The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-09-26

The last Railroad Disaster.

The utmost degree of sensation and excite
ment has prevailed in this city since the first il
telligence of the heart-rending disaster that owe
, took the 10Th Illinois Regiment, Colonel Tul
chins Zouaves, on the Ohio & Mississippi Raj
{ road on Tuesday night, near Mitchell Station
one hundred and forty miles east of Cincinnati
The many relatives of members of this regimen
in Chicago, and scores who have come in from
the country for the same purpose, have pressed
anxiousy on every channel for fresh particular
and intelligence as to the safety or fate of thei
own immediate friends.
From our Cincinnati exchanges and from 9th.
er sources, we compile such features of the sac
calamity as have not already been anticipated
by our dispatches.
| The regiment was going forward in two
trains, and the latter OF eight cars, had reached
bridge over Beaver Creek, known as bridge
| No. AZ, sixty feet span and ten feet high, the
water being about three feet deep. At the
time the train was moving at the rate of % or
| 30 miles an hour, and the engine and one car
| had just cleared the bridge when the structure
gave way. Car No. did not become detached
from the one in front, but stood at an angle of
about forty-fve degrees, the forward end lean
ing against the abutment and the hind end rest
ing i'll the water. No. A. containing nearly all
of Company /, Capt. Howard, the Anti Beau
regards of Galena, which suffered so terribly
in the disaster, went to the bottom, No. a falling
upon it, and literally crushing it to atoms. No
also went down, while No. remained in
position corresponding to that of No 4, the hind
end leaning against the other abutment. Thos
in Nos. 2 and 8 escaped without injury.
The accident took place at ten minutes to 8
o'clock The scene that followed was beyond
description fearful. First came the dead pause
following the crash, and then arose the fearful
chorus of screams, groans and cries of agony
from the wrecked train, Many were doubtless
Instantly killed, and these were less Unfortunate
than those tn whom was reserved death sue.
ceeding hours of anguish among the ruins.
Those fortunate enough to escape without in
jury were almost paralyzed with horror, and
knew not what to do for their companions,
whose shrieks and means rent the air. The en-
gineer, more thoughtful than some OF the rest,
suddenly remembered that the express train 60
ing west was nearly due, at that point, and fear
full that it might come along suddenly and leap
into the yawning chasm, adding, if possible, to
the terrors of the scene, he detached his engine,
and running with the speed of the wind to
Huron, three miles further east, arrived Just
in time TO have the coming train advised of the
accident by Telegraph, at the next station above,
from this forethought of the engineer intel!i-
gence was thus early forwarded to Cincinnati,
whence Immediately a special train was sent
NN'
surgeons and a number of Railroad attaches,
provided with every appliance deemed neces-
sary to meet such emergency.
At several points on the road surgeons, were !
taken on board, and at Seymour, 40 miles east
Of the broken bridge, the inhabitants in large
both men and women turned out anx-
ious to be Of service. Indeed it should be here
stated that the highest praise is accorded to the
citizens for their humane exertions in behalf of
the sufferers, and this will apply to the residents
of Seymour, Vincennes and Mitchlle. The Gin
cinnati train reached Beaver Greek about day
light, after severe nights work of those on the
spot, had made change il the appearance of
matters, but had still left much to be done for
the relief of the sufferers, for it not until
DAY had we'll advanced that the bodies of all the
victims were removed.
Fortunately, when the disaster took place,
Ors. Bogue aud Baiache, the Surgeons of the
18th, and their hospital steward and Lieutenant
Aellott, also physicians were in the forward car
and escaped without injury. Companies | and
i, as above stated, were the greatest sufferers
the latter entire company, except Lieutenant
Bridges, well known young architect Of this
'lty, and two corporals were more or less iDjur-
I'd. The Colonel, who is an old Russian cam
0aigner, Lieut.. Kellott and Fife Major Moore,
we're accompanied by their wives. These ladies
lot only rendered great assistance in dressing
he wounded but even tore their under garments
III their persons to make bandages
Capt. b. b. Howard, tor many years P. III. of
Galeua, and soldier of the Mexican war, was
completely crushed, not a whole bone being
eft. After finding the body of their Captain,
MS company, or the few that were left, sadly
covered it with green bushes. An old German,
himself badly hurt, sat at the head of the corpse
telling of Captain Towards virtues to all that
could listen. One poor fellow named Clark, of
he same company, saw his brother drown, he
standing by, unable to help.
Before daylight eighteen bodies were recov
cred in addition to rescuing all the living
Lieut.. Clifton Wharton, of this city, was caught
by both legs between two platforms and it re-
luired three fourths of an hour to chop and saw
lim out, every blow of the ak causing intense
agony. A colored servant caught in a similar,
though less paiaful situation, was two hours I'M
iergoing the operation of rescue. A brakes
nan with an arm and leg both broken, crawl
I'd from under the bottom Car to place of safe
y.-Chicag0 Tribune