The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-09-13
a lcl,riDle Railroad Accident
Fifteen Persons Killed.

A collision occurred on Monday, the 2Sth
on the Long Island Railroad, near Jamaica.
The following particulars arc furnished by
the passengers:
AZ i:l5 u. m, the Greenport train, which
should not leave the Jamaica station unless
the Hunters Point train had arrived, was
started from Jamaica ten minutes before the
time. and met the other train ut fun speed,
about mile west of that village The sig
nal of the approaching train from Hunters
Pon, was heard by several passengers on the
other train, and one gentleman who was
standing on the platform of the smoking car
looked out, saw the danger, and lcaped of
without sustaining any injury.
The Hunters Point train was under full
speed, rs the conductor doubtless felt secure
Of his right Of way, but the other conductor,
whose name we understand is Sands. had be-
gan somewhat TO slacken the speed Of his
train as he was aware of the insecurity of
his position There was sufficient time. in
deed, for all the engineers, frcmcn and con-
ductors to jump off, which they did without
receiving any serious injury. The eastward
bound train was completely run down and
crushed to pieces by the superior weight Of
the other
The scene was SO frightful to those who
escaped injury that some tainted with terror
at the sight Men were hanging suspended
beneath the wreck by the lacerated tendons
of their legs both of which had been torn
away in the collision. Others were suspend
ed by the throat, across which strong iron
tenders had been crushed. Others were dy-
ing beneath tons of the wrecked cars, and
moaning out the brief moments they had re-
naming to them on earth.
At first it seemed Ms though few could have
escaped from the dreadful catastrophe alive,
but i'm n few moments one and another Of the
unfortunate victims crawled from the awful
mass OF broken timber and crushed human
forms, until it was apparent that not more
than fifteen immortal souls had been hurried
into the presence Of their Maker. Three Of
the Hunters Point ears were torn into pieces
or wedgcl into each other, and on these the
largest loss Of life occurred. The shock was
so great that the trains rcbounded from each
other two or three hundred feet
The number of passengers on the train
from the east was 40 great tina, many were
standing on the platforms. As the fronts Of
two or three cars were crushed, most of these
passengers were either killed or wounded.
One of the most astounding circumstances
attending this appalling murder, is the fact
that while the smoking car of this train was
crowded with passengers. not one was seri-
ously injured, though on the next car two
men were killed. and in the other cars behind
more or less injury was done.
When our informant loft, one maISwas still
hanging by his crushed legs between two
ears, and the employees of the road. although
importuned by the passengers to take meas
urcs for his relief set to work repairing the
engines. This man was still alive, and the
passengers were prevented from prying the
cars apar, by some of the employees who
pretended that if the car was lifted from the
other, the last would fall upon its side and
this reason was given for their own inatten-
ton to this poor dying man.
The engineers and firemen grouped togeth-
err soon after the accident. and. as our infor-
mant asserts, were cheertully congratalating
each other on their own escape, and iaanlging
in a little laughter over some of the incidents,
One of them observed in Il nonchalent tone
Now, ! suppose we shall have a hell Of n
time made over this All these occurred
while the dead and the dying were strewn on
the grass around them. These stories came
from the passengers, but let MS hope for the
sake OF human nature that there is an cxag-
gcration to them.