The Panola star. ([Panola] Panola County, Miss.) 1856-1857, 1856-07-30
Appalling Disaster.
From the Philad'a. Bul't'n', July II.

From the Philad'a. BuFtn', July II.
About nine O'Clock this morning, the
appalling intelligence reached the city,
that a collision had occurred on the
North Philadelphia Road, between the
regular morning train from Gwynedd,
aud an excursion train that left the city
at five O'Clock this morning, with large
party of school children, with their teach
ers, &c, &c.
The particulars, so far as we have been
able to CLEAN them from reliable sources.
are rs follows:
At five O'Clock this morning, a special
train of ten cars left the Master street
depot with tho scholars of St. Michael's
Roman Catholic church, in Kensington.
The excursion party consisted of between
five and siy hundred persons, the maiori-
ty of whorl were children. They intend
ed proceeding to Fort Washington, four
teen anu a half miles from the city, where
they were to enjoy picnic.
Owing TO the number. of the cars and
the weight of the train, there was some
delay, and the conductor, Mr.. Alfred +.
Hoppe, finding himself behind time,
pushed forward with great rapidity when
lSNdTu Tic emu Gi Ills Trip.
The regular passenger train for the city
left Gwynedd at six o'clock, and reached
Camp Hill at six O'Clock and eighteen
minutes. Finding the excursion train
had not vet arrived, Mr.. VIM. Vanstavo-
ran, the conductor, determined not to
wait for it, and his train was moving
along when the expected train came
laundering on around curve, at the
rate Of 80 miles an hour. \ collision of
course ensued with the most appalling
consequences.
The down train escaped without serious
damage, but the scene presented by the
excursion train was fearful. The three
forward cars of the train were crushed
completely to pieces, and the wreck,
mingling with that Of the locomotive,
teok FIRE, and the flames communicated to
the other. cars of the train. The two next
cars after the three that were wrecked
out right, took fire, and were entirely
consumed.
The inmates Of the three forward cars
were completed Y mixed up with the wreck.
and large number of them were killed
outright. There were probably fifty per-
sons in each Of the three cars, and the
! lowest estimate we heard fixes the num-
| Der Of killed at fifty, while it was feared
the dread aggregate wonld reach enc
| hundred.
When our informant left the spot every
effort was being made to rescue the wound
ed and the bodies of the dead from the
wreck. Everything was in the widest
confusion, and it was of course impossi-
! BILE, under the circumstances, to arrive
/ with ;yotv- at b1 80 IL
victims, or to pretend to obtain any par
! ticulars as to their names.
Henry Harris, the engineer Of the excur-
sion train, was cat to pieces, and killed in
stantly; and John Bagans, the fireman, is
among the missing, and it is believed he
is under the wreck.
As soon as the dreadful INTELLIGENCE
reached the city, car was despatched
with all possible speed, from the Master
street depot, with physicians and other
assistance.
One OF our reporters, on hearing the
news, immediately repaired to the Office al
the company, at Front and Willow streets.
but the 10 O'Clock train had Just left the
station.
He then proceeded along the line Of the
road to the outer depot of the company.
where he found the Vice President. anG
engineer of the road at the depot, which
was surrounded by thousands of excited
people.
lie was Informed that an attempt hat
been made to send hand cars along thu
road to the scene of the accident. but they
had been Immediately surrounded bv tn,
mob, and the police and EMPLOYEES of tn,
company had the utmost difficulty IN keep
ing them from being run off with.
The excitement at the Willow station
was also intense. Excited crowds wert
eagerly inquiring for the latest intelligence
from the scene, while those who had chill
Fdren on the Inflated train were in the mos
dreadful condition of suspense.
The news of the accident having bee
widely circulated, a large number Of per
sons who imagined their friends might b
among the injured, also proceeded to tn
outer station.
The excitement among the pedestrians
the majority of whom were females, an
peared to increase as they reached the CO
hocksink station.
, The killed amount to no less than thir
ty-nine persons, and the wounded to sixty
nine. These numbers will probably be in
: cresed, as some of the wounded will die
and there are some whose injuries are nj
known.