The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1856-05-31
Pr.tn the c ucsgo rim g
Frightfull Railroad Accident.


By the arrival OF The George Law at
New York, the papers Of tina, city, OF
Saturday, have full particulars of a ter
rible railroad accident at Panama. We
copy the following statement, made by a
gentlemen from this State:
/ A baggage train left Asplnwal at :
A. NJ, preceding the train which was to
carry the passengers. There were eigh,
or nine baggage cars in the train, filled
with the baggage OF the passengers. The
engine of this train a, Obispo Bridge,
thirty one miles from Aspinrall, ran of
the track. There was only single track
here, and it being impossible to raise the
engine from its position of the track. the
cars had TO remain as they were-block-
aiding the track. The engineers and
brakemen worked several hours, erecting
a platform, with the view Of getting up
the engine, but TO no purpose. As they
fale d in this and could not communicate
with either terminus OF the road Ia an
nounce the accident, they placed senti-
nel 10 guard against being run into by
any other trains, aud thus waited.
At A. NJ, an express train left As
| pinwall, with the cabin passengers Of the
George Law. THIS rain'was composed
Of baggage car and nine passenger
cars. The passenger cars were all filed
with passengers. Each contained abou,
eighty-four passengers. The eng ne of
this TAIN did no, work well, and the en-
gineer was, in consequence, forced to run
the train off on a switch at Matachin, a.
bou, mile and hal: before reaching
Obispo Bridge, where the acciden, to the
/ baggage tram occurred.
A, S l-2 A. NJ, half an hour after
the de parture Of the passenger train. a
| second passenger train. containing the
Storage passengers, left Aspinwall.
This train was also long train, and con-
tanned nine passenger ears, besides the
baggage car. Upon crossing up to where
/ the first passenger train lay switched of,
the train stopped, aud being informed OF
the disabling oil the frs, trans engine,
as also OF the acciden, 10 the baggage
traia at OblsPe Bridge. i, was decided.
!
ger train, 10 take the two trains and pro-
coed 10 Abispo Bridge. The frs. pas
senger train, accordingly, passed the
switch, after which il backed to take the
train ,Eat was switched off. The dis
a5!ed engIae had been disconnected from
Tbs train and placed upon another switch
I adjoining. The two trains thus Joined
we're drawn down by one locomotive
/ They contained twenty cars Ell. h,een
passenger and two baggage ears. Alter
| gaining the main track The train proceed
/ e4 to Oeispo Bridge. II was found impos
sitte TO 60 on to Panama In consequence
/ Of the baggage tram obs.rucging the tEac,
Il vas complete wilderness there, aud
no food being Obtained 1t was determined
TO 60 back with the entire passengers 10
AsplawalL. l. va. about 2 p. VI. when
the train thus started TO re.urn. The en-
glue was powerful one, and drew the
cars along a! full speed without. difficulty.
The speed was commented upon a dan
gergus, from the short AMI frequent curves
IL the read.
Tie locomotive AMI frs, baggage car,
| having retained their place OH the track
Proceeded some distance, as II uncoa-
sclogs Of the sudden sunaeriag Of the
| LINK ina. connected them with tue re-
naming ears 0. the train. The seven
cars succeeding the one frs, thrown from
the track were a mingled mass Of shat.
tered fragments, Portions OF the wreck
were submerged in the poad OF water on
either side oI the track, Here vas VS.
ib!e an arm and there leg, with no
other appendsge.
| In another place was presented the sad
spectacle OF mead separated from the
j body, and again human body shorn
/ entirely OF lis head and limbs. As soon
/ As possible after the crash, those unin-
lQred turaei their attention 20 discover
/ the extent OF loss Of lie and wounds
+ sustained. II sas found that beyond the
first eight cas-, the injuries were but
/ sight. Both oil these latter cars Nere
/ thrown from the track. and the occupants
received more or less COMMISSIONS. The
/ remaining cars Of the train retained
+ their places on the rails,
/ The place OF accident was near Ga
tun's Bridge, only aiue miles distance
from Aspnnall. the track for some dis
lance was completely torn up, 50 hat
The cars still remaining on the track could
not te attached TO tie engine in front.
At about A p III tain returned from
Aspinwal. Ia the interval The wounded
| passengers suffered drsadfully from
I thirst.
Flfsy-three wounded passengers were
placed on the cars and taken TO Aspin-
wall for medical and surgical treatment.
AT 4 O'Clock in the morning, second
tram arrived from AspinwalI, and carried
back mere Of the wounded.
The bodies Of the dead and some OF
tbs wounded still remained a, the scene
Of the disaster.
Over eight hundred persons were on
The train. vi these should presume
tina, three hundred were killed and SER.