The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-07-19
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT ON THE
ERIE RAIE.hOAD.
INTERESTING PARTICULARS OF THE CATAS-
TR0PHE

The telsgraphic dispatch, published on Satur
day, an nouncing the occurrence of terrible acct
dent on the New York and Erie Railroad, was err
roneous in some respects. 1t appears from the de-
tails, in the New York papers, that only six were
killed outright. Mr.. Louis Lay, wife and son, re-
ported killed, were not fatally Injured. An accu-
rate narration will be found in the following
statements copied from the n. Y. Herald and N Y
Express of Saturday: -e
On Thursday evening about 10 O'Clock terrible
accident occurred on the New York aud Erie Rail-
road. The night express train, which left Jersey
City at twenty minutes past 5 O'Clock, and was
heavily loaded with passengers, large portion Of
whom left the at Patterson and other stations,
proceeded it's way until within six or seven
miles of Pert Jervis.
1t world appear that at this point, few min
utes walk from little station called Glen Hollow,
the two hindmost cars were thrown off the track
10y the breaking OF q rail after the greater part OF
the train had passed over. The cars were thrown
,io Wn an embaukment, the last car being made
complete wreck. 1t is to be presumed that the
breaking of the coupling saved the other cars
from being dragged down also. The rest Of the
train stopped as soon as possible, and horrible
catastrophe met the view of the passengers who
had luckily been in the forward cars and who
capped uninjured.
The two oars at the foot of the embankment
we're terribly smashed, and from among the spin
tiers came all who were able to help themselves The
passengers in the forward cars We're thrown into
the greatest disorder by the sndden break, and on
gaining their feet they opened the windows and
door of the cars, aud heard the shouts and means
OF dying and wounded beneath them. The great
est confusion prevailed, some running TO and fro,
calling on the conductor to stop the train, while
others rang the bell rope attached to the engine
most vigorously.
One of the passengers who was in one of the cars
when 1t ran eff the track, and among those who
wounded, favored ~ with the following state
ment of the occurrence. Our informant is Mr.. j.
w. Beels, of Boston: About nine O'Clock Thursday
night, when the train was within six miles of Port
Jervs, / remarked to gentleman who was sitting
near me that the cars seemed to be shaking more
than usual. He SAID something in reply; but be-
FIRE be had time to utter bis sentence, the car
gave a sudden jerk and rocked violently for mo-
meut or two. Then we heard some unusual noise
behind our car-in the one behind US apparently
our own being the last Of the train, with the ex-
ception of that from which the unaccnstomed
noise seemed to proceed. Before We had time TO
consider this, however, or to account for What it
might be, suddenly our own car capsized, then
formed q semi circle two or three times, aud sud
denly ciashed against some hard substance. When
/ was able to Ascertain that the cause ef all this
was. found that the two last cars OF the train
had been detached from the rest by broken rail.
which knocked them Cd the track, and then, being
carried on by their momentum, they were tum-
bled over an e1nbapkment about forty feet in
height or course great number OF persons were
killed and wounded; bat at the time i could not
ascertain how many, nor anything else, for had
received severe injury myself in the head.
subsequently learned that the number of the
killed was seven, and that the injured or wounded
we're fortyse being nearly ali who were in the
two cars at the time OF the accident. Some were
only slightly injured, and they continued their
journey with the train, after delay of some
honrs; while the limbs of others of ths wounded
will have 70 submit to amputation Some few re-
turned to the city ia the morning, and the 70.
mainder are submitting to such medical and s0rgi-
cal aid as could be procured at Port Jervis and
there in temporary accommodations.
Another account says:
The persons reported wounded are doing a. wea
as can be expected under the circumstances. Eve.
~ attention 10 shown them that medical assistance
and friendly sympathy aud nursing can furnish
They are CHARTERED at two hotels at Port Jervis-
The inmates. boarders and ALL ut once yielded their
apartments to the sufferers, and contributed all in
their power Tor the relief Of suffering humanity.
None OF those reported among the wounded have
yet died, and ell are expected to recover, though
some are very seriously injured.
The Coroner's inquest II 10 progress, but it Il
uncertain when the verdict will b. rendered, POSI-
bly, not within two or three days. There seems to
De conflict Of opinion whether the broken rail
that caused the distressing casaalty was broken
before the train reached IL by the cars passing
over il. All who were killed were in the last car
that went over. remarkable feature Of the ~
ctdent u, that among the killed or wounded, few
u any limbs are believed to be broken. TIE fatal
wounds aud bruisea we're chiefly aboas The he1ds
Of the sadsfsrs. This calamity illustrates many
81 the sxtrsofdinary freaks Of fostnaA. Psssone|
slightly isjured. a passenger, uhe Nas psessnt,
informed ~ thstt the scene was hsyoad deeeHpttea.
Children crying for their q thsss spd notbers aud
hasbands seeking Tor their wives, which, together
wtth the shrisks Of ths psAsengsss, presented :
scsas which = vsr seldom mss with.