Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-19


Further Particulars of the Great Rail-
rond Accident aear Philadelphia.
The latest accounts from the scene of the
disaster report SO killed and nearly 100 badly
injured.
Eight hundred persons were on the train.
Six cars were entirely demolished.
Among the killed is Father Sheridan, of st.
Michael's Catholic Church.
The excursion train contained HOO chill
dren. with their parents and teachers.
They came in collision with down train
on the curve near Fort Washington, while the
latter train was going slowly. and the former
rapidly, endeavoriug to reach the stopping
place.
Both locomotives were crushed, and three
of the cars of the excursion train, rushing to-
gether, caught fire, and were consumed.
Beneath their ruins were a number, crush
ed so that extrication was impossible.
The scene was of the most heart-rending
and terrible description.
The killed are-Daniel Sheridan, chorister
of the church, body not yet recovered; Hugh
Campbell. Mary Kelly, james McIntire, John
Dogan, Edward Hall, John Rivers, Jan es
Hickey, William Barnard, Henry Hams,
Mary McDrain, Catherine McGuirk, Ellen
Clark, Catherine MoGrugan, Kate McGirr,
John Brady, Margaret Meary, John Mcguire,
James Carney Henry Harrison, engineer of
the up train.
In addition to these, seventeen bodies were
counted beneath the ruins of the cars, mostly
consumed.
Eleven men and women and two children
were consumed in one car
The total killed is 80, and wounded SO.
The scene of the accident is IA miles from
Philadelphia, in the neighborhooi of two
curves, so that approaching trains cannot be
seen 500 yards, and the track is a single one.
When the locomotives came together they
rose on an end, their fire. boxes nearly touch
ing one another, and fell over across the road.
The fire being scattered about the wreck of
the first excursion car, it caught lire, and ex-
tended to the two other cars, piled upon it.
Most extraordinary efforts were made to ex-
tricate the mutilated beings crushed amid the
wreck, many of whom were still alive when
the flames reached them.
The groans and cries that filed the air were
awful.
Two hotels, one dwelling. blacksmith
shop, and small shed, within three hundred
yards of the disaster, were used to shelter the
dying and wounded.
A number of physicians from Philadelphia
and Germantown, were hastily ia attendance
Two engineers from Chestnut Hill forced
working for several hours, the human remains
beneath it were removed.
Nineteen bodies were removed to the black
smith shop, three of them supposed to be fe.
males.
Under another shed were eight bodies, so
charred as TO defy recognition.
The body of Father Sheridan was recover.
ed. and brought to the city.
An immense crowd was attracted to the
spot from the surrounding sectious of the
country.
VIM. Van Staven, the conductor fthe down
train, has committed suicide by taking ar
senic.
VIM. Lee, the engineer of the same tram,
has been arrested and committed for examina.
ton.
The train Thursday morning brought down
four bodies burned to a crisp. These were
those of John Dillon, two brothers named
Rovce. and one unknown.
All the human remains wers gathered up
and brought to Philadelphia. Twenty seven
bodies have not been recognized, and they
are SO badly burned it is feared they never can