Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-21
TERRIBLE EAELRDD ACCl-
DENE.
NINE PERSONS INSTANTLY KILLED.
Thirty Men, Women and Children Reported
Wounded

One of the most terrible railroad accidents
that has occurred during the present year, hap
pened on Saturday afternoon, on the Penn
sylvania railroad, three miles this side of
Lancaster, as the Day Express train reached
that point, en- route for Philadelphia. The
train consisted of seven cars. The front axle
of the third car breaking, that end of the Car
at once fell to the track, and as the train
was under full headway, the rear cars ran
into the one to which the accident occurred,
crushing to death nine persons and MAIN
ing a large number Of others-rumor says
thirty or more. The scene is said to have
been heartrending and sickening in the ex
treme. The shrieks and grOans of the
wounded and dying were such as to unman
the stoutest heart, and to cause many pas
sengers to leave the vicinity of the accident
to obtain relief from the sad spectacle pre-
sented. The following is list of the per-
sons who were instantly killed, or died a
few moments after the accident occurred:
Mrs. James p. Barr, wife of the Surveyor
General of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Sarah Willct, of New Cumberland,
Cumberland county, Pa.
Mrs. Magdaena Zette, Of Milwaukee, Wis
consln.
Colonel Butler, of Lewistown, Pa.
Mrs. Butler, (witc of the above,) Lewis
town, Pa.
Wm. H. Butler, (known as "Barney" But
lerO Clerk in the Surveyor Generals office,
Harrisburg.
Mrs. Phillips, of Ohio.
A daughter of Mrs. Phillips, aged about
Is years.
Another daughter of Mrs. Phillips, aged
10 years.
1t is said that from thirty to forty persons
were wounded-and there is no cause to
doubt the truth of the report, as it seems
incredible that a smaller number would be
injured, when the list of killed is SO exten
siye as above.
Among those reported wounded are James
p. Barr, Surveyor General and Mrs. Wolf.
niger. of Harrisburg Capt. Isaac Molfatt,
OF Philadelphia, is supposed to be injured
internally.
The bodies of the persons killed were
forwarded to the West on the express train
of Sunday morning. That OF Mrs. Willet
was brought to this city, and after being
placed in neat coffin, was sent to New
/ Cumberland
We are informed that the railroad track
was torn up distance Of a hundred yards
or Eore, and that three or four cars were
shattered TO pieces. a bar of railroad iron
penetrated entirely through the body of one
of the men killed. Some of the bodies are
said to be horrible mutilated
Among the parties wounded some are
! reported as having arms and legs broken,
and Others sustained injuries of every con-
ceivable form.
The accident Is attributed to defective
iron in the axle that broke, the car to which
it was attached having been in good condi-
tion.
A Lancaster dispatch to the Associated
Press states that but two persons were seri
ously wounded, but passengers deny the
truth of it, and place the number at about
the figure named IN the beginning of our
article. The dispatch alluded to also says
that the entire medical force of Lancaster
was assembled at the depot to minister to
the wants of the wounded. This would be
unnecessary ii but two persons were injured.
We must, however. wait for facts as they
are developed hereafter, it beng impossible
to obtain any perfectly reliable statements.
Passengers become excited and frequently
magnify facts, while on the other hand
railroaders' lips are sealed. Any further
particulars we may receive in regard to this
unfortunate occurrence will be duly annoua-
cel.
The accident cannot be attributed to care
lessness on the part of the persons in charge
of the train, and the defect In the broken
axle was such as could not be detected by
any inspector. Telegraph.