American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1855-09-08
NEWS DEP ARTMENT.
AWFUL RAIL ROAD ACCIDENT!
% Persons Killed and so or so wounded!l

phia for New York at 10 o'clock, on
Wednesday, August 29th, consisting of
hive passenger cars, baggage car and
locomotive, had reached Burlington
just before II o'clock. 1t then stop
ped, waiting for the arrival of the 8
o'clock New York train from Jersey
City, which passes at this place. AZ
ter waiting from 5 to 10 minutes, and
the New York train not appearing. the
Philadelphia train went forward slowly,
watching for the approach of the down
train. 1t had advanced about mile
and u quarter, when the New York
train came in sight. The whistle for
the breaks and to reverse the engine
was blown, and the Philadelphia train
commenced backing, and soon got I'M
der rapid Roadway for Burlington again
In this reverse movement, the engine
pushing the train before it, the engineer
had not the advantage of Watching the
track. He had run but nc-fourth of
a mile, and was about mile from Bur
lington, when the first passenger car
came in collision with light pleasure
wagon, driven by DR.. flanagan, of
Columbus, n. j., who attempted to cross
the track in front of the cars.
The wagon contained DR.. flanagan,
his wife and two children. The Doctor
it is said, is hard of hearing, and by this
infrmity caused an accident nearly sim
liar, but not so fatal, near Beverly, a.
bout a year ago. lie had seen the cars
pass as he was driving down the road, &
supposing all safe, did not keep proper
lookout. The first car struck the two
horses in the wagon, just as they were
crossing the track, killing them instant
ly, and threw one 80 feet on one side
Of the track, and the other 40 yards on
the other side. The wagon was turned
round and upset, none of it's inmates
being injured, except in slight bruises.
The front car, A, after striking the hor-
scs, ran forward and of the track, about
100 yards, and over small cmbank-
mcnt. The second car, b, was thrown
directly across the track. The third
car, G, went through car b, and stopped
dIagonally across the road; the fourth
car, ID, followed and ran into c. The
fifth passenger car and the baggage car
stopped without leaving the track
The two latter were not injured, but
the other three cars were knocked to
pieces, and many of their occupants
were killed, wounded and manned.
1t is impossible to describe the hor-
rblc scene that ensucd. The cars were
piled upon each other, and numbcrs of
human beings were lying among the
rnlns-somo dead, some dying, some
shrleklng from pain. Those saved in
the tram, and the passengers on the
down train, aided by citizens of Bur-
lmgton, who were quickly informed Of
the terrible accident, went to work to
rescue the wounded and dying from the
ruins. AS soon as taken out they were
conveyed to Burlington, where many
private houses, as well as Agncw's and
kclly's taycrns, were thrown open to
the admission of the wounded, while
the Lyccum was appropriated for the
reception Of the dead. Some had been
crushed to death instantly, leaving
scarcely trace to recognize them by;
some had been torn limb from limb by
the splintcrs, benches and floors, and
their remains scattered in every dircc-
ton. Many were suffering from crush
ed limbs, broken backs, and injured and
laccratcd bodies. The scene was
Notwithstanding one; but amid all its
tcrrOrs, there were noblo instances of
resignation, a sclf-sacriiicing spirit
from the sufferers, which honored hui
man nature.
James Whcdcn, one of the passengers
who was on the train with about $50
others states that it was going at the
rate of thirty miles an hour, when the
collision occurred. lie heard no whis-
tic; and made signs to the conductor
to stop, but he thinks it was too late
v. was standing on the platform, and
was thrown off and injured.
The cause Of this terrible calamity
will no doubt be investigated, to fix tho
responsibility where it properly belongs.
Whether the conductors of the resp0c-
tive trains were running according to
regulations, both being on the same
time and running towards each other,
We do not know, but it placed the Phil
adclphia train in a very dangerous pos
ition. If tho engineer had seen tho
wagon andstoppcd his engine, the prob
abilities are that the New York train,
following close behind, would have run
into him. Unless a company has two
tracks to run upon, train delayed be-
You'd its time should inyaribly wait
till the other has passed, and with 50
short distance between Burlington
and Borden, neither should have moved
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