The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-22
From the Cincinnati GazetEe.l
THE ERIE RAILWAY SLAUGHTER.
a Graphic Description Of the Terrible
Scene.

nv. In this citv. was on the Inflated
train on the Erie Railway, on Wednes-
day morning last, arrived at home on
Saturday evening. He was IN the
sleeping car at the time of the dlsas-
ter, and was rolled down the bank a
distance of 120 feet. He was, fortu-
nately, only slightly injured, receiving
cut over the right eye, one on the
left hand, one on the back, and his
left shoulder was considerably bruised.
BY request, Mr.. Henderson has furn
ished US with the following graphic
description Of the terrible occurrence:
STATEMENT OF J. j. HENDERSON.
[ left Cincinnati Monday evening,
April 13, via the Atlantic and Great
Western and Erie Railways for New
York.
We reached Salamanca some half
hour or more behind time. Here we
took on the sleeping car, and one
coach from Dunkirk, and went on to
Hornellville, where we took On the
sleeping car from Buffalo.
Our train was now made up of three
sleeping coaches, two day coaches,
smoking car, baggage and mail, and
express car-eIght cars In all.
We were half or three-quarters of
an hour late, I think, leaving Hor-
melville, and ran along at a good
rate of speed, when the track was
smooth, making fully twenty five to
thirty miles an hour, and we're gain
ing on the time we had lost west of
Hornellyille.
After leaving Hornellville l went
into the smoking car with Mr.. w. &.
Loomis, the General Freight Agent
of the Buffalo & Erie Road, and was
soon Joined by Mr.. E. D. Phillips,
President, and Mr. Grey, General
Freight Agent of the Michigan South
ern Railroad, and John NJ. Osborne,
General Freight Agent Of the Allan
tic & Great Western, and Mr.. W.
Porter, Division Superintendent of
the United States Express Company,
stationed at MadisOnyille.
Our party now returned to our
berths, which was, think, about 10
o'clock. had the whole lower berth
of section II; there was still one sec
ton between me and the stove In the
forward part of the car. 1t was a
cold night, and there was considerable
FIRE in the stove. | thought of the
stove and fire, but yet was not uneasy
aUU0b H. 4dAlUk O4 NY COdls UOObog
collar and necktie, these with my
satchel, overcoat and shawl. Laid care
fully at the foot and back of my berth,
and my boots under the middle of the
berth. Why l am thus particular in
referring to these details will appear
hereafter when L allude to my more
than miraculous escape from a terri
BILE death.
l was awoke about fifteen minutes
past three o'clock A. NJ by the jump
ing of one car over the ties, and the
thought flashed through my mind,
=" we are off the track" Instantly [
pulled my pillow round my head to
protect it, and drawing my feet up so
as to get into as small compass as
possible, / awaited the result. I
made no attempt to get up or catch
hold of anything.
The next sensation was the car
tumbling over. turned over, I think,
three times with the car. Once it
seemed as if | went head over heels.
The first thought ] had after the car
turned over was: - Am [ going to be
killed." aud the next: e" Wilt I ever
reach the bottom?" 1t all transpired
within second or two, and yet the
time seemed very long.
Reaching the ground, and finding
that | had stopped. I jumped to my
feet, and turning round looked to see
whether the trucks. wheels, stove, or
some other portion Of the car was not
tumbling down the bank, which would
Overwhelm me. But it was dark. I
could not see anything. and hearing
no noise, concluded I was safe.
l now called for my friends, Porter
and Osborne, ut1eceived no replies.
l called several times, but without
avail. In few seconds, several be-
gan to call for relatives or friends.
The frantic screams of the serious
ly wounded, the gToans Of the dying,
and the wailing of those who fully ap-
pTeclated their situation, and had
fears for the safety of their friends,
who had laid down beside or near
them, and yet could not be heard or
found, were perfectly fearful, and |
cannot describe the scene.
Many of Us were without hats, boots,
coats or socks TO protect US. The
night was cold and dark; snow and
water. lay on the ground. and the
quantity OF broken glass from the car
windows, and splinters, rendered it
almost impossible for Us to get around
and help those who needed assistance.
We at first supposed that the entire
train had gone down the bank and II
was not until ten or fifteen minntae
after the accident that he portion Of
the train that had remained on the
track came back to the scene.