The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-05-28

senger cars and two baggage cars. AT
ter getting on the main track the train
proceeded to Obispo Bridge. 1t was
found impossible to go to Panama in con-
sequence of the baggage train shstFuet-
ing the track. It was a complete wilder
ness there, and no food being obtainable
it was determined to go back with the
entire passengers to Aspinwall. It was
about P. NJ, when the train thus start
ed to return. The engine was power
full one, and drew the ears:atong at full
speed without difficulty.
I was seated in the seventh passenger
car from the locomotive. The train was
going at an unusual high rate of speed,
so much so that the fact was subject
of remark among the passengers general
ly in the car in which sat. The speed
was commented upon as dangerous, from
the frequent and short curves in the road.
| 1 felt Somewhat alarmed, and put my
head out of the window. I did not have
my head out more than minute, when I
saw the front passenger car las the train
was passing curvel suddenly force the
outer rail from its place, and darting
from the track, instantanepusly turn a
complete side summerset. All I reeol-
lect from that moment is feeling sud
den crash, and crying out, . We are a'l
killed." I saw the passengers jump to
their feet, and I made a jump myself,
but how or where I know not. 1 only
know that I found myself in an instant
landed upright on my feet in a pond
alongside the track. I either jumped
or was thrown some twelve feet from the
track. The ecene that ensued it is i'm
possible to describe. The locomotive
and first baggage car, having retained
their place on the track, proceeded some
distance, as if unconcious of the sudden
sundering of the link that connected
them with the remaining cars of tho
train. The seven cars succeeding tho
one first thrown from the track were a
mingled mass of shattered fragments.
They had been thrown sideways, length
ways, crossways, bottom side up, side up,
end up, and in every imaginable way.
Portions of the wreck were submerged
in the pond of water on either side OF
the track, The cries of agony that rose
from amid the ruins we're keart-piercing.
Here was visible an arm, and there 3
leg, with no other appendage. In an
other place was presented the sad spec
tacie of head separated from the body,
and again the trunk of human body
shern entirely of its head and limbs. As
soon as possible after the crash, those un-
injured turned their attention to discox-
er the extent of loss of life and Wounds
sustained.
1t was found that beyond the arsti
eight cars, the injury to the passengers
did not extend, except in occasional
bruises to those occupying the two pas
senger cars directly following these eight.
Both of these latter cars were throHn
from the track, and the occupants re-
ceived more or less contusions. The re-
msining cars of the train retained thsir
places on the rails, and the people inside
received no injuries other than some
slight bruises. While those having es-
capped personal injury were seeking to
recover FROM beneath the wreck those
still giving symptoms of life. the iocomo-
tive detached from the train which had
come back to the scene of the disaster
was dispatched to Aspinwal for help to
search for the dead and wounded. The
place Of the accident was near Gutun's
Bridge, only nine miles distant from As
pinwall The track for some distance
was completely torn up, SO that the cars
still remaining on the track could not
be attached to the engine in front. At
about P. NJ, train returned from |
Aspinwall. In the interval the wound
ed passengers suffered dreadfully from
thirst. Many of them drank from the
muddy pond on either side of the track,
though it was red With human blood.
a supply of water was
brought by the train, which greatly al
leyiated their suferings, Fifty-three
passengers we're placed on the
cars and taken to Aspinwall for medical
and surgical treatment.
No physicians came with the train,
though the reason why none were sent
was not explained. The bodies of the
dead, as far as recovered from the wreck,
we're not removed. It was about 8 o. |
clock in the evening when the 6rst train
to Aspinwall.
remained to assist in digging out |
the dead boddies. The night vas dark,
and with the dim light shed oyer the
ground by few lanterns showing yisibly
here and there heaps Of dead bodies, and
The increasing moans and shrieks of
the wounded added to the mo9rnful |
of those at work in the re,
noyal of the shattered wreck, made it |
scene never to be forgotten. At 4 O'Clock
IN the morning, . second train arrived
from AspinVall, and carried back more
of the wounded. I left in this train.
The bodies of the dead and some IF the