The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-11-08
From the ST Loui. Republican, Nov. -
MOST DISASTEROJS ACCIDENT
.Ssvsa.sen Persons hiAed-- Great -N,tna5ers
VCrUle9

MOST DISASTROUS ACCIDENT
.Ssrsa.sen Persons hTHed- Great Nlns5e~s
Wounded.
The magnificent train Of cars which lsis
our civ Yesterday morning, on an excursion
to Jefferson city. TO celebrate the opening Of
the Pacific RAILROAD to that place. Is now s
mass of ruins. and infinitely worse than this
many Of the noble hearts that participate IN
the pride OF the occasion, are now sili!ed IN
death.
The train, consisting Of fourteen cars, left
the depot on Seventh street. al 9 o'clock, crow
ded with invited guests, a half hour after the
time advertised By the time 1t reached Her
mann, this delay was fully recovered, thus
showing the good condition OF the track
After leaving Hermann. the train proceeded
with good speed, and without the least diff
Guilty until 1t reached the G4sconace, when
one of the most disastrous accidents occur
red WHICH has yet thrown this city into mourn
ing
The bridge across that stream gave way and
ten of the cars precipltsted = distance Of
twenty Eve or thirty ieet The locomotive
from all appearances, had reached the edge of
the first pier, when the structure gave way,
and in falling reversed lis position entirely,
the front turning TO the East, and the wheels
upward. On the locomotive a; the Time were
the President, Mr.. II. L. Bridge. Mr.. O'Sulli
van the Chief Engineer of the road. and an
additional number OF employees.
Mr. Bridge. it is supposed. IS the only one
Of the individuals saved. An hour after the
disaster, voices beneath the wreck of the loco
motive were heard asking for assistance, and
when We left the scene OF disaster active et
forts were being made for the relief Ok suffer
ers Il is posslble-nay, it IS to be hoped
probable, that some of these unfortunates may
have been rescued.
The road enters the bridge with a curve,
and this circumstance, perhaps, prevented
the disaster from being more fatal, as the cars
thereby ware diverted. aul thus prevented
them from falling directly in a general melee
Enough of injury, however, was accomplish
ed. The baggage car, next the Engine, wen:
down, to use the expression OF one who was
in il, extremely easy" without causing any
serious casualty The first and second pas
senger cars followed and in these several
were killed, and general number more or
less mangled.
In the third car, one or two were killed,
only This ear, although in dangerous po
siton, and almost entirely demolished, was
less fatal to life and limb. In the fourth and
fifth cars great many were fatally injured,
and several instantly killed. The balance OF
the train followed swiftly on their fatal errand
and the loss of life. with confusions more or
ess severe, dreadful
Some of the cars plunged on those beneath
them with their preponderous wheels, and
crashed or manned the unfortunate persons be-
low. Others hung up on the cliff in per-
pendicular position, aud two or three turned
bottom upw ard down the grade Only one
the extreme rear car--maintaIned It's position
on the rail.
The Lutelligencer thus describes the horrible
accident:
At1o'clock we left Hermann, preceded by
locomotive and tender, which had been sent
forward, to see that the way was clear, and no
danger impending. Soon we came III sight
of the bridge across the GaSconade river, a5eut
nine miles from Hermann, and about thirty
five from Jefferson City. The bridge IS ap-
preached by an embankment thirty feet high,
which terminates in massive stone abutment
Forty yards from the abutment, and just at
the edge of the river, stands another staunch
stone pillar three more of which reach 10 the
o.her side of the stream, and support the
bridge The river is about two hundred and
fifty yards wide, aud the bridge thirty feet
high, at least The Pioneer locomotive had
crossed the structure safely, and was waiting
tempt There was no fear of danger, and no
apprehension Of peril. We slowly moved
along the embankment, and came TO the
bridge. The locomotive had passed the first
span, and had its forewheels above the first
the abutment-there being
then, resting on the first span, the locomotive,
baggage car and two heavily loaded passen-
ger cars The weight was too much for the
long, slender timbers which supported the
rails and the enormous load above.
Suddenly we heard a horrd crash-it rings
in our ears now-and saw movement amongst
those in the car in which we were seated; then
there came h-crash--crash-as each car
came to the abutment, and took the fatal plunge.
The affair was but the work of instant
We were running slowly at the time, and the
successive crashes came on at intervals of
nearly a second. We ourSelf were seated In
the seventh car-there being three behind US
and when we heard the horrid sound that
came up, as each ear slowly and deliberately
took the leap, we hoped that our car nigh
stop before it reached the precipice. But no:
it seemed that the spirit of ruin was beneath,
determinedly dragging each car to the spot,
wrenching i from It's fastenings, and hurting
it to atoms beneath, Six cars fell in one mass,
each on the other, and were shivered into
fragments The seventh fell with its forward
end to the ground; but the other end rested
on the top of the abutment. Those in 1t Were
only bruised. The eighth and ninth cars
tumbled down the embankment before they
reached the abutment.
Such wreck we never saw, and hope
never again 10 see. Il was one undisting uisable
mass Of wooden beams, seats, iron wheels and
rods, from beneath which came up groans Of
agony. Those who could. crawled out Of the
ruin Immediately. and either sought to relieve
their own wounds or the wounds of their
friends Some wept tears of JOY to find their
friends alive; and others shuddered to find