The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-09-28
FrighHH -1ccidenf.

.Iohn-town, Pa, ON FRIDAY, there was
shocking calamity. The accident was
much Mere serious than was represented
in the original accounts. Ii appears that
thirteen persons Were killed. ninety odd
badly injured. and a larye number bruised
and slightly hurt In expectation of the
special tram containing the presidential
party. large number OF people, probably
3olo IN all, had gathered in and abont
the depot AT ,Iohnstuwn. Near the depot
Is AN old canal, with sort of cover. fifty
feet square, between two crossings Upon
thi~ structure or bridge some eight or nine
hundred people had oongregaicd, large
number If whom were women and chill
dren- The centre part was densely
packed. and must have contained NJ least
four hrrnlrel people. An account SAYS of
The accident:
'-The timbers in the centre Of the
hriiee, fully a foot square, suddenly
snapped IN twain, l'reciPii,ting every soul
on IL 10 the hciiom of The canal. a dis
tance q N least fifteen feet. The balance
ol the sidewalks and platforms over the
cs,nai came down with the bridge. and
flied ilie bottom uf The canal with tim
lscrS. plank>, and the struggling mass of
:mem. women and children. all hurled TO-
r-iher in an ineXtricahe confusion. Those
pn tn hank. between the now y;lwning
-llli silG the railroad track. were fright
cmcl inio a stampede, ami added 10 lhe
confusion ly screaming, yelling and
trampling each ether INTO the mud I'm their
frantic efforts 10 ESCAPE. \ more fright
iul scene WAS scarcely ever witnessed. 4
lew moments Suiiicod 10 reveal what had
actually irall>I,irel Men. women, chill
iTAn. fathers. mothers, husbands. wives.
-ons AMI daughters. were NOW running in
every direction. seeking relatives and
friends, aid crying ;lloud with grief and
terror.
A. soon - the sinking, falling debris
hal settled 10 ihe bottom those I'm the
llei.hl,arllooI sla-in@ 10 the bel OF the
c,lmrll i,y scores, and commenced assisting
lho>. least hugt to rxiriclte themselves.
ami 10 pui, awav the rubbish and timber
that lllI covered and confined the Others.
y the bride broke IN The centre, lis two
l:llo,.~ formed an inclined plane, along
winch ali were slid with lightning speed
and pit-llc,! on top oi' those who stood in
1ie middle and went down first. Prola-
hlv no: les than four hundred persons
We're OH The main lri l-e AMI one Thousand
on the whole structure, The killed were
mainly crushed L. death ly Those whc fell
u'.on llrlin; hat few were hurt hy the
iiIni.rS or pianh,. SplinicrS darkencd
Ihe air IN every direction. AMI caused a
lar-, proportion of the flesh cuis AMI con-
.uSion>.
From the manner Ia which the lnas> ol
the pyoi'l' WAS preripi1ate,l, struggling,
elutcliinE and gr~s>j,ing. 10 the ground be
meath. great many arms and irr> Were
broken. The women generally fell head
i,rcIn aSi owing io their inflated style oi
clolhing. ami their cantu-ion- Were chiefly
confined ;o the head. ilc, and shoulders.
| Rne r..uarisl:l,,,le fact wa~ that no infants
ur small riiii,i-.n wcrr known 10 he ilurr
in lna Slightest. althoueh many infants In
arms We're among ihoSe who i,li 1o the
bottom. and = sui lar@rr number ot both
-,.NcS Ranging from >iN 10 ten years oi :lge.
Hardy La iiie nni>,. af ihe tallin" tim
i,>r- ;,uI III, >liri, k nj the terrified people
above c.lS..i when The -rpanS OF the
iyinw and the screams ut The WOMEN and
children c=,.le from the awful wreck ba-
low All wl.a hal escaped INJURY pro-
c,p>lel II cnrc 10 cXtricsI;c The sufferers,
4 who Were piled one upon The other among
a nl:,~S OF broken iimbcrs AMI iron rods
! Several OF the presidential party assisted
in rc,npling the J,s,l aad iniurel The
President ami General G-sllt were exceed
in.iv Distressed ami VERY anxious that
Ia. -l,,ci;.l train should stop over an hour
"a afford a. lnucn AID a. possible, bul the
Icenlarlur stated Iiist arrangements made
l.,r meeting Tram, ou lhe ral ireclu LED
;ll, possibility 81 csuryin. inia elect the
presidents humane wish. and aiier a .ew
minute. waiting the Ir,in started of.
ihr poor vlciinl--lnell- women aud
chillrcll-weqc Grareel out from The
ruin~. s.ycral oi whom hl,i i.e,n crushed
10 death i,v iillia- timhcr>, bat more 10y
h.ing i:lli.n a.,an ly o,hars- Most oi the
killed and 1y,.slalal were OF tle la5oring
rla,s. NJ. Melz-cr, une oi the killed.
was proprietor @. ihe hotel, and MAS quite
wealthy: and Aii-- l.eiilis Cannon MAS
ihc hcll. oi the lown. AMI graduated At
,ila had ~ her Glass on Tuesday hast
The scene w;ls one ot inle~-Tib;lble nor
rOr