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

small children werc known to be hurt in
the slightest, although many infants in
arms were among those who fell to the bot
tom, and still larger number Of both sexes,
ranging from eight to ten years Of ago
:. AS soon - partial order could be restored,
lines were formed TO protect the sufferers
from me outside pressure of the crowd, and
to extricate them from the wreck of the
bridge and platform One man was found
dead, with huge beam resting ACROSS his
neck and his eyes protruding from their
sockets. $50
Mr.. Meltzger, proprietor Of the Mansion
house, was among tho first taken dead from
the ruins. Miss Letitis Cannon was at 6rst
supposed to be slightly stunned, but never
recovered from the shock, and expired
Immediately. She was young ladv az
rare promise, graceful and ACCOMPLISHED in
mind and manners; had graduated within
few weeks past, and was confessedly the
belle Of the place. The sight that met the
eye % the injured were taken out was horri-
flying even to war correspondent.
An Irish widow was carried away, suffer-
ing from pain and lamenting the condition
her unfortunate family Of four little ones
would now DC IN ON account Of her disabili-
y. A young fellow in the first flush Of
manhood scrambled out Of the rubbish. and
managed to hobble away few rods. when
he fell from pain ana exhaustion. and an
examination found that his thigh bone was
badly fractured. The tears rolled down his
cheeks, and when asked how he vas hurt.
replied that his leg was ruined for life. A
little girl who went down on the ton Of the
crowd scrambled out and stood staring with
fright as one petri6ed, and could not be
aroused for several minutes, when she burst
into tears and begged to be taken to her
mother. young miss extricated herself
and took flight as one fleeing from destruc-
lion, and never slackcned her speed until
out Of sight. The young wife OF a man
who had leg broken was sitting by his
side on the ground, weeping freely, but ON
being questioned smiled though her tears
and said she was only crying for joy that
she had found him alive aud hurt no worse.
The news soon spread through the village,
and those who remained away at first were
soon congregatcd around the depot, wild
with excitement and searching everywhere
for relatives and frineds whom they feared
were among the killed or wounded. Planks
were at first taken from the broken bridge
to carry away the living and dead, and mat
tresses were soon brought into requisition
from the neighboring houses for the pur-
pose.
The most unfortunate feature Of the affair
was, that both the prominent physicians Of
the place were among the severely injured,
and the community was deprived Of their
services in the hour Of their greatest need.
The agent Of the railroad telegraphed
each way along the line, urging forward all
assistance, and in less than two hours TWEEN
~ physicians arrived by the regular and
special trains. Few calamities Of this kind
have been 80 widespread or carried desola-
ton and mourning into so many different
families. Half the households in Johns
town were in mourning tonight, and the
list Of casualties has probably been swelled
from the los names reported to at least 200.
The Presidential party was doubly afflicted
by the deplorable occurrence, and vas
affected to silence for several hours.-A. r.
Herald Cor.