The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-03-25
Terrible Accident.

Great Western Railway, on Saturday morn
ing. about o'clock which is only exceeded
in It's Wholesale slaughter by the calamity
at the Desardnes bridge. We derive our
information from George W. Tiff, Of this
city, and Col Broadhcad, formerly Post
master of Detroit, who were OH board the
Uain.
1t appears that the heavy rain storm OF
Friday had washed away about $50 feet OF
the track which passes along the side OF a
mountain about seven miles west of liamil.
ton. The road here is some fifty feet above
the gorge, and right in the midst OF tho
binding snow storm, about two O'Clock on
Saturday morning, tho Express train from
Detroit, composed of "a baggage, cmigrant,
two first class passenger coaches, and a
sleeping car, containing, all told, between
80 aud 80 persons. came along and plunged
down tho abyss. All except tho sleeping
Cur went to the bottom of tho gorge, aud
were broken aud smashed into thousands of
pieces.
The couplings of the sleeping car broke
and by some means its porgress was arrest
cd, when part way down the einbauIment,
and it was left, with the forward end crush
ed mo fragments, standing ut AN angle OF
as degrees, with IT'S hind wheels resting
upon the tauck. A Mr.. Brad, formerly
master. mechanic OF the road, was sitting up
IN the Car, engaged in conversation with
the conductor OF the car, and was thrown
forward aud instantly killed. This was the
only person injured to any extent, in the
sleeping car, where both of our iuformants
were.
! The scono which followed, it is utterly
! impossible to describe. Every light was ex.
tlngushed aud nothing could 10 seeu.-
Above tho roar OF tho tempest, however,
could be heard, the shriIks and groaus of
the wounded aud dying, After much diff
Guilty light was procured, and those who
were abIo to work proceeded to extricaIe e
the sufferers from the wreck. The task
WAS difficult and almost impossible Que
under the circumstances, as The wounded
bad to DO lifted up GU the track by ropes,
Ihe locomotive aud tenuer were cOmpleto-
| Iy broken up aud nearly buried out of sight.
Inc engineer and fremou were instantly
| killed.
Our informants were unable to learn the
names OF any of the victims, except the man
Braid, who was killed in tho sleeping car
Nine dead bodies were taken out Ut the
runs however before noon and large nun
bor badly injured. In fact, most Of them
who went down tho cmbankmen wero moro
or less injured.
AT the time the accident occurred, many
were asleep and had laid aside their extra
clothing, So that they were exposed ia
some instances half naked to the petiugs O
the storm. Many ladies were without bon
uets, shawls, or shoes. When most of The
wounded had bGon lifted into the sleeping
car, 1t was found that it began to give aut
: thi cateLed 10 tail over into the abyss. Jus
at this moment, to tho horror OF all present
, a locomotive was heard coming down upOI
, them from the west. A largo number .
persons, regardless of their own safety
rushed up tho track shouting franticalIy
Tho engineer finally heard them, aud sue
ceodud IN stopping Tho ongIno wlthIn lev
foot OF them. Tho drlyur OF thIs locomotive
after Iearuing what bad happened, wen
back with his engino and was not hearC
from again.
!, the uusa!e condition of the soeplng ca
rendered 1t necessary TO remove the wound
ed, and they wero taken out and laid ol
mattresses, cushions and whatever coul,
DO mado available, upon the ground, Will
, the survivors took turns III holding blanket
+ over them to protect them from tho storu
For four hours dat hdlf this state q
things continued, tho wounded lying in thei
agonIus, before any assistance arrived.
IA
. soon after the accident 10 Dundas-only on
: and u half miles dlstant-to telegraph t
a Hamilton for assistance. On his arriva
there no found the telegraph lines dow
Q aud he ut once set out on foot for Hamilto
to carry tho intelligence himself.
: About a. ~. u special tram from Han
d ilton arrived with succOr They found tn
!. survivors i'll dcplorable condition. Manl
# led, bleeding, chilled and cold, yet still wit
> heroic courage, attempting TO relieve eac
n others suiierings. There was one physiCIa
\. on the tram, who did all IN his power to r,
n lIeve the sufferers until suCcor arrived, whe
m the greater part OF tho killed and wouudC
wore taken to Copetown--a small station
" near whero tho accident took place.
m number were also taken to Hamilton.
n. The officers and employees of tho roc
is are much censurod. They refused to allo
Ms any of tho uuiujured passengers to aid Il
,s wounded or oven to 500 them. They 4
fused to deliver up the clothing and su,
re- articles absolutely necessary to protect q
h., women and children from the cold, un
n, the custom house officers had passed up,
AS them. and fiually charged for telegi apt
an dispatches which they jid not send. the Ii
ed beng down. They were also insolent a
m. abusive, and appeared TO care very little I
tHC IOouil. OuT say InuL coz
m plants were universal ut the heartlessnt
,c. which was every where displayed by t
railroad officials -BgGaiO Express,
TO NAMES OF TIE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
no Tho following, SO far as We have be
''o 80 able 10 learn, is list of tho passengers K
Inc and Injured by tho above catastrophe-
S. Four persons were Instantly killed u
or, several Others have since died of their IN
he RIGS On account of arrangement of
he wires, "a full list OF the killed and wound
10 cannot DO obtained. Geo. Morgan, engine
nd Hamilton, Canada; Alexander Braid, Han
ole ton; Wm Milne. brakesman, Jones Bry
he German, Ohio; Hans Jochimaer, Davenpo
M Iowa, instantly killed; WIN, w. Smith, X
the amazoo. Mich, head bruised not serious
ses Henry Post, Buffalo, log brokon; Fnch
ey. Adams, Buffalo, leg and hip crushed; NJ
ing Fitch aud children, slightly bruised; e.
he Bryant, Pontiac. ribs broken; Thon
his SackoGt, West Avon, N. Y, slightly bruisl
sou Adam Wilson, Hamilton Canada, wound
ion in back aud head; }. II. Smith. Bright'
The n Y, ribs badly broken, recovery doubt
wv Hiram Cook. Cleveland, Ohio severe int
nat nal injury, recovery doubtful, Mrs Boy
ed upper jaw broken, and face badly euI;
me- son had his leg broken. Columbus Dlss