The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-07-15

wards Baltimore, the locomotive being at
the rear and the two passenger cars at the
head of the train. The locomotive on the
York train was going ahead in its usual
position, and although neither train was
moving at extra speed, the two passenger
cars at the head of the excursion train offered
little resistance, and were completely crushed
together The rear car passing entirely
through the foremost one, and both being
! filled with passengers the destruction of life
and limb was almost unprecedented. The
center foremost car was filled with the dead,
and dying, and wounded, all wedged togeth-
er in one mass with the fragments of the
car and the seats so compact that it trequired
a half hours time, and the use of axes to
rescue the wounded. A number of females
and children were taken out from among the
dead scarcely injured, whilst through the
floor of the car could be seen the protruding
limbs of some who had been instantly struck
dead. Among the dead was Mrs. Robertson,
a young and beautiful woman, and Henry
Clay Jeffers, bright and beautiful boy
The bodies of whom were so wedged among
the fragments of the two cars which had run
through each other like telescope, that it
was impossible to extricate them without
hauling off the fragments of the upper car
by the locomotive which was also necessary
to release the large number of unfortunate
creatures who still remained wedged between
the forward cars, some still alive and others
dead
In removing the cars Mrs. Robertson's
body was literally torn to pieces, but in the
effort to recover those in whom life still re-
mained, it became necessary to disregard the
dead. On the platform at the head of the
excursion train, four men were caught by the
fore part of the engine, two of whom were
instantly killed, and the other two were held
held fast by their limbs, suffering the most
excruciating agony, and almost roasted by
the smoke-pipe of the locomotive; both
tainted from exhaustion one of them sub
sequently died. Two or three were instantly
killed, also, on the front platform of the
York train; one of whom was Benjamin
Merryman, the baggage master. The acci
dent occurred at twenty minutes past five
o'clock, and it was half past seven O'Clock
before the last body was taken from the
wreck. Messengers were sent to the city for
relief, and physicians were soon on the
ground, and also were number from the
vicinity, who labored unremttingly to re-
lieve the sufferings of the unfortunate crea-
lures strewn about.
The trains from the city did not reach the
scene of the accident until after eight O clock
at which time there were about three thou
sand persons awaiting conveyance home
all the excursionists having arrived from
the scene of their festivities to the scene of
death. The first train carried on the women
and children, and the second the wounded,
who were all taken to the infrmary for med
ical assistance, and reached the city about
IL o'clock, at night-some of them suffering
intensely. Not less than thousand Of
those that escaped injury walked home by
the Falls road, many carrying their children
in their arms through the heat and dust for
nine miles. The dead bodies were brought
in about one o'clock at night, and when
spread out on the platform of the depot pre-
sented a spectacle of the most horrible
character. Twenty eight are now dead. A
number of wounded are still expected to
die
The coroners'jury rendered verdict charg-
ing the cause Of the accident to careessness
on the part of the conductor, William Scott,
and to gross negligence on the part of the
officers of the Company in failing to give
their rules in more explicit language.
GooD News FROM TURKEY.-At last we
have some encouraging news from the
seat of war. Turkey seems able to dis
pense entirely with the useless armies