Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-07-23

but mainly because we believe that the highest ln'
terests of the people and the State demand these
important and radical reforms.
Particulars Of the Erie RaiIrOad Disasters
Thrilling Scenes and Incidents
terrible accident occurred on the Erie Railroad
Thursday night, the 18th inst, by which five per
sons were killed and about forty wounded It ap-
pears there we're about $50 persons on the train -
They had Just stopped at Turner'S Corner, where
passengers take tea, and then proceeded westward
at the rate Of about IS miles an hour On approach
ing place known as "5bin Hollos," where the
road is straight, with a steep e@barkment some
forty feet in depth on one SIDE the locomotive struck
a broken rail, which il jumped carrying along the
crate and the first four passenger cars. The two
rear cars, however, we're thrown from the rail- and
after being drawn over the sleepers for some dis
lance, The coupling broke, which connected these
two cars With the rest Of the train, aud they were
thrown over the embarkment Therear car turned
two or three times completely over, while the other
made but one turn and half remainipg bottom up.
The last ear was torn to fragments, one of the heavy
iron trucks passing through the bottom and crushing
to death several of those within. All the deaths
a large number were seriously injured.
DR.. PRIMES ACCOUNT.
The following graphic and touching account of
the disaster is from the Rev. E D. G. Prime, one
of the editors of the New York Observer. 1t was
written to his brother
PoRr JERvIs, Thursday A. NJ Jaly 10.
Dear Brother The telegraph will inform you Of
IL, orr traiD m
near this place. We left New York in the O'Clock
P NJ train, came on safely and pleasantly until
about 81 o'eoCk; when descending the heavy grade
on the west side of the shaWangunk mountains
perceived thar were moving at such fearful rate
that l started once or twice with apprehension,
knoWingthat we we're on heavily descending grade
Within two or three minutes after my fears became
thus excited, felt a conclusion, as If we we're run
ming over q slight obstruction. Some little COM
motion ensued in our car, which was the fourth from
the rear. A signal was made to the engineer as
soon as possible but we had TO run a mile or more
before the train was stopped. We soon found
that two cars had been detached from the traiu We
ran back with great apprehension, and our worst
fears were more than realized. The last two cars
had been hurled down an embankment forty feet and
were completely demolished. The groans and screams
of the injured broke fearfuy upon our ears in the
stiffness Of the evening. They we're under the
wreck and streWed around the Of the disaster
in awful confusion. The moon was shining feebly,
aud by its light and that Of large IRE which was
soon kinded, the wreck Of the cars was removed,
aud all that were living we're rescued Three hours
were spent in getting the suffering from beneath the
ruins Of the cars and up the embankment, when,
with seven dead and about forty more or less seri-
ously Injured, the melancholy train moved on TO
this place An engine had been previously sent to
Port Jervis which returned to the scene Of the dis
aster with surgeons and other aid All the injuries
we're taken to the two Notes.-The Delaware and the
and dcvyf hnu n0inu
well.
Among the injured are Prof. J. L. Peet, vice
princi9al of New York Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb his wife and child, his Wfes sister and sew
eral deaf mutes. Mrs. Peet and Miss Barry, deaf
mute, were cutie seriously injured but they are now
doing we'll, and are out of all danger. One OF the
most heart rendiug incidents connected with this
melancholy occurrence was the screaming OF the
deaf mutes, which could be heard at long dis
lance, and which greatly aggravated the horror Of
the scene.
To detail its incidents would be as impossible as
to rehearse a horrible dream. When | reached the
car heard familiar voice, and making my way
towards it, stepped in the darkness UPON a dead
man. 1 soon reached Prof. Peet, and found him
supporting his Wife's head. Both were ignorant Of
what had become Of their babe, any other mem
Der of their party Of ten. heard a chid's voice
on the other side of the car, and rushing around
towards it. asked one who had taken 1t up whose
child it was. The mother franticaliy exclaimed.
1T is my child and pressed it to her heart as if
afraid | was about to claim it. l soon found the
child of my friend, in the arms of person who
was carrying it up the embankment. The oaoy
was only slightly injured 1t was asleep on the
seat when the cars were thrown off the track, and
no one could tell where it was found. One ieaf
mute was reported to be dead, and | went, at The
request of a gentleman, to identify him, but he
vyed and is doing we'll.
During all the long hours that we were toiling 10
get the sufferers from under the ruins and up the
embarkment to the cars parents were calling frsnti-
cslly for their children, and children for their pa
rents. One mother had her dead child brought 10
her; another received her living babe with ecstatc
joy. Another beautiful young mother, unipjured,
1 saw, by the light Of lamp, holding tenderly in
her arms the mangled form of what was just before
a beautiful child. One gentleman who was with
me- who had labCred without faltering from the first,
gave way at this sight and was overcome. He had
helped to carry the dead and the wounded up .he
embankment, but this was too much for the strong
heart Of a man TO endure.
Directly in front of the seat which had occupied
sat a refined and delicate young lady, who, after
wards learned, was on a trip TO the Falls. As the
helpless but still breathing form Of the only injured
colored person was brought up the embarkment she
went to her side, bathed her head and famed her
brow and spoke words Of encouragement and sym
palhy to her until her ear became insensible. She
died IN our car soon after We left the Of the
disaster.
The unin iured passengers manifested the utmost
readiness to relieve the distressed and to do every
thing in their power for their comfort. Little
fort could be afforded them until reached this
place. where the hotels we're thrown open, at which
the citizens of the place were already assembled.
All night long they have been devoted to the care
Of the sufferers, and through their attentions nearly
all are now very comfortable. 1t is hoped all will
recover, through the blessing Of kind Providence.