The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1855-11-17

upon llS sym pdlDleS anu dSSlSldHCe,
in haste back to Herman.
The editor Of the ST. Louis News was on
the doomed train. and gives graphic de-
the rejoicing along the road, he saws:
But how soon was the scene to be chang
ed How soon were so many Of those boun-
ding hearts to be pulseless No one dream
ed that death was so near, and yet it lurked
for US only few miles further on. At
o clock we left Hermann, preceded by To-
comotve and tender which had been sent
toward, to see that the way was clear, and
no danger was impending. Soon we came
in sight Of the bridge across the Gascohade
river, about nine miles from Hermann, and
about thirty-fve from Jefferson City. The
bridge is approached by an enbanknient thir-
ty feet high, which terminates in a massive
stone abutment. Forty yards from the abut
ment, and just at the edge of the river. stands
another stone pillar three moreof which ZACH
TO the other side of the stream. and support
the bridge. The river is about two hundred
and fifty yards wide, and the bridge thirty
feet high, at least. The Pioneer locomotive
had crossed the structure safely. and was
waiting on the othey side to see the result of
our attempt. There was no fear Of danger
and no apprehension of peril.
/ We slowly moved along the embankment
and came on to the bridge. The locomotive
! had passed the first span, and had its fore
wheels above the first pillar-bsyond the
abument there being then, resting on the
first span the locomotive, baggage car and
two heavily loaded passenger cars. The
weight was too much for the long, slender
timbers which supported the rails and the
enormous load above, Suddenly we heard a
hOrrid Crash--it rings in our ears now-and
saw movement amongst those in the car
i'll which we were seated then there came
h--crasl1--crash-as each car came to
The abutment, and took the fatal plunge
The affair was but the work of an instant.
We Were running slowly at the time, aud
the successive crashes came on at intervals
of nearly second. We ourself were seated
., III the seventh car-there being three behind
us-and when we heard the horrid sound
| that came up, as each slowly and deliberate
Iy took the leap, we hoped that our car might
stop before ii reached the precipice. But
no {; IL seemed that the spirit of ruin was be-
: meath, determinedly dragging each car to the
spot Wrenchlng 1t from its laStenings. and
| hurling 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 i'll it were only bruised. The eigh,
, and ninth cars tumbled down the embank-
ment before they reached the abutment
Such Il wreck we he yer saw, and hope nev.
er again TO see. 1t was one undistinguisha.
bic mass of wooden beams. seats. iron wheels
and rods, from beneath which came up groans
| of agony. Those who could, crawed out o
the ruin Immediately, and either sought to
: relieve their own wounds or the wounds oI
their friends. Some wept tears of Joy to find
. their friends alive, and Others shuddered tc
: find their friends dead The uniniured organ
lzed themselves under the lead OF Mr.. Pride
= the conductor, and endeayored, by chopping
to extricate those who were yet alive, from
5 the wreck. Here beam was cut into, tc
1 dlsengage broken arm there an iron axle
: was nrled LID 10 relieve a nnul La ted len -