrown out of time.
was waiting at the Relay. and after il
had passed down towards Baltimore. we
waited for one excursion train. Of about
sixteen cars. crowded to excess. which
passed down without giving any informa
ton TO the conductor that two other trains
were coming. which unfortunately proved
to be the case.
The road being now supposed to be
clear the York train again took the main
track. and proceeded on, and had scarce.
ly got fully under weigh. when, about
three quarters Of mile from the Relay.
and about mile from Riders a terrible
crash, accompanied by'a rush Of steam
brought all who were uninjured TO their
r feet, and on escaping from the wrecked
cars. a most heart rending scene, pre-.
sented itself, that it were impossible 10 de.
scribe in all its horrors.
The locomotive attached to the excur-
} sion train was behind. pushing the cars;
that attached to the other train was in
front, and literally plowed its way into
the cars. loaded with passengers. in front.
About half dozen cars were crushed
! and shived to atoms. and large number
, OF their unhappy inmates either killed
upon the spot or dreadfuly injured. The
, scene is described as narrowing to the
last degree. e.-Several of those killed and
} wounded were so caught in the wreck OF
the broken cars. that they could not be
t released for considerable time.
. Axes and crow.bars were brought into
requisi,ion. and those alive and unhurt
made superKuman efforts for their relief.
The cry for water from the sufferers was
continual. and several persons were en-.
gagged 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 whatever ve-
hicles could Be obtained.
3 The centre OF the foremost car was fill
: ed with the dead, dying and wounded.
: all wedged together in one mass with the
. fragments of the car. and the seats. so
-. compact that it required a half hours time
j.. and the use of axes to rescue the wound
3 ed. number of females and children
v were taken out from among the dead
b. scarcely injured, whilst through the floor
e of the car could be seen the protruding
d limbs of some who had been Instantly
r struck dead.
:. Among the dead in the centre of this
r car was Mrs. Robertson, named in the lis
!, below, a young and beautiful woman. and
Il Henry Clay letters, the son OF Madison
Jeffers. bright and beautiful boy, the
il bodies Of whom were so wedged among
e the fragments of the two cars, which hat
d been run through each other like a tele
j. scope, that il was impossible to extricate
d them, without hauling off the fragment.
J. OF the upper car by the locomotive. which
was also necessary to release the larg'
j. number of unfortunate creatures who still
n remained wedged between the forwart
IS cars, some. still alive and others dead
c In removing the cars Mrs. Robertson.
1t body was literally torn TO pieces. bu, il
y the effort 10 recover those.in whom lif
y still remained it became necessary to dis
d regard the dead.
10 On all the platforms of the wrecked
cars the destruction OF life and limb wa
= immense. and the cars being SO closel,
o wedged together it was utterly impossible
n for more than An hour to relieve any @
y them. although tine screams Of the suffer
n, ers caused the most superhuman exertion
a. for their succour.
,s On the platform at the head of the Elk
cursion train four men were caught b,
or the forepart of the engine, two of then
note al, At