The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1864-11-11
Horrible Railroad Disaster In Indiana


(From The LaF ayette Courier, Nov,i)
Que Of the most lrightiul accidents in
the annals OF railway travel occurred on
the Lafayette and Indianapolis road at 55
minutes past three yesterday afternoon.-.
The regular Cincinnati Express due here
at fonr o'clock in the afternoon, by the
new time card, collided with cattle train
on curve one and half miles this side
Of Culver's Station, about seven miles
from the city. The passenger train was
twenty minutes behind, but waiting the
requisite time OF Siockwell obtainad The
undoubled right TO ,bc road, and was
moving at rapid speed when on turning
the curve beyond Culver's Station ihe
cattle train was observed, but too late to
avert the collision.
Both trains were heavily lsdeu--one
with seven coaches and five hundred and
eight souls, aud the other with nine cars
filed with Government cattle. The en-
gineer, George Lamb, Of the cattle train,
had observed the smoke Of the passenger
engine just beyond the curve, and reyers-
ing his engine, had partially checked the
|
lislon. He stood at his post pale as mar
BILE, until the trains were but a few rods
apart, when he jun ped for his life, and
with the fireman and brakeman escaped
unhurt. John Wbitten, engineer Of the
express, having. as he thought, an un-
doubted right 10 The road. was unsuspic
ious OF danger on the curve, and did not
| A. ,th - Iata 10 10
rally check the. speed OF his own train,
much less avert the disoster: lie bad
4 barely time to reverse his engine and
jump Tor his life, when the massive loco
motives and all their precious freight OF
human life colided with loud crash and
a power which shook the earth. Head
| lights, cow .catcbers, and all the lighter
works were crushed like tinder. and the
massive iron boilers received the full force
Of the collision. All Was over in the
twnkling Of an eye. and in less time than
II takes to read this paragraph. twer,y
seven souls were swept into eternity
Next to the engines, as usual, was the
baggage car belonging 10 the Lafayet
and Indianapolis Railroad, next was q
first class coach belonging 10 the Mehi
gan Central road, and this was the fsta
oar. 10 which death held high carnival. -
The baggage car was abou, fourteen inch
es narrower than The passenger coach
and little higher on the trucks, and the
force OF the conclusion drove it, like the
smaller section OF a spy-g lass, into and
through the passenger coach Immediately
behind. The baggage car remained in
tact, and being narrower, as we have said
came crushing through the coach, sweep
ing of the top but leaving the sides OF it
unbroken. Like monster bsttering ram
u swept everything before It. and scarcel,
a passenger in The tor,card part of the
4 car escaped ms tontaneous destruction.
| As it entered the coach it jumped the
forward truck upon which il rested, and
the end dropped about twelve inches, for
want Of support. and gave the baggage
car an angle Of about thirty degrees
And TO this simple fact. the escaped pas
sengers Of the ill-fated coach owe theil
f livea. Had the baggage car gone through
. on lbe same line it entered, not a sou
, could have escaped. Thus it was tha
, the forward passengers we're instantly
: crushed TO death. A little farther bach
aud the elevation OF. the death dealing
; car brought in line with the tops of th,
sea,s, and here il vas that these wer,
crushed like eggsheils. A little farther
aud these only who were slanding wer'
s struck down, while but a step beyond
: passengers escaped without a scratcl
, save from the splinlers OF the wreck.
Language has no power 10 depict th
scene. Within the compass Of a few fee
inside that fatal car was compressed -th
bruised and bleeding bodies Of the dead
the manned and the dying. The red vel
We; cushions had deeper dye from th
life blood Of the victims, and the remov
,, al Of the bodies. living and dead, from
the debris of the car that was full Of hor
,, ror h.... .. .,.a.l.
+ A number Of the dead were 90 Tight,
wedged between the bottom Of the bag
J gage car and passenger coach. that bag
I, gage car had to be raised by jack screw
t before they could be taken out, The ca
dripped with blood like slaughter pen
IN TIE wounded were carefully remove,
: to the cars and brought to this city. On
!, poor fellow. whose shattered leg wa
n found in his boot. some distance frou
Q his body, and who was otherwise injured
o died before reaching the city. Mr. Bake
n Of the Bramble House. promptly thre,
q open his doors. and George Lockstan'
vacated his billiard room in the Laiayett
a House. for the accommodation of the sui
!, ferers.
!. The dead were laid in two rows nea
2 the wreck, and as soon as identified card
IT with their names, were pinned 10 the
u clothing. Coroner Ingerso!l took chsrg
10 OF their effects. including a considerab
D. sum of money. After the wounded an
VI the passengers had been brought to ,b