American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1862-10-24

rFram the Memphis Appeal
TERRIBLE RAILROAD Accident
THIRTY-rIyE KILLED.
FORTY OR FIFTY wouNDED.

= =
One of the most terrible railroad acct.
dents il has ever fallen to our lot to record
occurred on Sunday morning last, be
tween the regular passenger trains on the
Mississippi Central railroad. TIE dowr
train with eleven cars. drawn by engine
James Brown. conducted by PETER KIRBY
and the up train. twelve cars, engine A
NJ. West, Mr.. BENDER. engineer, con
Quoted by Mr. SHELDON collided one
mile below Duck Hill station, causing
one of the most terrible wrecks ~oI
machinery we have ever beheld, and
furnishing chronicle of casualties ex
ceeding anything of the kind ever known
in the South. and but seldom equalled In
the country.
- The down train is reported to have
waited its time as prescribed by the rules
of the company, for delayed trains, when
the signal was given to proceed. Before
advancing mile the approach Of the
up train was discovered by the engineer
of the former. who gave the signal to
stop, reversed his engine, and jumped
off. The Conductor and engineer of the
train coming north also leaped from their
positions The collision was immediate.
and of fearful effect. The train going
south is said to have been moving slowly.
while that from the south was running at
a high rate OF speed. making an effort to
reach the station within the prescribed
time. On the down train but one man
was killed. and a. few slightly injured.
The engine was completely wrecked,
in its rear, which was demolished The
injury to the balance of this train was
comparatively slight But upon the
other train the loss of life. personal iuiu-
ries inflicted. and the destruction of
properly, was unprecedented in the his
tory Of collisions. Theepgine had perle-
trated far into the other. and its tender
was piled on top. Two fat cars. behind
the tender. filed with soldiers were com
pleiely demolished. the bodies of the
unfortunate being almost understandable
I'm the wreck. while the trucks were piled
upon each other in the most frigbtful
manner. and the baggage car and first
passenger coach being forced on top of
the confused mass The balance of the
train con>istin. Of FIVE passenger coaches.
one sleeping garland two platform ears
were all more or less injured. bui none Of
them were displaced from the track,
As stated the two. platform cars in
front ~vere crowded AS were the plat
forms of the passenger, coaches. with
soldiers, who were on their way to their
regiments and were .unahie 10 obtain
seats. Nearly all Of these were killed or
iniured Que man was killed by being
thrown from platform car at the rearof
the train. None of the officers or attaches
of The road were injured. except Mr..
Kirby. the conductor of theAdown train,
who received asslieht sprain Of the ankle
in jumping from his train Noneof the
regular passengerswere injured with the
exception of few slight Bruises Many
OF the latter. informed us that Che con-
cussion was SO slight as to scarcely attract
attention. and upon examining as to the
cause Of the sioppage of the trains they
we're Mortified to learn the.ertent of dam
age inflicted.
The casualties were thirty FIVE killed,
and between forty and City wounded.
Most of the latter were severely injured,
and the attending physicians gaveAit as
their opinion that several could not re-
cover. The severely wounded were
taken to Canton. with the exception OF a.
negro Who Was broosht 10 thisacity. His
.sba 20 ha,llv 10 make
amnu,al;op necessary. The following +
= l,st. of the killed. as definite ascould
! he. a.esraain.<i -. 80 -
I'd q. Mcalor, company D. 1st Arksnsas
battalion S L. Merritt, company Is lsth
Arkansas; J. ii. Thompson company " = = ON ~
Ark; s, II. Townsend n company = 18Th arSs
r6a,sa'1pn Ma a. eo,seany Fl and S. Rodg-