The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-21

A SCENE OF HORROR.

Jumped the rails and pounded along on
the ties. The signal bell was sounded,
but the train was on down grade,
with snow on the rails, and before any
perceptible effect could be produced
upon ils speed 1t had reached the centre
OF high embankment located u few
rods east OF The station, and the last car
was running wildly over the embanlS.
inent and bridge. Within ten seconds
OF the time when the entire train might
have gotten entirely over the bridge
and elnbankment, tits last car swung
round 80 US TO leave the road bed en-.
tirely and at the most precipltouB point
OF the embankment went over, on Il
steep slope, into gulf OF forty feet be.
low. The action OF this car caused the
one ahead OF TO leave the track and
rush madly down tho opposite side OF
the embankment, a few rods further,
along, at least twenty tiye feet below
the road bed. H M
Now COMES the horror OF the scene.
These two cars having parted with the
train, which could NOT be stopped until
some distance had been made, the last
one Of the train, and the first 10 leave
the track, went over on its end with u
force which caused every passenger,
the stoves and all the seats OF the car
TO sink like dead weight In the lower
end. II turned u complete somersault,
and stopped on It's side near the bottom
of the preoiplce, forty feet below the
track. The other car rolled down and
rested on its side. The signal OF down
breaks'' had attracted the attention OF
the people at the station, but none OF
them were able 70 reach the scene soon
enough to render efficient assistance.
We gather from what we soon after.
wards saw and from the lips Of those
who were first present, the following
particulars OF
THE SCENE.
The last car OF the train had no more
than stopped its somersaults before 1T
WAS ON FIRE. The nature OF the EN-.
bankment, together with the Ice upon
the steep declivity, would not admit Of
immediate assistance, even though
hundreds Of people had been at hand,
for no one could 20 down the bank
hurriedly without fear OF death. The
men who were tirst at the scene man.
aged to reach the car by going down,
one holding upon another, thus form.
ing line from the track to the car.
But they were TOO LATE. The men.
women and children in the car had been
80 severely injured by the fall and
fright that they were alarmed and helm.
less, aud before the feeble assistanee
which was hastily organized reached
them, the car was SO far enveloped In
flames that their rescue was impossible.
Fhe scene Rt this time cannot be de.
scribed. The voices OF men directed 10
heaven for help, the shrieks and
prayers OF women asking for assist.
ance, and the wailing OF children, was
the most soul-piercing and agonizing
sounds which ever reached mortal
ear. The flames were gaining rapid.
ly, and arms were protruded through
the shattered windows, heads were ex-
tended, and the cry for help was In
tensitied by the increase Of heat, Of pain,
of agony, and the certain prospect OF
destruction. The reader must picture
this scene, we cannot describe Il. Our
ears will never lose the sound of the
plaintive walls, the beseeching for help,
The heart.fending shriekS, tho tery
scene and the last, last look. The few
men who could, who were not struck
dumb, worked manfully. They sue.
ceeded In taking out three persons,
who were removed elsewhere 10 die,
but they could not subdue the flames
which were roasting their fellow be.
ings alive. They could not answer the
prayers. OF the agoniZed victims Of
Death. They could do nothing but look
at them roast, listen to them shrek,
sicken at the sight, and pray God TO de.
liver them from another ouch scene,
AS the odor of burning flesh, human
flesh, arose upon the air, Il seemed as
though the spot had turned Into Il very
hell, and when shrieks came from the
flames and smoke, hands were held
aloft through the grim atmosphere, the
the world and hesh seemed n mockery
and worm In reality. Let US close this
horrible scene by saying that from the
last Information we could obtain, but
Ave out OF forty OF the passengers In
this car escaped. The rest-iully forty
-pere burned alive
Meanwhile the other car was more
fortunate. II did not take IRE. The
u rat man out Oflt was the conductor
Ofthe train, who was severely Injured.
Others came out, and when assistance
arrived many were found injured unto
death. II was soon cleared OF Its NOR
tRl contents-much sooner than the
flames could consume the other car and
itS contents. AS the injured ones crept,
or were removed to the residence OF a
gentleman near by, who threw open
his house and dispatched messengers
for hnln linn E1tA al
twelve wounded men and women In
this house, who appeared TO be dying.
A little distance OIL there was another
house. where several more were as
badly injured. All that could be done
by the assistance at hand was done
with will, but there were no physI.
clans, no stretchers, nothing to afford
anything like what the nature Of the
case demanded.
inside ottwo hours from the time the
accident occurred physicians and cor
oner arrived from Buffalo, under order
Ofthe railroad company, and the ply
slClanS immediately set 10 work with
will. They did what WAS In their lin.
tied power, but their assistance ayaIled
but little, except In cases OF trIilIng lu-
Jury. Most Of the victims were beyond
the help OF man.
Then came the frantic inquiry after
friends, the rush 10 and iro Of nasSen.
gers who had been saved and had
friends or relatives on the train. The
appeals aud opportunities OF many OF
these we will never forget. Shocked
almost beyond enduranC6 by the scene
passing, they conld only ask for inFor.
nation In that feeble frantic wny
which cannot be answered at such
times 10 their satisfaction. All OF them
found that some cherished oue wns
missed, but whether dead or diving
could not be Immediately nscertRined,
At the hotel near the station was Il
man named Hubbard, from ST. Cnthn.
rines, q. W., who was one OF tho few
taken from the burning car. His feet
md legs were burned 10 crisp. lIls
body WAS blaCkened and blistered TO
the waist, His right arm was torn from
the body, aud remained attached only
by the skin. He lay there two long
hours in agony, and nj last death came
TO his relief.
AMONG THE DEAD.
Tie dead taken from tho cars, and
those who died from their INJURIES,
were removed 10 the freight house OF the