Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-31
BY THE MORNINGS MAIL.
Tie Railroad .4eeidsnt- FarsAg Partie.lar

trine, and his wife, and the doctors child. He
was driving TO Burngtonio for the purpose of cross
ing to Bristol, but went through Florence to visit
his patients. lie was turning from the river road
into the Bordehtown road, by side road crossing
the railroad. He heard whistle or notice of any
train, and saw none. lie looked up and down the
track, and saw no train in either direction. He
then drove on the track but, on arriving close to
1t, he heard a rushing noise as of cars moving
when he Immediately rened up, but the motion of
the train was SO rapid that the horses only halted
on the rails when the train reached them
He is positive that the train was running ut a
rate of thirty miles per hour. The cars struck the
horses, killing them instantly, and upset the car
riage. The Doctor was thrown out receiving an
injury in his shoulder. His family escaped with
only some slight bruises. He attributes the acct
dent to the engineer not ringing his bell, and back
ing down at the rate of thirty miles an hour. An
act of the Legislature fixes the rate Of speed to six
miles an hour within the bound of the city, where
the accident occurred. The Doctor adds that he
has been cautious in approaching railroad tracks
from previous accident, when wagon, contain
ing several members of his family, was broken to
pieces by the horses.
The special correspondent of the Associated
Press, who is at Burlington, tclegraphs that no
deaths occurred during the night, and that most
Of the wounded are doing well. The coroner was
proceeding with the inquest, but no testimony had
been taken yet.
William II. Newbold, broker, of Philadelphia, is
dreadfully injured, and it is supposed cannot sur
vive.
The train on the Trenton road from New York
was detained two hours to-day by the breaking Of
the connecting rod. The fireman, named Taylor,
was struck on the head, and badly hurt.
Miss Maria Newbold, a daughter of George New
bold, Esq, of this city, is also seriously hurt.
SECOND DESPATCH
PHILADELPHIA August 30.--The number of per-
sons killed by the accident is ascertained to be
twenty-three two of whom have not yet been re-
cognised. The number of persons disabled is fifty,
besides large number with minor injuries, but
who are able to be about. Some five or six are
considered fatally injured, the others are getting
along comfortably. Several mistakes have occurred
in consequence Of persons names being given from
articles found in the possession Of the dead.
The coroner commenced an inquest at 10 o'clock
this morning.
The first witness examined was Mrs. Cooke,
living near the scene of the disaster. She related
seeing the wagon approaching and called out to
the driver greatly excited, experimenting that the
give any further account than that the cars APP
peared to her to have suddenly disappeared, and
she could not tell where they went to. She heard
no signals, as usual, at the crossing.
Other witnesses were examined before the jury.
DR.. Hennken repeated his statement as above
given. The engineer of the train stated that he
was backing at the rate Of Is miles per hour. The
engineer Of the do n train said that he was
ming at the rate of 20 miles the hour, and did not
gain on the train that was backing down, but mere
ly followed at the distance of half mile.
Mr.. Van Rensselaer,, the superintendent of the
road, read the time table and rules for the govern
ment of the engineers, and expressed the opinion
that the engineers had obeyed their instructions
and were not censurable.
A juror asked him whether the accident would
have occurred had there been two tracks. He re.
piled that at that place and to that train two
tracks would have prevented the accident.
The conductor of the up train was examined
and corroborated the others regard to the speed
of the train and the principal circumstances. The
jury then adjourned till tomorrow.
Thirty of the wounded still remain at Burling.
ton. The remains of Messrs. Dalam and Mere
dith have been removed to Baltimore by their
friends.
A number of the victims were inferred at Bur-
lngton, the church bells tolng during the funeral
Two bodies were unrecognised-one is that Of
an old man about so, respectfully dressed the
other is apparently that Of Irish laborer. 1t is
terribly mutilated.
From the Ledger.
As soon as the bodies were extricatcd cofins
were procured for the dead, in which their bodies
we're placed, and the names of the deceased marked
upon the top. All business in the town was sus-
pended and there was constant stream OF per-
sons going in and coming out the Lsceum who
were curious to see the bodies, while the houses in
which the wounded had been placed were thronged.
Each boat and train arriving from Philadelphia
brought friends Of those who were passengers on
the Inflated train, all of whom were seeking from
house to house for tidings of those who were near
and dear to them. The whole scene was terrible
to witness and will not soon be forgotten.
One car contained only seven ladies, all of whom
we're injured except one. Two gentlemen, in ono
Of the cars which was broken mp, got out safely,
but in what way or manner they could not tell.
One Of them rccolects getting on the outside of
the car and jumping upon the bank OF earth; that
Is all he knows of the ffightful and tragcal affair.
As soon as the news of the melancholy disaster
reached Philadelphia, q number Of our physicians
fastened to the scene, and rendered essential SER
vice to the wounded. The physicians Of Burling-
ton and vicinity were promptly on the ground, aud
aided the sufferers by their attention and skill.
The citizens of Burlington, also, especially the
ladies', exertcd themselves to their utmost to re-
lieve the suferngs Of the wounded and assuage
the agonies Of the dying.
A special train Of cars was despatched by Mr..
Gatzmer, containing Drs. p. b. Goddard, Ed. L.
Huston, Cullam, Rowand, Fisher, and Schenck
Drs. Grant, Trimble, Butler, Chamoner, Turf, and
Pugh, Of Burlington; and Drs. William and John
Brien, Of Beverly; and Drs. Reed and Stratton, Of
Mount Holly, who worked nobly in relieving the
suiFerings Of the wounded.
The cause Of this terrible calamity will no doubt
be investigated, to fix the responsibility where il
properly belongs. Whether the conductors Of the
respective trains we're running according to regu-
lations, both being on the same track at the same
time, and running towards each other, we do not
know; but Il placed the Philadelphia train in a
very dangerous position. If The engineer had seen
The wago,i and had stopped his engine, the proba-
biiities are that Tie NcD York train, .totioring
close behind ,could haze run into him. Unless a
company has two tracks to run upon, train de-
layed beyond its time should invariably wait until
the other has passed, and, with so short distance
between Burlington and Bordentown, neither
should hare morcd bcforc teiegrdphing 10 the other.
A train that is compelled to back ought TO have a
conductor or person to give signals at the end OPP
posite to the engineer, and the whistles ought to
he kept all the time blowing. Above ALL persons
riding in the vicinity Of railroads should exercise
more than ordinary care and discretion, and never
presume they are cafe till they are 80 far from the
track that they are out Of the reach Of danger.