Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-07-26
Terrible Railroad Accident near PhiIadeI-
phia, 17th.

phia, 17th.
A shocking disaster befcll large train. on
the Northern Pennsylvania railroad, near Fort
Washington, few miles out from Philadelphia
on Thursday morning Eight hundred persons,
including the teachers and scholars ofihe Sun
day school Of ST. Miehel's church (Catholic)
philadelphia, were upon the train. This came
in serious collision with a train from the other
direction, and the boiler Of the locomotive ex-
plored with terrible effect ihiry-fve persons
were killed, including Father Sheridan, the pas.
tor Of ST. Michel's. and nearly one hundred
more were badly wounded The cars were Sc,
on FIRE, and six Of them were entirely demolish-
ed.
FURTHER AND SHOCKING DETAILS % THE Dis
AsrER.
The train contained eleven hundred children
with their parents and teachers, ard came in
collision with a down train on the curve near
Fort Washington, while the latter was going
slowly and the former rapidly endeavoring to
reach the stopping place. Both locomotives
were crushed, and three Of the cars OF the ex-
eursion train rushing together, caueh, FIRE and
were consumed. Beneath their ruins were a
number crushed so that exircaiion was impos-
sible. The scene was Of the most heart-rend-
ering and terrible description. The killed arc
Daniel Sheridan, ehoristeT Of the church, body
not recovered; Hugh Campbell, Mary Kelly,
James Melniire. John Dogan, Edward Hall,
John Rivers, William Barnad, Henry Hams,
Mary McDrain. Catherine McGurk, Ellen Clark
Catherine McGrugan, Kate McCirr, John Brady
Margaret Meary, John Mcclure. James Car
ney, and Henry Harrison. engineer Of the train.
In addition TO these, seventeen bodies were
counted beneath the ruins Of ihe cars, mostly
consumed in one car. The total killed is ,hir-
LYNNE and wounded siXiy-ninc
The scene Of the accident is fourteen miles
from Philadelphia, 10 the ueighborhood Of Two
curves, so that the approaching trains canpoi be
seen five hundred yards, and the track is single
one. When the locomotives came together they
rose on end, their FIRE boxes nearly touching
one another, and .ell over across the road
The ire being scattered about the wreck ofihe
irst excursion car, il caught ere and extended
to the two other cars piled upon it, Mast ex-
traordinary efforts were made 10 exiricaie the
multlla,ed beings crushed amid the wreck. many
Of whom were still alive when the flames reach
ed them. The groabs and cries tina, rent The
ait were woiul. Two hotels, one dwelling.
blacksmith shop aud small shed within 800
yards Of tho disaster. were used 10 shelter the
dying s"d the wounded. A uumter Of physi-
clans from Philadelphia and from Germantown
were early 10 attendance. The engines from
Chestnut Hill forced water through hose 10 the
wreck and after working several hours the re-
mains beneath IL were removed. Nineteen
bodies were removed to ihes blacksmith shop,
three Of them supposed 70 be females Under
another shed were eight hodies so eharred as 10
defy recognition. The body Of Father Sheri-
dan was recovered and broush, to The civ. An
immense crowd was attracted to the spo, from
the surrounding sections Of country. Many Of
the friends Of the dead and wounded walked
from the city, and others proceeded ,hiher in
every description Of vehicle which were taken
and made use Of by bringing the wounded and
the dead to the city
MI Van Stavern, the conductor Of the down
,raiu, has committed suicide BY taking arsenic.
William Lee, the engineer Of the same train.
has been arrested and committed for examina-
ton. The train to Philadelphia, Thursday
evening, brought down four bodies burned to
crisp, those ofJohn Dillon, two brothers named
Boyce, and one unknown. All the human re-
mains were gathered up, and brought TO Phia-
delphia.. Twenty-seven bodies have not been
recognized, and the are SO badly burned it is
feared they never can be.