Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-07-12
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
crash ON tsse ssrsqmezsannaia
Railroad.
TWENTY-FIVE on rnrnrY KILLED.

tlsce ON the afternoon Of the 4th inst on the
baltimore ADD Susquebannah Railroad, by
which about thirty persons were killed and a
much larger number more or less wounded,
some Of them but slightly, while the extent
and the nature Of the injuries Of others are Of
a oharacte. to render it likely that they also
will be called upon to swell the fearful cats
leguc Of mortality.
The scene Of the accident was o curve Of
the road about midway between the Relay
House and Riders Grove, at which latter
spot the Grand American celebration took
place.
Three trains fall Of ladies and gentlemen,
With children, left our city during the day, to
participate in the celebration. Returning
oae OF tho trains left for Baltimore at two
0 'clock, another started at fvo. and tue third
to which tue accident occurred, Of about ff.
teen minutes later.
1t seems that the accommodation train for
York. with fonr passenger cars attached, I'M
der The direction Of Nm Scott, conductor,
started on its way up sArrtly before 5 0 clock,
instructed to lay os ri Green Spring Switch
until one of the excursion trains should pass.
This be did, and the sceoud train passed as
! directed. Tie accommodation train then
started. aad dreadful to relate, aa excursion
train from the grove had been started.
They met bout three quarters of q mile
above the Relay House. at the turn Of an alb
rupt switch aud came together with a fear.
full crash.
Theirs we're W excursion trains (the FIRST
Of which came III collision) about to start at
the same time; the engine was in front Of
the cars, the tender in trout Of the engine -
The second excursion train would most GER
taialy have run icto tie damaged train, as il
was coming rouad the curve ut great speed,
had it not been that a passenger from the
damaged train threw up bis hands warning
them to stop.
About half a dozen cars were crushed and
shivered to atoms, aud a largo number Of
their unhappy inmates either killed upon the
spot or dseadfu!ly injured. The scene is
described as narrowing to the last degree
Several ofthose killed aud wounded we're so
caught in the wreck Of the broken ears, that
they could not be released for considerable
time.
Axes aud crow bars were brought into re
QUESTION, and those alive aud unhurt made
surerhuinan efforts for their relief. The cry
for water from the sufferers was continual,
and several persons were engaged constantly
10 supplying them. Ii was not, however.
until the locomotive 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 10 in what
ever vehicles could be obtained.
Immediately upon the authorities at Cal
vert Station being Informed Of the disaster,
they dispatched a locomotive and cars to the
spot. taking the precaution to send a number
Of physicians along. The train. with the sur
vi~ors, aud The ~ sd woanded, came IN
at bali past IL 5S9ock. The scene at The
depot was narrowing Ia tie extreme. An in
mense crowd of those who had friends or rel
atives at Che Grove was assembled, and the
state OF terrible suspense was painful to be.
bold. Wives and mothers, brothers and sis
tiers, ran up and down the platform, eagerly
questioning as the killed aud wounded, anx.
ious yet d~reading The reply, which might in
form item Of the melancholy fate Of son one
near AID dear.
The bodies were taken ont Of the ears. to
the number of twenty seven, aud laid upon
the platform, where ipquests were held over
tLetn py Coroners~ Stephens and Goldsmith.
/. The principle portion Of the sufferers were
IA The excursion train, although several of
those IN the accommodation trains were also
killed and wounded Several persons. among
them Mr.. Emanuel Stockett, saved them
selves on hearing the whistle blow, BIZ leap
ing from the GAYS to the ground, while going
at full speed. Those who escaped IN tb;s
way, received, SO far as we could learn, but
little damage.
The bodies Of the dead we're all placed ID
one car, and piled up one upon another. pre-
schtea a CHASTITY spectacle Most of them
had been instantly Filled By the crash, some
OF them being horribly crushed aud mutflated
IN a manner to sicken the bcholder of the
spectacle. The wounded were made as easy
as possible. and, in most Of the cases, their
friends were at the depot, and bad them i'm
mcdiately removed.
The train from Harrisburg, due here at
SIX 0 clock on tuesday evening, did not ar
rive unit. SIX yesterday morning, having been
detained BY the accident. The accommoda-
ton tram 80 York no. appearing. the con-
aaetor became apprebeosiye of an accident,
aud proceeded at a very slow pace until tie
tram arrived at Riders Grove. There tho
particulars Of the accident were asccrtained.
ara tue loeemoti7e WIS detached aud dis.
patched tothe scene Il disaster; aud large
numbers 2 the pas engers immediately re.
pared on foot to the spot, where they rem,
aefea az the assistance in their power. The
- ~ oroesnt one dead body, that ola man.
70 .0e city and several wounded
Aia@ale applied yesterday morning to see
Ivy oogy q one OF those who had not VET
been elaiaed, apd recognized il to ba ,b,i e
~ ~ uaSrge Dufiela. She immediately fen
70 sae Hour 10 oOnvulsious, which lss,sa a.
Intervals for an hour. 1t annears sba ,s" q :
nave been married to the deceased, IT,
charge, "0uy !"
Messrs. Wa. s. and Richard p. Sherwood
VINO were seated IN The third car from The To-
connective Of the excursion train, deseribe ,Ia
c0neaSsion, as truly terrific r.