Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-07
on the Pennsylvania Cen
trail Railroad.

From the Pittsburg Post, Jan. 1s.
One of the most frightful occurrences, almost
without a parallel in the history of railroad Gu
tastrophies, the great amount of property de-
stroyed, without loss of life being taken into con-
sheraton, occurred yesterday morning OIL the
Pennsylvania Central Railroad, about four miles
east of Tyrone Mr.. John w. Birmingham fur.
nishes US with the following particulars:
As the Philadelphia express passenger train ar.
rived within about six hundred feet of bridge
eight across the Junata river, the hind axle of
the tender broke in two in the centre, and the
wheels flying off on both sides Of the track The
train at the time was in full motion, and before
the brakes could be put on, the engine reached
the bridge, dragging the two express cars, which
were on the track, 10 the edge of the abuttment,
when the coupling between the tender and eN-
press car parted, the engine and tender passing
over the bridge without further injury than de-
scribcd; but not SO with the remainder of the
cars The first express car was precipitated
distance of about forty feet into the Juniata; the
second express and baggage car, containing the
mail and baggage of the passengers, are piled i'll
one heap The first passenger ear mostly freight
ed with soldiers, rolled from the bridge, breaking
into a hundred pieces following which was the
second passenger car, which, rs II plunged from
the track into the river, turned bottom side mp.
This car drew the Philadelphia sleeping eur from
the track the front part resting On the top of the
second passenger and the hind end on the abu:t
ment of the bridge. The Allentown sleeping car
remained on the track at the edge of the bridge,
1t still being coupled o the Philadelphia car.
The accident took place at such an early hour
In the morning that most of the passengers were
either asleep or Just waking from a morning nap,
so that but few realized their pcrilOus situation
till the whole affair was complete. Most of the
passengers in the sleeping cars were awakened
by being piled promiscuOusly either 10 the side
or end of the cars The cars had hardly struck
before the cry of fire was raised the baggage and
first and second passenger cars being already in
blaze. This produced a CONSERVATION among the
passengers which beggars description; and their
entire powers were called into requisitiOn to
them from being destroyed by fire. Men who
before were unable to stir on account of their
wounds, crawled from the car windows, and by
great exertion dragged their bodies from the de-
vouring element. The great height of the Phila.
dephia sleeping car from the ground made escape
from it pcrilous indeed Mr.. Birmingham occu.
pied IN upper berth in that car, near the state
room occupied by Mr. Cass. The shout was
raised that Mr.. Cass could not get his stateroom
door open, which was corroborated by Mr.. c.
calling for help. But men crawled over him not
needing his efforts to relieve himself each and
every one intent on saving himself But Mr. C.'s
shouts were not in vain. An English boy with
the assistance of Mr. c., pushed the door open
and he escaped. Mr.. Birmingham was still in the
car rendering assistance ito those who were but
slightly injured, when the fire was conveyed to
the combustible matter which all sleeping cars
contain His only chance of escape was by leap.
ing from the car window to the ground, dis.
lance of some twenty-five feet. He made the
leap without sustaining any injury. BY this time
the cars were being fast consumed by the fire,
save the two express cars. Those destroyed by
fire were the baggage and all the passenger cars
The news of the accident was soon communicated
10 the inhabitants in the neighborhood, and
brought men, women aud children to the scene,
each nxious to relieve the sufferers.