Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-03-19

A most terrible and heart-rending accdentoccurred
on the Seaboard Railroad on Monday last. We
gather the principal facts as follows. from the Pc
tersburg Express of Wednesday last They agree
substantially with the information we have received
Of this terrible occurrence:
"The accident occurred at the tresse bridge about
one mile this side of Margarettsville in the county
OF northampton, N. C. Fortunately the train con.
sisted only OF the engine, tender, Express Baggage
and Mail car, and one passenger coach-Had there
been the usual number of passengers, which fire.
quenty number seventy-five or hundred, the loss
OF lie would have been alarming. The and
powerful locomotive, driven by Mr.. WIN. Wey-
mouth rushed through the frail timbers first drag
ging the remainder of the train after 1.-THE mail
car was broken in twain but the latteer portion fell
directly on top of the former and the passenger coach
was piled up on all the rest. The tresseng at this
point IS only about eighteen twenty feet in height
Capt Kilkelly, Messenger for the Adams Express
Company, VIM. H.. Daughtrey, Mail Agent, Oc-
tavius Cooke, Assistant Mail Agent, and Charles
Carey, newspaper vender, were all together in the
mail car, ard unfortunately, were doomed to die a
most horrible death by being burnt alive
Capt. George c. Bourdette, the Conductor, Dr.
Williamson and lady, formerly of Weldon, Mr.. H.
Woods Niemeyer of Portsmouth, and Others we're
in the passenger COACH and were all seriously injured
though, it is hoped, not fatally.
Mr.. Friedland, the baggage MASTER two train
hands, and the fireman, all who escaped entirely
uninjured.
Mr.. Friedland states that the mail car took fire
first, and rapidly did the flames progress that in
less than twenty-five minutes, the entire train was
reduced to heap, of sInouldcring ruins. Mr.. F.
says he distinctly heard and recognized the voice of
Mr.. Daughtrey, the Mail Agent, also of young Oc-
tavus Cooke, who pleaded most piteousy to be re-
leased from their horrible situations. There was no
axe at hand to cut them loose, could bucket
tie obtained to throw water into the burning car so
he used his hat, and poured in the water until the
flames became so intense, he was compelled to desist.
He says the cries cf the victims indcscrbable
and the recollection of them can er be etfaced
from his memory. lie thinks it probable that Capt.
kilkelly and young Charles Carey, were severely
stunned, or killed outright by the terrible plunge of
the car, as he heard nothing from either of them.
negro woman is said to be missing and the pre-
sumption is she was entirely consumed.
Mr.. VIM. Weymouth, the engineer had both legs
badly crushed, and it is feared amputation will be
necessary, even though his life should be saved.
DIR. Williamson and lady, formerly of Weldon,
are not fatally injured though the DR.. has received
frightful wound across the face Just under the
nose.
Capt. Bourdett the Conductor, had his head bad
ly bruised, and several ribs were broken
Mr. John B. Everett Of Nashville, Tenn, escaped
with some few bruises.
Mr. w. E. Edwards, of Greensborough, n. c.,
was severely bruised, and lost two trunks of gold
watches and jcwery which were so damaged by the
fire as to be utterly vaueless.
Miss Rowe, of Norfolk, en- route for Colds.
boro n. c., and received injuries internally.
ADDITIONAL PARTIcuLARs.-Mr Wm E. Rice. of
Nicholas county, KY, who passenger on the
unfortunate train, came up on the Petersburg road
yesterday and is now stopping in this CITY, He
called at our office last evening, and gave US some
additional information. He says the cars were rum.
ing at the rate of about twenty TWENTY-FIVE miles
per hour, and he things there were about twenty
persons in the passenger coach. The first intima-
ton he had OF the accident was loud crash, and
the next instant he was PROSTATE on his back, and
every other passenger in the coach heaped upon
him. As soon he could extricate himself he pro-
ceedcd to release the ladies from the wreck Uhere
being but three,) and then took young Niemeyer,
and conveyed him to place of safety. He saws
Mr.. N. is very seriously injured. Mr.. Rice saws
Dr. Wilamson's face is frightfully cut and bruised.
He thinks at least fortyivc minutes elapsed before
the entire train consumed
Young Octavius Cooke was cut from the mail car,
and taken out alive but died in fifteen minutes after
he was released His feet and legs were very bad
ly burned.
W. H. Daughtrey, the mail agent had one arm
burned entirely off up to the elbow, and was dread
fully blackened and scorched in other portions his
body.
Young Charles Cary, the book agent, was also
badly burnt, and entirely dead when taken from the
Capt. Kilkely, Messenger for the Adams Express
Company, was burnt to crisp-his heart and some
few bones being all that was recovered. These were
placed in coffin, and sent to Goldsborough, n. c.,
Wnere an aHcctOnate Vile and four interesting chill
dren survive the ill-fated father
Mr.. Daughterey leaves a wife and three children,
who reside in Norfolk
Miss Rowe had several hundred dollars about her,
which was lost, and along with every particle of her
cothlng, save that she wore, consumed.
Mr.. Everett, of Nashville, also lost several hun
dred dollars in money!
The Adams Express Company had very valuable
freight on the train. Several of watches and
jewelry, and several thousand dollars in newly en-
graved notes for OF the Wilmington Banks
These, however, had never been signed, and the
loss will be tr6ing. i
The CAUSE OF THE AccDENT.-All attribute the
accident to the unsoundncss of the tressle bridge
the wood in many portions being much decayed.-
Mr. Rice says gentleman residing in the vicinity of
Margarettsve stated at the of the disaster
Monday that fears relative to the safety ofthe brdge
had been entertained for twelve months past"
The Norfolk papers attribute this loss of life
and property to some unprincipled scoundrels
but for what object it is impossible to divine" The
Herald says that Friday the tressle-work was
Thoroughly examined and pronounced to be per-
fecty safe and in good order. and on Saturday |
very heavy freight train of forty cars passed over
without damaging the structure"
Mr.. Kikelly was we'll known in this City, having |
served his apprenticeship with Mr.. Loring in the
Standard office. He intelligent, kind heart
ed man; and his death is deeply depiored. His fu- |
neral took place IN this City, at the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, on Wednesday evening last; and his
remains were inferred in the City cemetery
GLORIOUS PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLEs.-The Resolu-
tons adODted bv the late State Democratic Conven.