The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-01-21
[Editorlal Correspond.nce.l
WASHYNcToS. Jan. s. /

NASHINGToS, Jan. S, 1856.
Here am with comfortable room, plenty
OF segars and everything in order. got in
couple Of hours since, about 9 O'Clock a.
IN, IN a most uncomfortable snow storm
which still prevails have not seen any one
that know as yet, and have only learned
that the House ls still in chaotic confusion,
with no better prospect Of efTecting an or
ganization than a month ago.
As have had no sleep for the last fifty
odd hours and have letters to write | shall
defer looking in upon the assembled wisdom
of the nation till Mond Y, and in the mean
time give you glance at my experience and
observation Of .railroadng.
advised YOU in q former letter that we
fell some hours behind time in making the
trip from Iowa to Ohio, but from Ohio to
Washington City wefcl still further short Of
time, and with more reason for the delay.
left Newark at II o'clock a. III. on Thursday,
and twelve hours later was in the mountains
Of Virginia, m hour behind time. | had
just separated from friends who stopt about
ten O'Clock and !ef, me a wide berth in the
htudmost car, whore lay down ii confident
expectation IF aa accident, and had lust got
lu9 q comfortable snooze whom was clerk
RI ~ a3iag' by tremendous co4eussion.
wlIea fell IS r The car had been throw a. Il
anl dry OF Ae track Making my VIZ aat
founi thaE our express train gong last
had come 10 collision win the mail ira n
West, and TINT both locomotives and tenders,
with the mail car ana one baggage car, We're
smashed and piled ny, hopeless wreck Of
destruction The whole mass was on fire,
and for time presented ii scene Of pitiable
confusion. Il was soon ascertained that
there was but ora person, d fireman on our
tram, missing. and ms body was found to-
wards morning horribly mangled ana buried
under the ruins.
ltseems almost incredible that such ire
mendou, collision, which utterly destroyed
two Of the best engines on the road. could
have occurred without more serious damage
70 the passenger cars. our train, which
vas gong ~ grade at the time, was bro
ken loose from The baggage ear by the con
cassion, aul sent rolling back like the re-
bound 81 "a billiard ball, but one OF the
brAkemen ST., remained at his post, and
checked it Up before it GOT under full head
wag down the grade. The collision took
place II sharp curve on the side If the
mountain, and had the locomotives come to-
gether any less square u and point blank,
We should have all gone down the side Of the
mountain to inevitable destruction.
Both trains were running our Of time, and
probably both conductors were in fault, as
the most ordinary caution alone was required
TO have prevented the accident.
We were DELAYED till morning clearing the
track, and in the meantime the train came on
from Wheeling, and after II had been de-
,yed some hours, bo,h trains were united,
ran on slowly al day and night, out 81 time,
an ol course IL great peril Of another col
lision.
Aside frosn the other results Of the acct
dent, was well repaid for the delay by the
opportunity 81 passing through the noun
tains III daylight. L were hard to say which
Is the more wonderful or the most 10 be ad-
mired, the rugged mountain scenery, Of
which nature has made such magnificent
dspiav. or the ski and energy of man iii
opening up such $ splendid highway through
the mountain peaks across the wild gorges
the deep rayines. and mountain torrents belt
inc their rre.irit8ue sides and skirtinp their