The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-09-06
Appalling Disaster On the Camden and
AmbOY Railroad.

ton, caused by the cars coming in collision
with light pleasure wagon and horses
which were attempting to cross the track
The following facts We extract from oul
exchanges:
The train of cars which left Philadel
phia at ten o'clock on Wednesday morn
ing, consisting of five passenger cars, bag,
gage car; and locomotive, had reached
Burlington just before eleven o'clock. Il
then stopped, waiting for the arrival o
the 3 o'clock New York train from Jcr-
sey city, which passes at this place. AT.
ter waiting for from FIVE to ten minutes
and the New York train not appearing
the Philadelphia train went forward slow
ly, watching for the approach of the down,
ward train. 1t had gone forward about
a mile and a quarter, when the New York
train came in sight. The whistle for the
breaks and to reverse the engine was
blown, and the Philadelphia train com
menccd backing, and soon got under rap
id headway for Burlington again. In this
reverse movement the passenger cars
usually placed behind and coming after
the locomotive, were now II front and
pushed forward by the locomotive.
The engineer. being with the locomo-
tive, of course had not tbs advantage oI
seeing what was ahead Of the backward
going train. He had run but quarter
of mile, and mile from Burlington,
when the first passenger car come in col
lision with light pleasure WAGON, driven
by DR.. Hannegan, of Columbus, New Jer-
sey, who attempted to cross the track in
front of the ears. The wagon contained
Or. Hannegan, his wife, and two children
The former, it is said, is hard of hearing,
and By this imfrmity caused an accident
nearly similar, but not so fatal, near Bev-
erly, about a year ago. The doctor had
seen the cars pass as he was driving down
the road, and, supPosing all safe, neglect
ed to keep proper lookout.
The first passenger car struck the two
borses in the wagon just as they were
crossing the track, killed them instantly,
and threw one thirty feet on one side OF
the track and the other forty yards on the
other side. The wagon was turned round
and upset, none of its inmates being in
iured except in slight bruises. The front
car, (A,) after striking the horses, ran
forward and off the track about one hun,
dred yards and over small cmbankment;
the second (B) was thrown directly across
the track; the third car (C) went through
ear (B) and stopped diaconally across the
road; the fourth car (D) followed and ran
into car c. The fifth passenger car and
the baggage car stopped without leaving
the track. The two latter were not in
jured, but three of the other passenger
cars were knocked to pieces, and many Of
their occupants were killed, wounded and
manned.
It is impossible to describe the horrible
scene that ensued. The ears were piled
upon each other, and numbers of human
beings were lying among the ruins-somc
dead, some dying, some shrieking from
pain. Those saved in the train and the
passengers on the down train, aided by
citizens Of Burlington, who we're quickly
informed of the terrible accident, went to
work to rescue the wounded and dying
from the ruins. As soon as taken out
they were conveyed to Burlington, W here
many private houses, as well as Agnew :
and kelly's tayerns, were thrown open to
the admission Of the wounded, while the
Lyccum was appropriated for the recep-
ton Of the dead. Some had been crushed
to death instantly, leaving scarcely a
trace to recognise them by; some had
been torn limb from limb by the splinters,
benches, and floors, and their remains
scattered in every direction; many were
suffering from crushed limbs broken backs,
and injured and lacerated bodies.
The scene was a heart-sickening one;
but, oil lis terrors, there were noble in
stances Of resignation, self-sacrifcing
spirit from the sufferers, which honored
human nature. One gentleman, the Hon.
Wm. B. McClay, cx-member of Congress
from New York, who was severely injured
begged those who came to his aid to give
their attention to others more dangerous
ly wounded One individual. with bis
foot crushed, refused to receive the aid Of
the doctors till they had relieved the suf.
fcriDgs Of others Who seemed more to re-
quire medical assistance.
1t was nearly an hour before all the
dead and wounded were cxtricated and
placed in the hands Of persons ready to
aid them. Eleven dead bodies were ta-
ken out Of the ruins, and others were so
badly injured that they died as soon as
they got to the hotel at Burlington 1t is
supposed that from fifty to sixty persons
have been wounded, some seriously and
others only slightly.
The following is a list Of the killed and
wounded as near as could be ascertaincd
in the excitement, confusion, and distress
the melancholy occurrence produced
Killed
Mr.. George W. Ridgeway, oil mer-
chant, Philadelphia.
Alex. Kelley, quecnswarc store, Phila-
dclphia.
Baron de St. Andre, French consul,
Philadelphia.
Edward P. Bacon, Spring Garden St,
Philadelphia.