Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-08-05
Visit Home.
Tho two bro,hers Alexander, TO,


The two brothers Alexander, for
some years past engaged in the milk
ranch business near Virginia, left last
May on a visit to their old home, pa
rents, relatives and friends in Maine.
They had been absent for twenty years,
and by a pr%econcer,ed arrangement
with a brother living in California, and
brothers and sisters living in other
parts Of the States, it was agreed that
all should meet at the old home. They
had a speedy and safe journey, and
once more the whole family met beneath
the paternal roof. There were seven
brothers and two sisters, the average
weight of the brothers being l96
pounds-fne stalwart boys for their old
father, whose hair bore the frosts Of
&c winters, to gaze upon.
PRESENTS TO Tux L FOLKS.
Each of tho children had their Offer
ings aud presents to make TO their pa
rents, aud one after the other cam for
ward and laid upon the table articles Of
clothing, dresses, etc., in addition to pro-
visions and requisite comforts and de-
sirables already bestowed. One brother
from Ohio, the richest of the lot,
thought to set II muuifcent example in
the way of a little convenient loose
cash for the old folks, so he laid a $50
~greenback upon the table. The two
brothers from Nevada, although the
least aHiuent of them all, did not desire
to make any lavish show Of emulons
liberality on the occasion, but they
came from the land Of Washoe, and
couldn't allow themselves to be out
done 10 such matters, so they stepped
forward and laid a couple OF 5000
ereeubacks on the table, and also
twelve $50 gold pieces.
AN AsroSIsuER.
That little pile Of twenties" was
the greatest sensational novelty to the
Down-easters they bad seen for many q
long day, and the neighbors csme from
far and near to gaze upon those much
coveted cusiosities. Many had never
seen such things before, aid some felt
even inclined to doubt their being geau-
inc gold, or anything nearer than "oro-
ide," such rs they make gold watches
of in that country. Those .wenties are
probably still on exhibition.
FEARFUL CONTRAST.
The two brothers from here were
about home four or Eve weeks, and re-
turned to Virginia last Sunday morn
ing. In fearful contrast to the pleas
ures Of home scenes and incidents they
had enjoyed was the terrible accident to
the express train on the Erie Railroad,
at Mast Hope, some three weeks ago,
whereby Rev. b. B. Halleck Of New
York and others were burned to death.
The brothers happened to be passengers
on that train, and givea very vivid de
scription Of The horrors 10 which they
were witnesses. There were nine cars
in the train, which was going at the
rate of 40 miles An hour, when they
suddenly collided with a freight train.
The locomotive was thrown from the
track, and the smoking car and others
of the foremost ones were piled on top
of it and caught FIRE directly. The
agouized shrieks of the unfortunate pas
sencers who were caught amid the burn.
ing mass were fearful and heart-rending
in the extreme. Mr.. Halleck and
others were burned alive in spite
Of the most frantic and energetic
exertions to extricate them. 1t being
in the night time, the only light
was from the burning cars. They man
aged to rescue one poor fellow who,
with limbs broken and scalp torn
loose on his head, was crushed and
wedged among the timbers, and others
were also saved. If they had had tim
all could have been rescued, but the
burning, scorching flames soon drove
them away, and they could but listen
10 the wild cries of the doomed, unable
TO save them. The freight train with
which they collided was on u side
track, and consisted Of ~ cars, 1t
seems the engineer, while awaiting the
expected express train, had fallen
a,ieen. The sound of the bell on the
approachipg train aroused him from his
siumber, and springing to his feet in
n~srfect bewilderment, instead oil await
inc for the express train TO pass, he m
mediately started his train forward on
the switch, and the forward part OF his
engine had just reached the main track
as the coming train struck it with full
force, yet the wheels were so hrmiy set
Il was not thrown from the track by the
fearful shock. The passengers tried to
run all these cars back, one or two
at n time, so as to extricate the forward
ones, but they could not do so in time
to save the burning victims. One OF
the brothers says there were positively
eleven persons burned to death, instead
of nine as reported in the newspapers.
The express car with its contents was
burned, but the mail car was easier got
Al. therefore Its contents were saved.
Fp,pruL AND FATAL ACCIDENT. -