The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-09-21
The Disaster mt .JOhmstOwn.

AT J0nnet0Wn very large concouree OF
people awaited the train bearing the Presi-
dent, and, on its approach, began the most
vociferous and genuine cheering possible.
But their JOY at welcoming the party was
suddenly cut short, and the whole place
converted into house Of mourning, by one
of the most calamitous accidents that ever
befel the community. The railroad at this
place runs on the north bank Of the old
canal (now dry, about thirty feet from its
channel. The canal was bridged over for
several rods in front Of where the train
stopped, and was used as q platform for
business. A bridge for crossing one Of the
streets, and two raised sidewalks were j n
elevated above the ground between the bank
Of the canal and the cars, the audience
could obtain q tolerably fair view Of the
rear platform Of the train on which the
President and others were standing, and
therefore crowded on it in mass SO dense
that there was no standing room left unoc-
cupied.
just as the train was about to move away,
and those on the bridge and around the
depot were rending the air with cheers for
johnson, Grant and Farragut, an awful
crash rose above the roar Of the huzzas,
that startled all within hearing and silenced
many voices forever. The timbers in the
center Of the bridge, fully foot square,
suddenly snapped in twain. precipitating
every soul on it to the bottom Of the canal,
| q distance Of at least fifteen feet. The
balance Of the sidewalks and platforms over
the canal came down with the bridge, and
! filled the bottom Of the canal with timbers,
plsnks and the struggling mass Of men,
women and children, all hurled together in
aninextricable confusion. Those on the bank
between the now yawning gulf and the rail
read track were frightened into stampede,
and added to the confusion by screaming,
yelling, and trampling each other into the
mud in their frantic efforts to escape. A
more frightful scene was scarcely ever wit
messed. A few moments suficed to reveal
what had actually transpired. Men, women,
children, fathers, mothers. husbands, wives,
sons and daughters were now rushing in
every direction seeking relatives and
friends, and crying abound with grief and
terror.
As soon as the sinking. falling debris had
settled to the bottom, those in the eighbor.
hood sprang to the bed Of the canal BY
scores, and commenced assisting those least
hurt to extricate themselves, and to pull
away the rubbish and timber that had Gov
| ereu anu COuH0eO inc OtneFD. A0 Inc DrlO&e
broke in the centre, its two halves formed
an inclined plane, along which all we're slid
with lightning speed and pitched on top Of
those who stood on the middle and wen,
down first. Probably not less than 4O(
persons were on the main bridge, and !, OOC
on the whole structure. Several members
Of the Presidential party assisted actively
in removing the dead and wounded; among
those who TINS aided were Marsha
O'Beirne, Mr.. B. G. Truman, Mr.. Murphy
and your correspondent.
Thirteen persons were killed outright
and % badly wounded. The killed were
mainly crushed to death by those who fell
upon them; but few were hurt by the tim.
bers or planks. Splinters dsrkened the ali
in every direction, and caused large pr
portion Of the flesh cuts and Commissions.
From the manner in which the mass OIL
the people Was precipitated, struggling,
clutching, and grasping to the ground be-
meath q great many arms and legs were
broken. The women generally fell head
foremost, owing to their inflated style Of
clothing; and their Commissions were chiefly
confined to the head, face, and shoulders.
One remarkable fact was, that no infants or