Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-07-18
Terrible Railway accident.

A terrible accident occurred on the Northern
Pennsylvania Railway on yesterday morning. 1t
was caused by collision between the down train
and an excursion train.
/ The excursion train contained eleven hundred
in collision at curve near Fort Washington, with
the down train; the latter was going very slowly.
The excursion train was going very rapidly en-
deavoring to reach the stopping place. Both the
locomotives were crushed and three cars Of the
excursion train together with those that were con-
sumed by fire. number was crushed beneath
the ruins 80 that extrication was impossible. The
scene was most heart-rending.
The names of the killed were as follows: Rev.
Daniel Sheridan. chorister Of the church, body not
recovered; Hugh Campbell, Barry Kelly, James
McIntire, John Dogan, Edward Hall, Jno. Rivers,
James Hickey, VIM. Barnard, Henry Harris, Mary
McIain, Catharine McBurk, Ellen Clark, Sarah
McGrugan, Catharine McGrugan, Kate McGirr,
John Brady, Margaret Meaney, John Mcclure,
James Carney and Henry Harrison, the engineer Of
the up train. bge 49,
In addition to the above, seventeen bodies were
counted beneath the ruins Of the cars mostly con-
samed; eleven men aud women, and two children
we're consumed in one car The total killed is
thirty. nine, and the number wounded sxty-ninc.
The scene of the disaster is fourteen miles from
the city, in the neighborhood Of two curves 90
that approaching trains cannot be seen Ave hun,
dred yards distant The track 10 also single. VIII n
the locomotives came together they rose on end,
the FIRE boxes Of each nearly touching, and fell
over across the road. The fire being scattered
about the wreck, the first excurson soon caught
FIRE, and the flames rapidly communicated to the
two others piled up upon it. The most extraordi-
nary efforts were made to extricate the unfortu-
nate mutilated beings who were crushed amid the
wreck, rending the air with their dying groans.
Many of these poor beings were still alive when
the flames reached them and thus suffered as it
we're double death. Their groans and shrieks
for aid were awful and heartrending, altogether
beyond the power Of language to describe.
Fortunately there were two hotels, q dwelling,
blacksmith shop and small shed, within 800 yards
Of the wreck all Of which were used to shelter the
dying and wounded. A number of physicians from
the CITY and from Germantown were early in at
tendance, doing all within their power to aid the
sufferers. r, rtI
Two Ere engines from Chestnut Hill came to the
spot, and forced water through hose to the wreck
from a neighboring stream. After working for
several hours the fire was extinguished, and the
human remains were removed. Nineteen burned
bodies were removed TO the blacksmith shop, three
supposed to be females. Under another shed we're
placed eight other bodies, 80 charred by the flames
az to defy recognition. 49,.
The body Of Father Sheridan has been recover
ed and brought to the city. h 81
An immense crowd was attracted to the spot
from the surrounding sections Of country many
friends of the excursionists walked from the city,
and others proceeded thther in every description
of vehicle, which were made nse of in bringing
the wounded and dead to the city.
William Vansawen, the conductor of the down
train, driven to desperation BY the calamity, COM
mitted suicide by swallowing arsenic.
William Lee, the engineer Of the sans train,
has been arrested and committed for examination
The train Of this evening brought down four
bodies burned TO crisp; one unknown the 9TH
ers John Dillon and two brothers named Royce.
eTILL LATER.
PHILADELPHIA, 10 r. MAI the remains OF
the victims have been gathered up and brought 70
the city. Twentyseven bodies have not been re-
cosnised. They are mostly burned 90 q to defy
recognition. m $40 81
THK SIxrxrs SrARKEp FLAG OF DrsusIoE.-The
Portland Argus states that the Republicans Of Nor
way, In that State, have beldlv thrown to the
brecse the banner Of disunion. They have raised
Aag bearing upon its front but sirtss~ STARS, to
designate the sixteen free Ssates thus striking out
from the glorious gslaxv Of the Confsdsacy the
49,, cn,<haru asn toa The Republjcsna nj Mar.