Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-08-12
ACCOUNT OF MIR. E z. LEWIS.

Mr.. F. f. Lewis Of Genesee was passenger
on the ill-fated train lie was riding in the
front car. toward the rear end. We take hls
statement as related to us in a conversation
at Stanwix Hall.
As the cars went on to the bridge, Mr..
Lewis remembers distinctly feeling a sort oi
lar or Jerk. which gave him the momentary
impression that something was wrong; but
before the thought could form itself distinctly
in his mind, the crash came. Mr.. L. sud
denly felt the car plunging downward, as 1t
were, and falling to pieces. The second car
plunged under the first. and tore out the sides
and bottom Mr. l. was thrown violently
FORWARD head first, striking, as he supposed,
against the top Of the second car, W .ich turn
Ell and fell to the bottom on the top Of
humber Of persons.
For an instant there was not the slightest
noise-not a shrek Of terror or a groan Of
pain So instantaneous was the destruction
that every persons energies appeared paraly-
zed. The first words that Mr.. l.. remembers
hearing. for he was himself, if not stunned,
entirely bewidered, were delivered in a very
calm voice, and were - Say, you at the top,
get of Just as quick as you can, won t you ?''
as If this was the signal Of returning con-
.sciousness. it was Immediately followed by
agonizing shrieks and groans, and loud cries
for help.
Mr.. Lewis extricated himself from The wreck
as speedily as possible, and the first person he
recognized was Mr. Cooley, the conductor.
He had been thrown violently forward the
entire length Of the car, and had crawled
back to where his wife her mother and child
had sat Mrs. Cooley and Mrs. Cuyler lay
apparently in the position they had occupied
in the car Their feet were up and their
heads and the upper part Of their bodies werr
buried in the wreck. Mr.. Cooley sank
almost helpless by the side of his wife, whom
be apparently recognized by her dress, at
which he was pulling, now beseeching assist
ance for her, and now calling piteously upon
her name, and beseeching her to rise and
save herself
Mr.. L. feeling faint and sick at the stom-
ach, made hi way to the water, in which be
bathed his temples and wrists As he did so,
cwo gentlemen badly cut on the head, rushed
to him, asking If they were dangerously hurt.
He advised them to wash their wounds in
the water, which they did. He then returned
to the wreck and made for Mr. Cooley, who
was still pulling at the dress Of his wife al
though almost helpless from his own in
iuries. Mr. L. raised him and begged him
to let him take him ashore, but Cooley only
replied by begging him to help his wife. Aft
ter some difficulty, and not without being
compelled to speak harshly to him, he sue
eeeded in getting him out Of the wreck, and
got him on the bank
Mr.. L. and others then went and got out
the body Of Mrs. Cooley, and bore it ashore.
lhey discovered that both herself and moth
eer We're quite dead. The child. also much
injured, was also taken out OF the wreck
/" hen Cooley saw the dead body of his wife,
ne ihrew himself upon it shrieking terribly.
Oh; my wlie-my poor wife and it was
found impossible to tear him from the cornse
HIS agonized grief was heart rending 10 be.
hold
But it wac necessary to attend to the
wounded and suffering and all who could
render assistance repaired to the wreck. All
tins was the work of but a few minutes.
When Mr.. l.. got back. he found lady with