The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-07-08
JULY 8, 1859.
Terrible Railroad Accident.

It is said to have been caused by tho wash
ing away Of culvort. The stream which
ran through tho culvert, naturally but riv.
ulot, was swollen by extraordinary rains du-
ring tho previous afternoon aud evening,
causing food. The wood that was carried
down was probably checked by tho culvcrt,
converting tho embankment into dam, and
tho great weight of water, with the concuss.
ion of tho crossing trains, caused tho sad ca
lamity. Up to July 9th, the whole number
of the dead, so far MS known, including all
those who had died of their injuries, was 40.
Tho statement of VIM. M. Brett, Of Elk.
horn, Wis, is as follows:
81 was passenger on the 8 r. NJ train
OF the Southern Michigan Road. J, with
my wife and others, occupied the frat pass-
eugor car--the forward one of the fret class
cars There were threo first class and two
second class cars, making the train. sat
near the middle of tho car. AT tho time Of
the accident | was not asleep, but doing.
had just got up and exchanged seats with
my wife | heard q heavy crosh, and fUis
tho cars make what appeared to mo to DO
tremendous leap or plunge. 1t was but an
instant felt this motion. 1t did not seem
to me that tho occupants of the car wore
pitched about much was not thrown out
of my place, nor was my wifo out of hers.
But when the car struck, all tho front
part of it was demolished by tho forco of
tho concussion, and most OF those occupy
ing that end of tho car, must have been in
stantly killed by the crash. Tho car fell ia
the water. Those of us who could hurried
to get out. The lights were oil cxtinguished,
and tho night was cloudy and dark. got
out of u window, as tho car lay partially on
it's side. My wife escaped, she hardly can
tell how. Tho scene at tho wreck was in
decd frightfni. The engine, by tho giving
SaY Of the culyert and CmbNnkment, fell
down full thirty feet, and the two second.
class cars fell near i, our car little TO one
side. 1t was fearful pie. No ono in tho
sleeping car was killed. had several con-
tusions about my face and body. My wife
! is hurt as much as | am.
Mr.. j. J. II. Rice, of La Platte, Iu., was o
passenger in tho sleeping car. He says:
Tho first ho know of ANYTHING being tho
matter. was when the water was rushing
over the car. The lights were out. and MOTH
ing but an occasional flash of lightning was
there to see by. He jumped from The cars,
but instead of landing on terrU .6rma, h0
leaped into tho torrent, but succeeded in
making his way to cIump of bushes and
got up the bank, afterwards. lie heard
great deal of screaming while in tho cur
rent, and after landing the cries Of distress
were awful. There being no lights, ererys
thing was confusion, and survivors were
rushing wildly about tho bank of the ravine
in vain search of their missing friends. lIe
says no ono was killed in tho sleeping car,
but ono old gentleman jumped out and was
drowned in the current Mr.. Rice says that
Osgood, tho conductor, seemed crazy; he
ran to South Bend and to Mishwnuka, anh
then returned, a distance of eight miles,
without his hat. Ho took charge Of him.
and brought him to the city at 81 o'clock
yesterday.
! Ono woman who was on the train with Q
husband and five children. ran wildly about
all night seeking her family, but without
success, until morning, when she found all
of thom dead. Sho then went to farm.
house few yards off, where after sitting
some minutes the wretchcd wife and moth,r
expired.
Another passenger, Thomas Pardcc, says
that Mt the time ho left thirty one bodies
had been taken from tho wreck.
The dead bodies wore picked up, and laid
out in tho cars, with sheets covering thor
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