The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-14
FR1GHTFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

AN EXPRESS TRAIN THROWN OFF THE TRACK BY
CARELESS LABoRERs-FoUR PERSONS KILLED
AND FORTY WOUNDED.
ERIE, Pa, November 18 One of the most terrible
railroad ACCIDENTS which mas ever occurred this
section OF country took place on the Buffalo and
Erie Railroad tn 8 afternoon, at about O'Clock.
A gang of workmen had peen EN- Jloyed In repair
ing the track about q mile east of Wesleyvile, and
had removed yO rails IN so dong. Although fully
aware that the New York express tram was due,
they took no precautlon to warn the Train, which
came on at the speed of tn rty miles per hour on
the w0rkmen ran back and swung his hat, but was
either unpercelyed by the engineer or IL was too
late. he next moment the engine struck the track,
and the engineer, who took IN the situation at the
same instant, reversed the locomotive.
The train was instantly thrown from the track
down the embankmeDt, a distance of some ten or
fifteen feet breaking some of the cars into splInters
and pilIna them with the passengers into aconfused
heap. For time the excitement was so great that
very little help was rende ed. The cries of the
wounded and the certa ntY that some had been
killed outright, seemed to momentarily benumb the
faculties of thos who had escaped without injury.
After a short time OF indecislon the passengers
who were able, together with the workmen, apphed
themselves to the work of removing the debris ana
rescuing those who were buried beneath IT.. -Four
dead bodies we're taken from the wIeck-tnree men
and CHI d, Fac cnild's mother was also taken
out, rely injured that there is no probability
of her surviving. Some forty or hy, perhaps more,
were wounded, most oil them lightly.
As soon as word reached this city two cars were
sent down for the wounded, q portion OF whom,
together with the dead, were brought here and
placed in the depot The cars were again despatched
and brought up the remainder of the wounded and
passen gers, reaching here about 8 O'Clock in the
evening. The bodies were aced in the SuperIn-
tendents room, atthe western end OF the depot and
were VISITED by hundreds of excited and curious
spectators. The scene was o sad one.
The names of the dead as far as / am able to
learn, were as follows DIR. Wheeler of Mliwau.
kee. and his little grandchild; man named Hunt,
who was dressed in the garb of a soldier, from
Danvnle, N. Y; ann an elderly man named
Harlan, place OF residence unknown. Several
others were internally injured, but ii was imDossi-
Bile 10 obtain accurate list account of the con-
fusion and excitement attendant on the occasion.
One little girl had her arm badly crushed as to
require amputatOn, / saw several little children,
among them two babes, with bloody bandazes and
handkerch efs tied about their heads and limbs.
One man was injured SO badly in the repon of the
stomach that he cannotsurvive Six of the wounded
-four men. a woman and child-were left at Yves.
ieyyllie. They will be brought up tomorrow
morning.
The causes which led to the accident were those
of the grossest and most criminal carelessness on
the part Of the workmen, every one of whom, and
chiefly the boss Of the gang should De indicted for
murder.
There is no excuse for them; they knew the tram
to be due and did not take the precaution TO send
back flag to stop 1t or resort to any other means
to prevent the terrible catastrophe which 1t mus
have teen evident would happen. No blame is at
tached to the engineer conductor in charge O1 th
train-N Y, Tribune.