The Trinity journal., 1856-08-23
ARRIVAL OF THE JOHN L. STEPHENS
2 Weeks Later from the Atlantic.
SEVEN DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.

Congressional Neaes-Resgnation Of Mr.. BrooES-
$4,000 appropriated for Road 10 South Pass
Terrible Rail Road accident near Philqdelphia-
Disaster on Lake Erie-.No@-iaterferonce Of tie
Federal Government ruth the Vigilance Committee-
Interest on California Bonds not get paid.
The Pacific Nail Steamship Company Steamer
John L. Stephens, arrived in San Francisco on the
morning Of the l4th inst BY her we have two
weeks later intelligence from the Atlantic States,
and seven days later from Europe.
| CoNGREss.-The vote in the house on the eXpul-
sion of Mr.. Brooks for Il assault on Senator Sum
ner of Mass stood Yeas, l2l Nays, 9j. Pend
ing the discussion on the result, Brooks arose and
replied to certain charges which were not true.
lie closed his remarks by stating to the Speak
er aud to the House, that he was not any longer
a member of the XXXIst Congress.
/ Pacific RAIL ROAD LEGGsLATIoN.-Th Com
mittce in Congress upon the Pacific Rail Road had
agreed upon a Bill, which Gen. Denver was to re-
port as soon as he could obtain the floor. 1t pro-
vides for three roads aud therefore, if it ever
should pass, would in all probability prove i'm
practicable.
Now who can look upon this move in any other
than its true light Three Roads, 1t is quite
evident that the whole action is in itself one of the
grandest farces ever acted under a serious pre-
text. The people have no faith in appropriatine
enough to build one Road All this, then, means
nothing-a mere bombast on the part of its orig
inators for popularity.
p. T Herbert, of this State, had been tried for
the murder of Kcatng The trial lasted four
days. Able counsel were employed for the pros
ecution and defence. The Jury went out on the
l4th July and on the 10th represented to the
Judge that they could not agree, and they were
accordingly discharged. A new trial had been
ordered
Congress has appropriated
$4,000 to build a road from Minnesota to the
South Pass, in the Rocky mountains. Had the
people Of California an able and influential Rep
resentation, appropriations might be obtained to
construct Military Roads--so much needed in the
northern portion Of the State, from the Seaboard
to the interior.
TERRIBLE DISASTER on THE NORTH PENNsYLvA-
MA RALRoAD.-The following particulars we take
from the Philadelphia Buiietja of July l7th:
"About o'clock this morning, the appalling
intelligence reached the city that collision had
/ occurred on the North Pennsylvania Railroad,
between the regular morning train from Gwyn-
edd, and an excursion train that left the city at 5
O'Clock in the morning, with large party of
school children, with their teachers, &c.
The particulars, so far as we have been able to
CLEAN them from reliable sources, are these:
At o'clock this morning, special train of
ten cars left the Master street depot with the
schools Of st. Michaels Roman Catholic Church.
in kcnsington, The excursion party consisted of
between five and six hundred persons, the great
majority of whom were children. They intended
proceeding to Fort Washington, fourteen and a
half miles from the city, where they were to en-
JOY picnic.
Owing to the number Of cars, and the weight Of
the train, there was some delay, and the conduc-
tor, Mr.. Alfred F. Hoppcl, finding himself behind
time, pushed forward with great rapdity when
towards the end Of his trip.
The regular passenger train for this city left
GWynedd at six o'clock and reached Camp Hill
at o'clock and IS minutes, Finding the eXcur-
sion train had not yet arrived, MI VIM. Yausta-
voran, the conductor, determined not to wait for
it, and his train was moving along when the ex-
pectod train came laundering on around the curve
at the rate Of 50 miles an hour. A collision Of
course ensued with the most appalling consequent
ces.
The down train escaped without serious dam
age, but the scene presented by the excursion
train was fearful. The three forward cars were
crushed to atoms and the wreck minglng with
/ that Of the locomotive, took fire. and the flames
communicated to the other cars of the train The
two next cars after the three that were wrecked
outright took fire, and were entirely consumed.
heinmates of the three forward cars were com
pletcly mixed up with the wreck and large num-
Der were killed outright. There were probably
fifty persons in each of the three cars, and the
lowest estimate We heard fixes the number Of Kill
led at fifty. while it was feared the dread aggre-
gate would reach one hundred.
When our informant left the spot every effort
was being made to rescue the wounded and the
bodies of the dead from the wreck. Every thing
was in the widest confusion and it was of course
impossible, under the circumstances, to arrive
with any certainty at the number of the victims
or to pretend to obtain any particulars as to thei
2 names
, Henry Harris, the engineer of the excursion
train, was cut to pieces and killed instantly, an,
John Bagans, the fireman, is among the missing
! and it is believed he is under the wreck.
As soon the dreadful intelligence reached tn
city a car was despatched with all possible spec,
from the Master street depot, with physician
and other assistance
One of our reporters, on hearing the news, i'm
mcdiately repaired to the Office Of the compan,
on Front and Willow streets, but the 10 o'clocl
train had just left the station
lie then proceeded along the line of the roa'
to the outer depot of the company, where h
found the Vice President and engineer of th
rood or tbo danot ,rlioh uvac c1rroupdpd bv thnii