The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-09
The Railroad Accident.

The Chicago Press is largely occupied
with the details Of the horrible accident to
the excursion train on the Chicago and
North Western Road. II says:
There must have been at this time, from
the crowded state Of the train, over six hun.
dred and fifty passengers, the gentlemen
very generally being accompanied by ladies'.
A happier party we never saw, the little
groups Of intimates were gathered each in
its own coterie. Seats turned to face seats
very generally divided those occupying them
into groups of four, lowering about which,
or fitting from group to group were gentle
men and ladies', all in the highest spirts.--
Mirth and gsyety made the cars resound,
and we'll nigh drowned the rattling Of the
wheels. 40 the train sped onward. The wri.
ter passed through the entire length Of the
train soon after it was we'll under way from
Wstertown, TO find these above features OF
the hour universal. Every where was lsugh.
ter and mirth and song, now by quartettes
and then some familiar cir, borne on full
chorus. There were numerous little parties
at whist and euchre. Lunch time was at
hand, and from the well stored baskets,
came out numerous tokens Of a forethoUght
at home, destined to give the coming hours
their full need OF the satisfaction from such
sources derivsble. Were the pail of mid.
night to instant0neo eously shr3ud a summer
noon, the change could not be more a con.
trnst, than when heavy crashes and them
silence, turned joy to sorrow, and nnticipa.
tons to iruition Of anguish rarely pHral-
leled. y
Six cars crushed and inter locked, sliding
in upon one another like the sections of o
telescope; six cars shattered, two Of them,
the first and sixth, demolished for near their
entire length. All were filled with human
beings--husbands and wives, brothers end
sisters, fathers and mothers, when the crash
struck them gay and merry. now joining in
the smothered wall OF anguish from that
fearful prison, or crawling out bruised and
bleeding BY windows and through the roof
In few minutes all who were able were
actively at work for the relief of the sufferers.
Some mounted the cars with axes, some cut
away the sides, others, and among these
many ladies, made couches by the roadside
out of car cushions and shnwls, while others
still bore or conducted thither the injured as
fast as they could be extrcated. They came
wounded and bleeding, apparel torn, mum.
bers with broken limbs, many with disfigur-
ing bruises about their head and fuce; and
among most of these was a noble tortitude
that rose superior to their suiferngs. Ten.
der and delicate women were taken tenderIy
to temporary resting places and silently
awaited the attention that must be DELAYED,
for there was no house in the vicinity. x
The cries Of the wounded rose on the air.
Some Of them were crazy from wounds on
the head, and shouted and howled alternate
ly; others, in the intensity of their torment,
shrieked and implored the bystanders to put
an end to their lives.
DR.. Bell, one of the excursionists, saws
When about nine miles from Wa,ertown,
while the joviol song and cheerful laugh
were The oudest, shock came upon US sud
den and unexpected as the ightning's fish
ut MONDAY in clear sky; every eye was
raised, and every voice was instantly hushed
then came the recol; and es the plat orms
met they renred md quvered moment,
then Tapped one upon the other, coming to-
gether with a tremendous crash--cpr mount.
ing car, each one blowing its way into the
one forward of it, bursting off the top, rend.
ing the sides, crushing in the ends, tearing
up the flooring, crushing and grinding like
the cracking, crashing thunder.
ImmediateIy alter I cleared myself and
wife from the wreck, met Mrs. Emerson of
Oshkosh enquring for her husband. l. told
told her would make immediate search Tor
him. went to the ruins of the baggage
car, where they were extrcatin9 bodies from
the mud and rubbish. Two bodies we're ia
ken out, but they could not be Identifed.--
Discovering ring upon the finger of one Of
the bodies, took it off and carried it to
Mrs Emerson; she was seated upon log
surrounded by some OF her sympathizing
neighbors. | approached and held the ring
towards her. She raised her eyes and with
O CLASSY look and hollow voice exclaimed,
"Mr. Bell Mr.. Bell is George dead o.
| asked her il that was hi. ring; she said
"yes;" then replied Mr.. Emerson is dead
Her eyes instantly bec1me glazed, her lea-
lures as fixed ond rigid as the scup,ured
marble-a perfect image of despair. Her
female friends began to sob and cry, but her
eyes were dry, her emotions could find no
vent, and to see that poor heart. stricken
child SO suddenly q widow, brought tears
into many manly eye.
then went to see poor Peterseia. He
was lying upon door of one of the cars,
hi. legs were broken, torn and mangled, his
head bruised, but his eyes and his voice dis
tinct. AS ] approached he said, "Brother
Bell, this is hurL; l think the chill OF death
is upon me. and am ready TO CO." Friends
gathered around him. placed him in the car
and my fraternal brother was relieved from
his suterings in about ten minutes after the
cars started for WATERFOWL.
"Sjx were instantly killed, us follows:
U. S. Marshal NJ. J. Thomas, of Fon du
Lac, was in the Post Office chatting with
conductor Hobart. He was taken out dead,
drowned as was thought. Mr.. Thomas was
son-in.law OF the Hon.. John B. Mscey, oil
the same place, who himself it will be re.
membered, was lost in the burning of the
Niagara on the lake in 1856. Mr.. Thomas
! leaves wife now an invalid OF Buffalo.
George Emerson, of Oshkosh, was in the
baggage room and was taken out dead. He
was an esteemed and prominent citizen, and
OF the firm of G. Emerson & Co., machin
lists. His wife was on board and in another
car unnjured. Mr.. Emerson came from
New York State about two years SINCE
Their enterprise was one of tine largest o
its class in Northern Wisconsin.
Elphalet Sherwood, Of Oshkosh, clerk o.
the steamer P earl, in baggsgeroom, instant
ly killed. A young unmarried man.
Isadore Snow, an elderly man, an old res
ident of Fon du Lac, carpenter by trade
and with
John Boardman, his son.in law, in the en-
ploy Of the railroad company in building