Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-07-13
DREADFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT
AWFUL CRASH ON THE
S~USQUEHANNA RAILROAD.
GREAT Loss OF LIFEl
MANY N &C., &C.

CNCi OAOuliCu III u hulhSig udDpCuCu lCoACl-
day afternoon, near the city, on The Baltimore
and susquehanna Railroad.
Early yesterday morning o large number OF
excuisionists repaired to Riders Grove, 8 mleS
out on the railroad, TO spend the day. The
accident occurred about one mile this side OF
the grove, between the uuward train fol
York and one of those trains containing a
portion of the excurSioniSts, on their way 10
the city,
The scene OF the accident was a curve oil
the road about midway between the Relay
House and Riders Grove,
Three %traios, full Of ladies and gentlemen,
with children, lei The city during the day, to
participate in the celebration. Returning, one
of the trains left for Baltimore at two O'Clock,
another started at five, and the third, with
which the accident occurred, al about fifteen
minutes later.
At % minutes past 4 o'clock yesterday af-
%ternoon the regular train for York left Calvert
Station, consisting of four passenger car. and
a baggage car-all with the exception Of the
last car were filled with Passengers. Mr..
William Scott was conductor, accompanied by
Mr.. HollinS, and other officers Of the road, who
were repairing to Riders Grove to asst in the
arrangements fer the safe return of the excuf-
Si0nistS.
On arriving at the Relay House, the New
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 New York, due early in the day,
which had been thrown out of time, was
waiting at the Relay, and after il had passed
down toward Baltimore, we waited for one
excursion train, of about sixteen cars, crowded
to excess, which passed without giving any
information to The cnhductOr that two other
trains were coming, which unfortunately proved
TO be the case.
The road being now supposed 10 be, clear,
the York train again took the main track, and
proceeded on, and had scarcely got full under
way, when, about thee. quarters of a mile
from the Relay, and about a mi e from Riders,
q terrible crash, aoconp MED by 9 rush Of
steam, brought all who were uninjured TO their
feet, and on escaping from the wrecked cars,
= most heart-rending scene presented itself,
that it were impossible to describe in all its
horrors.
The locomotive attached TO the excursion
train, was behind, pushing lie cars; that at
'ached TO the other train, was in font, andlit
orally plowed its way into the cars, loaded
with passengers, in font.
a bout half a dozen cars were crushed and
shivered 10 atoms, and a large number of their
unhappy inmates either killed upon the spot
or ~dreadfully injured. The scene is described
as narrowing 10 the last degree. Several Of
tn Sc killed and wounded wee so caught in
the wreck of the broken cars, that they could
not be released for a considerable time.
Axes and crow bars were brought into requi-
%sition, and tkose alive and unhurt made super
human efforts for their relief, The CRY for
water from the sufferers was continual, and
several persons were engaged constantly in
supplying them. 1t was not, however, until
the locomotive attached 10 the excursion train
had been attached TO the crippled mass, that
the dead and wounded were got cut.
A large number Of those whbeScapcd walk
10 town, while others came in whatever
could be obtained.
The centre of the foremost car was filled
with the dead, dying and wounded, all wedged
in one mass with the fragments of the
car end the seats, SO compact that it required
a half hours time and the use of axes TO res
cue the wounded. A number of females and
were taken out from among the dead
injured, whilst through the door of
The car could be seen the protruding limbs Of
some who had been instantly struck dead.
Among the dead in the center of this car
Mrs. Robinson, named in the list below,
. young and beautiful woman, and Henry
Clay LETTERS, the son, Of Ma 'ison LETTERS, a
and beautiful boy, the bodies Of whom
so wedged among the fragments of the
Two cars, which had been run through each
other like telescope, that it was impossible to
them, without hauling of the frag-
ments of the upper car by the locomotive,
which was also necessary to release the large
number of unfortunate creatures who still re.
wedged between the forward cars,
some still alive and others dead. In removing
The cars Mrs. RobinSon's body was literally
torn to pieces, but in the e # 1t 10 recover
in whom life still remained it became
necessary to disregard the dead. .
On all the platforms Of the wrecked cars
The destruction Of life and limbs was immense,
md the cars being so closely wedged together
t was utterly impossible for more than an hour
% relieve any of them, although the screams
ot the sufferers caused the most superhuman
e~xertions for their succor.
On the platform at the head of the Excur-
sion train four men we,e caught by the fore
part of the engine, two Of them were instant
y killed, and the other two were fast BY their
imbs, suffering the most excruciating agony,
md almost roasted BY the smokepipe OF the
They both tainted firm exhaus-
ion before they could be rescued, requiring
more than an hour of incessant labor, and one
IT them subsequently died.
Two or three were instantly killed also on
he front platform OF the York train, one Of
was Benjamin Meuyman, The baggage
master, who met death, standing manfully at
us post al his break, endeayorins to check the
destruction.
The accident occurred Of 90 minutes post s
pclock, and it was half past 7 O'clock, before
he last body was taken from the wreck.
The bodies OF the dead were all placed in
me car, and piled up one upon another, pre-
a ghastly spectacle. Mostof them had
'een instantly killed by the crash, some of
hem being horribly crushed and mutilated in
l manner 10 sickcn the beholder of the spec
acie. The wounded were made as easy as
possible, and, in most Of the cases, their friends
we're at the depot, and haG them Immediately
.empved.
The following embraces the list Of the killed
Ind wounded:
List Of Killed.
Up to the time Of tie departure of the cars
IN Tuesday night, at. u o'clock, the num-
Der Of deaths were 10, whose names, as far as
hey could then be ascertained, are hereto an
lexed
Henry Reynolds, whose limbs were broken
ard head terribly crushed.
Henry Clay LETTERS, aged about ten years, son
Madison LETTERS, head crushed. The father