Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-12-25

THE DISASTER ON THE LAKE SHoRE Rail
RoAD.-The Buffalo Express of Thursday has the
following additional details OF the terrible acc-
dent on the Lake Shore Railroad -
81 1t is easy to imagine the frightful wreck to
which the ear was reduced by its terrible descent.
All, or nearly all its passengers, of course, were
precipitated into Il mangled struggling mass at
the lower end of the ear, buried under a heap of
ruins, and even the slightly injured, If any there
were, unable to extrcate or help themselves
The horror OF the situation sufficient with
out that which instantly became added by the
ignitlng Of the splintered wreck from the over
turned stoves. moment, as one of the three
sole survivors describes it, and the whole was
wrapped in flames. Who can attempt TO depict
the unimaginable horror of the scene that ensued
Nearly fifty human beings being roasted in death
or in the pangs Of dying from horrible wounds.
or in the full vigor of life, buried in inextrca
BILE position and committed TO the flames without
hope of rescue. The shreks, the groans the i'm
precations-let those who heard them forget this
side of eternityif they can. 1t was some moments
before any could reach the attempt assist
ance- The second car, in the meantime-the car
first thrown from the track---had plunged over the
opposite side of the embankment, falling a less
hight, but suffering almost rs complete a wreck
and its few uninjured passengers had enough 10
occupy their attention. The train, which had run
some distance before being stopped, was backed
W Tue btehc rs hptcullY As possible, anu those on
board set TO work with prompttude aud energy
But the steep and ice-covered slope to the car
most horribly situated, was not easily descended
and when helping hands reached it they we're with
out weapons for fighting the flames or for break
ing into the wreck
As soon, of course, they could be summoned
the people OF Angola and nearer inhabitants ran
10 the spot, and il was not long before many buck
cts were employed in pouring water upon the
burning wreck; but raging fire is not to be
overcome with buckets, aud those desperately Ia
boring at the work had 10 suffer the unspeakable
anguish of seeing their efforts made utterly vain
The hideous, remorseess flames cracked on; the
shrieks died into means, and the means into a ST.
lence more terrible, as the pail Of death drew
over the scene. Except one little fragment of the
side OF the car, nothing but heap OF smoking
cinders left for those gathered round TO search
into with siekened hearts.
AS we have already stated, .he car next the rear
one that with which the disaster originated
but its fate less terrible than the fate of the
car following. The headlong plunge of the latter
threw It over, but not until the bridge bad been
passed, end it made its descent on the opposite or
right side Of the embankment, where the hight
was not more than twenty-five feet The crash
yas only less awful than that already described
II was not followed. however, by the more fright
ful calamity Of the fire. Twice the car was kin
died by the Goals from the broken stoves, but the
passengers were in less helpless situation, and
the flames were extAguished.