The Cass County Republican., 1863-10-01

dent occurred 10 the special train from
Kalamazoo on Friday night last, by
which persons were instantly killed
and over thirty seriously wounded
one of whom, DR.. Brayton, of this vii
lage, has since died. Having been on
the train at the time of the accident,
we give the particulars, as they ap-
peared to US.
The train, consisting of one locomo-
tive and twenty passenger coaches ieit
Kalamazoo at half-past eight O'Clock
for Niles and intermediate places, load
ed with people from the State Far.
At Mattawan, II miles this side Of
Kalamazoo, there is down grade, ex-
tending all the way to Lawton, four
miles further west. While coming
down this grade, some mischievous or
drunken halfgrown boys, who thought
it would be fine fun to leave a portion of
the train on the track, a mile or so from
the station,-(as We are informed by a
gentleman of this village, who over
heard the remark made)-pulled out
the pin that holds the couplings between
a passenger coach and a third class car
that was fitted up with temporary seats
for the occasion, dividing the train near
the centre. Being upon down grade
the engineer did not discover the loss of
portion of his train, and dashed on to
Lawton, where he stopped his train,
after signalling, as is usual, to put on
brakes, and the two portions were not
so far apart, but that the brakeman on
the rear portion of the train answered
the signal. After the forward portion
had nearly stopped, the engineer sig
nailed to take off brakes, which was
also responded to by the brakeman on
the portion Of the train coming down
the grade.
The first portion Of the train came to
a stand still at the station, and the de-
tached cars came on behind at no great
speed, as we are informed by several
were in the rear portion, and not per-
son, even among those who knew the
train to be detached, dreamed of any
danger, so slow was the rate of speed.
The engineer Immediately put on steam
to get out of the way, and with such
force that the couplings between the
engine and nearly every car in the for
ward portion of the train broke, and the
dreadful collision Immediately ensued.
The rear portion of the train dashed
into the forward portion with such force
that the two cars which came together
closed into each other, shutting up like
a telescope, crushing their occupants
IN terrible manner. A scene of the
utmost excitement then cnsued. Men.
women and children rushed hither and
thither in search of relations and friends.
and in some instances greatly hinder.
ing those who were sufficiently cool to
set 10 work to relieve those i'm the i'll
fated cars. Soon tools were brought
from the track repairers' house, and the
work of clearing away the wreck was
commenced with vigor, and one after
another of the unfortunate dead and
wounded. frightfully mangled, were
brought out and cared for as well as
could be under the circumstances.
Upon the train were Drs. Andrews and
Redding, of Miles, and DR.. Prindle, of
this village, who were very efficient in
ministering to the relief of the wound
ed. The officers of the road were also
prompt TO a praiseworthy degree in
providing relief for the sufferers. Kali
amazoo and Niles were telegraphed to,
and special trains from both of these
places soon arrived with surgeons.
The following is complete list of the
killed and list of the wounded as far
as could be obtained:
Killed. = Elias Love, of Lawton
Nathaniel Howe, of Lawrence Will
liam Powell, of Lawton; a boy, son OF
Chas. U. Cross, of Bangor, all in Van
Bnren Co., and Thomas White, Dowa-
giac, Cass Co.
| Wounded. = Geo. w. Robinson, OF
Lawton Grove Love, of Lawton
Geo. McFay, of Sharon Springs, N. Y,
leg broken; Phillip Dedrick, of Law
renee; Mr.. Southwell, of Decatur, Sc.
riously injured about the spine; Ira
Foster, of Keeler; Thomas O'Leary,
of Decatur; Mr.. Crawford of Van
Buren, Wayne Co.; Evans Ink, Wayne,
Cass Co.; Sarah j. Rawson, of Paw
Paw; Mr.. Munson, of Lawton; Miss
Mackay, of Decatur; Mr.. Dimick, OF
KaoIor ooriouclv In baok. Tau,oc No