American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-11-17
The Recent Accident on tho Pa =
a. N cific Railroad.

tho streets through which the funeral
professions passed were drapcd in
mourning, and nothing was left undonc
says the lntolligencer,t to solcmnize the
occasion as its mournful nature demand
cd. are rTFfE g.rfw Fr1
The following graphic description
the catastrophe is gison by the editor
of the News, one ofthe excursionists:
cit is before us now-that terrible
scene. The moment before the long
train with its load of life approached
the fatal spot, many were intently OBJ
serving from the windows the well
marked line which separated the thick
turbid waves of the Missouri from the
waters of the Gasconadc; others look
ed out on the long bridge we were APP
proaching, and remarked on its strength
or its frailty; an old gentleman, whom
we thought unduly cautious or nervous
wished he was out, "for," said he 81
believe that bridge will break down."
We glanced out the window near us,
in q careless way to see the structure,
and turned round again without the
shadow of a doubt that we were DOOM
ed not to cross it. At that moment
came the destruction. We could see
nothing but we could hear everything.
A sharp, piercing sound, as of shattered
timbers, came from the front. We knew
its meaning. The bridge had broken
down. Then followed four separate,
defined crashes, and our car took the
inevitable plunge.
AT the first sound we sprang to our
feet and started to run backwards. 1t
seemed as though the ruin was APP
preaching us instead of onr nearing it.
Every man in the crowded car in which
we were seated jumped up, as the shiv-
er in front told of the coming danger.
During those few terrible moments in
which we approached the precipice, the
intensest silence prevailed. Not word
was spoken. We had given but two
steps backward in an involuntary eff
fort to avoid danger, when our time
came to follow those who had gone be-
fore. Down, down, down, endlessly
we seemed to go. We were not long
falling, yet it seemed ages. The mem
Dry Of railroad accidents we had read
of, and the reflections that we were in
the midst of ono of frightful charac-
ter; the question, soon to be solved,
whether we would escape or be killed;
the reflection that we might be killed
the next moment, and the inward be-
lief that we would not be killed at all;
a chilling thought at the idea of being
crushed by a beam, or transfxcd by a
rod, OF torn asunder by adverse circum-
stances-all these thoughts flashed a.
cross our mind while falling. Then
there was tremendous conclusion, and
we found that we were on the ground,
under mass Of leaning timber, which,
however, did not touch us. Though in
the midst Of crowd when the car COM
menced falling, we saw no one near us
on the ground. We crawlcd out from
under the wreck, and thanked God that
VIC were safe. We sat down on stone
to recover from the shock. There was
not sound to be heard. Not shrek
or groan or cry came from the wreck.
All was silent as death. ..r
After moment We looked and lis
tened again. Men were creeping,
crawling and hobbling from the shat
tered cars, some holding a leg, some
pressing an arm, and some clasping
the head. Several sat down near us
and breathcd heavily, but spoke not
A man staggered by and said, quietly,
"my collar bone is broken" Capt.
COuzcns went past with q man swing
ing to his neck. His feet did not touch
the ground, for his legs were broken.
"A wooden shanty was standing short
distance off, and VIC got up and walked
to it. Mayor King, with the blood
streaming over his face, from cash
on his forehead, was trying to tear
down the door. He finally succeeded,
and we then, assisted by others who
had come up, tore off the sides, so as
easily to admit Of the wounded being
brought in. The floor was soon cover
ed with the PROSTATE forms of men
marked by every description of injury.
One had leg lying unnaturally bent,
or an arm doubled backward; here
was one bending his head forward to
let the blood drip from a gaping cash
in his face, and there another with his
bowels protuding from hideous wound
in his body. No one complained, ex-
cept when those who brought in the
wounded, in their haste, stepped on a
fractured arm, or disturbed broken
leg. Those suffering victims showed
no weak timidity nor sclishness.-
Even through their agony shonc the
traits of q generous manhood. No one
desired to engross the attention of his