The true Democrat., 1856-06-10
The Panama Railroad Accident.
Statement by Alfred l.. Armstrong, one O
 the Injured Passengers.

Mir. Alfred L. Armstrong, of Oquawko, H., the only person returning to New York in the George Law who was in the train to which the accident occurred, has furnished the follow ing detailed account of the particulars of the accident:
 1 left New York in the George Law on the Fist of last April, and, with the steamers pas sengers, was landed at Aspinwal to take the railroad thence to Panama We arrived in As pnwall on the lst of May, and were to take the morning express train of May 6, in order to connect with the steamer on the Pacific side.
 A baggage train left Aspnwall at : A. M, preceding the train which was to carry the pas sengers. There were eight or nine baggage cars in the train, filed with the baggage of the passengers. The engine of this train, at Obis- DO Bridge, thirty y-one miles from Aspnwal ran off the track. There was only single track here, and it being impossible to raise the engine from its position off the track the cars had to remain they were--blockading the track = The engineers and brakemen worked several hours erecting platform, with :he view of getting up the engine, but to no purpose. As they failed i'll this, and could not communicate with either terminus of the road to announce the accident, they placed sentinel to guard against being run into by any other trains, and thus waited.
 At 5 A. NJ. an express train left Aspnwal with the cabin passengers of the George Law. lhls tram was composed of a baggage car and nine passenger cars. The passenger cars were all hiled with passengers. Each car contained about eighty four passengers The engine of this train did not work well, and the engineer was, in consequence, forced to run the train oif on switch at Matachin about mile aud a half before reaching Obispo Bridge, when the accident to the baggage train occurred.
 At o11a A. M., half an hour after the depar- ture of the first passenger train, second pas senger tain, containing tue steeroge passengers, left Aspinwal. The train was also a long train, and contained nine passenger cars, besides the baggage car. Upon crossing up to where the first passenger train lay switched off, the train stopped, and being informed of the disabling of the first trains engine as also of the accident to the baggage train at Obispo Bridge, it was decided, with the single engine of the last pas senger train, to take the two trains and proceed to O5ispo Bridge. The first passenger tran accordingly, passed the switch, after which it backed to take the train that was switched off. The disabled engine had been disconnected from this train and placed upon another switch adjoining. The two trains thus joined were drawn by one locomotive. They contained in all twenty cars--eighteen passenger cars and two baggage cars After getting on the main track the train proceeded to Obspo Bridge. It was found impossible to go on to Panama in consequence of the baggage train obstructing the track. It was a complete wilderness there, and no food being obtainable, it was determined to go back with the entire passengers to Aspn- wall. It was about P. M. when the train thus started to return. The engine was powerful one, and drew the cars along at full speed with out difficulty.
 was seated in tho seventh passenger car from the locomotive. The train was going at an unusual high rate of speed--so much so that the fact subject of remark among the passengers generally in the car in which sat. The speed was commented upon as dangerous, from the frequent and short curves in the road. I felt somewhat alarmed and put my head out of the window. 1 did not have my head out more than minute when 1 saw the front pas senger car Gas the train was passing curve) suddenly force the outer rail from its place, and darting from the track, instantaneously turn complete side summerset. All IrecoIect from that moment is feeling sudden crash, and cry ing out "we are all killed" l saw the pas sengers jump to their feet, and made jump myself, but how or where know not. only know that found myself in an instant landed upright on my feet in pond alongside the track. I either jumped or was thrown some twelve feet from the track. The scene that ensued it is impossible to describe. The locomotive and baggage car having retained their place on the track, proceeded some distance as if uncon- scious of the sudden sunderng of the link that connected them with the remaining cars of the train. The seven cars succeeding the one first thrown from the track were mingled mass of | chottarod fraunoantS Thav had haan rhrown sideways, lengthways, crossways, bottom side up, ends up, and in every ina sinable way.- Portions of the wreck were submerged in the ponds of water or either side of the track. The cries of agony that rose from amid the ruins were eart.percng Here was visible an arm and there leg, with no other appendage. In another place was presented the said spec tacle of a head separated from the body, and again the trunk of human body shorn entirely of its head and limbs. As soon as possible after the crash, those uninjured turned their at- tenton to discover the extent of loss of life and
 wounds sustained. It was found that beyond the first eight cars. the injury to the passengers did not extend, except in occasional bruises to those occupying the two passenger cars directly ] following these eight. Both of these latter cars were thrown from the track, and the occu- pants received more or less contusions. The
 remaining cars of the train retained their places , on the rails. and the people inside received no l injuries other than some slight bruises. While
 those having escaped personal injury were seek l inc to recover from beneath the wreck those
 still giving symptoms of life; the locomotive
 detached from the train which had come back
 to the scene of the disaster was despatched to Aspnwall for help to search for the dead and : wounded. The place of the accident was neal s Gatun Bridge, only nine miles distance from