Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-09-06
Rail Road Accident.

Camden and AmbOy Railroad, on the s9lh ult.
The accident occurred two miles above Bur
lington. TWenty-tOur persons were killed, and
seventy FIVE wounded. Among the wounded
is Samuel Lahm, Esq, Of Canton, Ohio, who
received q conclusion of the brain and is re-
ported as being very ill-recOvery doubtful
The following account Of the accident We clip
from the New York Tribune.
The circumstances Of the catastrophe are
briefly as follows; The 10 o'clock train from
Philadelphia LEFT punctually on Wednesday
morning, and consisted Of FIVE passenger-cars,
baggage car, and locomotive. Israel Adams
was the engineer and Isaac Van NosiTand the
conductor. The train reashed Burlington sta,
ton few moments past | | o'clock, and wait
ed the arrival of the New York train from FIVE
to ten minutes. The uptrain not making its
appearance, the Philadelphia ain moved on.
ward at a moderate rate-the engineer keeping
look out for the other train. 1t had pro-
gressed about mile and half, when the ex-
pected train came in sight, and Immediately
gave two loud, sharp blows ofthe steam-whis
tie, which is the signal for the brakes and to
reverse the engine. The engineer Of the Phil
adelphia train. alarmed at his desperate po-
silion, instantly commenced backing, and got
under a headway Of between twenty and thirty
miles per hour, for Burlington again. To com.
prehend this reverse movement it must be re-
membered that the passenger.cars, usually
placed behind and coming after the locomotive.
we're now in front and pushed forward by the
locomotive. Thus the engineer was of course
ignorant as 10 what was in advance Of the back
ward going train. He had run but one half Of
a mile when the first passenger car came in
contact with light wagon driven by Dr. Hei-
ncken Of Columbus, N. j., who attempted to
cross the track in front of the cars.
The pole of the carriage breaking, the occu-
pants, consisting OF the Doctor, his wife, two
children and wie's father, escaped unhurt--
One Of the horses was dashed to pieces, but
the carcass of the other, falling across the rails,
turned the first car off the track. The subse.
quent destruction can be readily understood
when the rapid rate at which the train was
impeled is considered. The first car being dri-
ven backward, the second was thrown diagonaIly
across the track, and its center literally smash.
ed into atoms by the conclusion with the third.
Both of these cars fell down the embankment,
height OF about seven ur eight feet There
were five cars torn to pieces. A more COM
plete wreck was never Witnessed One Of the
cars was reduced to splinters; another was cut
in twain, one end being reversed, and the
other end in an upright position, frightfully
shattered. The other cars were ripped from
one end 10 the other and beyond repair. Some
of the heavy iron axles were twisted into a
bow. The heavy rail was bent in some
places and torn from its fastenings, the inside
hanges being cut as if by sharp axe.
The scene which ensued battles description.
The cars piled upon each other, in shattered
fragments, from beneath which myraids Of hu-
man beings were crawling, manned, broken,
and reeking with blood like perspiration; the
shrieks, groans, nay, absolute bowllngs OF the
wretched beings thus enlombed as it were in
destruclon-mangled forms Of men and women
huddled together with broken panels, bars of
iron, massive wheels, and scattered baggage
all combined TO render this fearful scene even
more terrible to the imagination. One OF the
passengers-Mr. George Ridge way-lumped
from the train, and the next instant was bur
led beneath it lifeless, disfgured mass. Those
persons who came to the rescue knew not
. WleIG W D6Slu buO WHh VI hooISeouNO hNLA thO
urgent calls which arose on every side. The
unhurs and the least injured were crawling up
the banks, many Of them being able to walk to
the houses in the neighborhood, where they
prayed for a glass of Water-ther suferings
being fearfully aggravated by thirst. On
every side could be heard the sobs and wall
ings of those who had Just recognized a dear
friend or relative among the manged and con-
i glomerate mass, Wives for their husbands,
husbands for their wives, parents, chlldren-al
joined in swelling ths vast aggregate of agony
and horror.
AS soon as the accident was known, John
? Frick, one of the Directors OF the Burlington
Y and Mount Holly Railroad, the depot of whlcl
is close TO the scene of the disaster, got ready
a train O! cars and proceeded TO the spot. Ill
nobly assisted in.extricatng the wounded froA
the wreck, and took the cushions and doors o
a the cars for beds on which to lay them. FL
: then started the train down TO Burlington ant
prepared quarters for them, where they
> received such care and attention as their inju
nes required. He then returned with the trail
and brought down the dead, who were place.
in coffns and taken to the Lyceum
: While the details of this horrible catastrophe
were heart sickening to degree, they wer
yet characterized by an amount Of resignation
: and self sacrifice on the partof the victim
! which reflected credit upon humanity. Pa
tiently and uncomplainingly did they, In th
majority Of instances, bear their sufIerings.-
Go, said the heroic Mr.. Maclay to trent
who was anxiously endeaVoring to relieve hi
7 agcnies, there are others who require you
afIantions nore Than do. attent to them
can waltz Nor is this solitary case of mag
nanlmity; there was many an instance amonl
the sufferers which manifested the finer traits Q
mans nature. |
t 1t is gratifying to notice the prompt and efici
8 ent aid administered by the citizens ofBarling
ton The ladies were foremost i'll the work Q
charity, and to thir efforts is many wounde
man and woman indebted for life. They wer