Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-10-10
8etmot,lnt Chronicle.
The Last Missouri Railroad Disaster.

The Last Missouri Railroad Disaster.
The late accident on the Southwest Branch |
of the Pacific Railroad was far less destruc
tive inits results than might have been an |
ticipsted, only two persons being killed and
eight being wounded. a correspondent Of
the st. Douis Democrat gives somc interest
ing lasts which show that the escape from
most horrible calamity was very narrow:
The collision occurred about dusk, thirty
miles from RolIa, on the mile curve, midway
between Harrison station and Cuba-tour
miles East OF the latter place between a
special down t,aiu from Rolla under charge
OF Conductor Walker, and the regular up
train from franklin under Conductor Gun
ningfiam, who took the place of the regular
conductor, who was disabled by sickness. II
The down train from Rolln consisted of -
freight csirs and had on tb nut l2j porsons,
Including 81 guards detailed FROM tho Four
tecnth, IlHaois regiment to take charge of the
tents, provisions, aud u large quantity OF
ammunition belonging to the above regiment.
The balance consisted of a few art;llerymen,
teamsters, aud twelve wounded persons on
their way to st. houis from Springfield. =
There wore also large number OF mules and
horses aboard.
This train left Itolla at half-pa5t 4, p. VI.
The up train from Franklin consisted of sew
eral freight cars, baggage car in the rear,
and one passenger coach, in front OF the
latter, containing about % passengers, seven
OF whom were ladies,
The train arrived at Sullivan on time, but
was delayed there two hours, when itmoved
on, the engineer prcsuming to run all risk,
because his train had right to tho road. -
The results are thus described
We had reached the Fast branch of the
curve, and were proceeding, as good luck
would have it, at rather slow rate Of speed
on an up grade, when suddenly our ear-
were saluted with the spasmodic snort of The
engineer whistle, aud in moment thii
signal wassucceedcd by asmart concussior
Of our car, which appeared to be liitci up
and then, settled plump down again on th'
track !. Tho shock threw several pa'senger
off their scats and with the slight panic tha
prevailed was all the evidence we had of
collision. Somebody exclaimed. 'Oh. ther
are a good many killed; !" whorcupon
rush was made by several for the DOORS any
one two were endeavoring to effect an eYi
through the windows All danger, after th
first shock, being over; and AZ our car seene'
to be moving gently backward, the fears o
the passengers were soon quoted.
When emerged from the car it was dusk
ish, and yet had no information of the ex
tent of the disaster. The principal portion
of our train had recoded some fifteen 9
twenty rods, having been very fortunatel
detached, as wo soon ascertained, from th
two forward freight cars next the tender, b
tho breaking Of the coupling iron the r.
bound consequent on the conclusion havin
driven us back down the grade.
On reaching the freight cars VIZ foun
them perfectly mashed in together, III
bottom Of the hind one having showed i
way along tte floor Of the car Oh f'bi"yart
while the roof of the former was kcc.od u
perpendiculary on top, appearing a, di
tance in the shadows Of evening, like min
atbre shot tower. The forward fire. ,ht CT
was Ioaded with bundles of hay, and it Al
pesred that after the car behind had bee
disconnected from the train and thrown ini
the slrlpe described, the remainder Of ol
train passed over the vacant space occupiC
by this car, and bunted against the. pile
hay, thus us,brcaking the violence Of the shoe
on our portion of the train. 1t is to tn
circumstance that VIC are indebted to Il
escape Of all on board Of the passenger trai
AS proceeded on toward the point
collision tho scene that met my view almo
beggars description Both locomotives we
claspcd together, with the smoke pipes s
inches apart, and the cow-catchers had c
tirely Disappeared. A deep gully lay
both sides OF the high embankment; G
rayina ON tho right wasiilled with struggli
mules and the tender of the down trl
which had rolled some fifty feet from q
track, The scenes at thispoint were tcrriii
aud the cries OF two or three victims, vi
seemed to be cnvelopcd in tho wreck, we
M IA 81 Aha 10
on which the engineer, fireman and mi
named Stewart were riding, had perfect
collapsed together. The two former say
themselves by jumping out in time, b
Stewart was jammed under q pile of wo
near the boiler, with only his head and arr
protruding, Ile was disengaged from &
wreck in perfect state Of nudity, his boz
being scaled in shocking manner, a
thigh broken. a man named McCormic
who was seated in the tender rolled do,
with the latter into the ravine and was
engaged from pile of wood having be
previously scaldod by the steam The thr
forward freight cars, filed with mules, We
piled together in heap, smashed as fine
kindling wood A man named Bonds, W
was riding on tho top Of one OF the
dropped through hole among tho mul
and was alterward hauled outcome nulew
uiS ucuu Cut VII lylHB ph Hihi' hN nuo'
tho freight cars shot over tic chasm like
ovarhanging shelf. Down in the abo
chasm tho baggage ear, which was abe ad
the cothmlnutel freight cars, rested, o
end on tho fragments Of the latter, VIII
the other end rested in tho ravne, thus
ing tiltod up ut an angle of f0rty-iive {
grees. There were eight or ten men in :
baggage car, but most wonderful to roll
but few wero injured. Resting upon I
upper end of the baggage car was freie
carwhioh had been showed over the fri
tnents Of the three broken freight cars eli
upto the engine, and thus il hung suspol
cd in tho air some fifteen or twenty 4
above the track.
This car was filed with men, but v
providontially all Of them escaped with,
injury. The men thought they were bio
up by the Secessionists.
Tho damage to the engine and cars can
be much less than 81 200.
fal The Battle Record, 30 Far.
.Ff A g.,ntcman In Inpsing Micbivan \