Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-12-23
Frightful Railroad Accident.
IFrou lie Detroit fr,o Pes, December l5,l

WIN loss OF llIei occurred last night, Shor
ly before eight o'clock, on the Gran
Trunk Railroad, about milo and ha
west Of the Detroit and Milwaukee june
ton, through collision between the Da
Passenger Express, West, and Freigl
train going East. The particulars whic
have been gathered thus far are nearly n
(. follows
The passenger train was behind time
and had made all the necessary passes
according to the tolegraphic instruction
until it had passed New Baltimore Sta
tion, where, it is said, it had orders tc
cross the freight going east at the Detroit
and Milwaukie junction. When it arrived
there, according to the story of the opera
tor at the Crank Trunk Junction, it had
| orders to proceed all right. Under these
Instructions it passed the junction, when
shortly afterwards the engineer thought
he discovered an engine ahead. The
next moment he heard the whistle to
down breaks, when he Immediately gave
q similar order and reversed his engine.
| Ihere We're with him ut the cab AT The time
two other persons besides the fireman.
Before they could jump the two engines
came crashing together in frightful con-
tact, literally making chaos of every
thing connected with both The engines
were dovetailcd into each other in an in.
separable manner, and the mail and bag
gage car of the passenger train driven
partly through tho forward passenger
car, thereby causing tho frightful catas
trophe which followed.
The passenger train, which consisted
only of two coaches and baggage car,
was crowded with passengers. Both cars
were filled to the utmost, SO much so that
scarce even standing room could be OBJ
tanned. After the accident, those in the
forward car who were not helplessly in.
jured, endeaVored to get out as soon as
possible. 1t is said, and we give it upon
the authority of one Of the passengers,
that the baggage man, who it appears,
bad charge OF the train-there being no |
conductor aboard-or one Of the brakes
men, shut the hind door of the car, and |
would not for some time allow the pas
sengers egress, stating that there YVES no
danger. Immediately utter the smash
occurred the stoves were upset and the
cars took fire. In an almost incredible
space Of time the flames enyeloped the
whole, with the exception of the last eur,
and how many perished time alone can
tell.
The fumes shot up in broad sheet,
the heavens for miles around.
As seen from the city it appeared as
though some huge bonfire was blazing
1t the Skating Park. The bells sounded
he alarm, and the engines turned out
,ut after proceeding q short distance up
Woodward Avenue, they found that the {
ire was far beyond the city limits, and
hey returned.-Yarious conjectures were !
iie as to the cause, but it was not until ,
fter the arrival of some of the passen- j
'ers in the city that the nature of the o
was ascertained. c
After recovering from the shock, those .
Tho escaped turned their attention to the
escue of those in danger, and succeeded a
a delivering several from the burning b
lasa. While thus engaged, they were !.
breed to witness sight which fairly :,
lrdled the blood in their veins, and to- j
ards the recital Of which the pen denies a
S Office. The mail agent, George w. 4
iillen, from Port Huron, was found to !
e jammed in between tho baggage and =
'rward passage car. His leg was firmly "a
eld between two pieces OF broken timber,
nd all efforts to rescue him before the de- 10
1nring flames engulphed him in their pl
Ids proved futile. The most herculean al al
forts to eXtricate his crushed and bleed q,
& limbs from its fearful embrace wore re
Ied, but the rapidly spreading flames n
'ove the labOrers from their work, and =,
ICY were forced TO witness him perish m
,fore their eyes, his heart-rending shrieks ne
creed their ears for help until stiled Cc
mid the smoke and flames of the devour- u
g element. God OF Heaven it was q ny ny
ckening sight and completely enervat- ca
the energies of those around in their bli
lty to others probably equally terribly tls
uated. After the FIRE had burned down SiI 81
s charred trunk was taken from the ~, ~
ms, the head, arms, and legs completely IN
voured, and tho body roasted 10 ge
lder,
AS We have stated, it is not known how 70
any persons persisted. We can, there a5 T'
70, only as yet surmise the number
criticed to the catastrophe. Some per-
MS in working among the ruins dis 4
vered a portion of females hoop J
irt, and shortly afterwards the bones Of
human being among the ashes. An
her person drew from the ruins a por-
N of the bottom Of silk dress, and
ket upon which was the address, "Nliss Tug
ary Boorlingham Oneida, New York" y
1t whether this belonged to any one
10 perished has not yet been discovered. va, !.
is said that lady and two children aud
re in the car, who have not turned up, Bat
d that a physician who was in the city Ia
'aiting the erriyal Of sister or some On.
male relative, or both, mourns their
sence. 1t is probable that Eve or six G.
We perished. Beyond the melancholy y
ath of Mr.. Millen no other names have tlm
inspired ~
-,swe~------ Ii
A QUEER C0URTSHIP. tion