Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-30

II is said that his life was insured in tn
Engineers Mutual Aid Association. II
was regarded as one of the most discree
engineers on the road he served, an
stood high in the estimation OF all VIII
knew him.
Charles Shields, the fireman, also die,
from the inhalation of steam. He was
resident of Bowling Green, where h
leaves q wife aud family.
The only lady in the rear sleeping ca
who escaped unframed was Miss Whit
taker, Of New Orleans.
| As the train bearing the wounded Il
this city came up the road it was boarded
by kind hearted people at every station
who proffered their sympathy and any
material aid that might be required BY
the unfortunates.
| Mr.. Doll and Mr.. White, Of New Or
leans, behaved nobly in the trying hour
at the wreck, rescuing and promoting the
comfort of their fellow.passenger as long
as they could be of the slightest service.
Judge Caulkins and his wife, of Al
| giers, opposite New Orleans, we're very
badly injured. They are in good hands
at GAINESVILLE.
A little child. whose mother hand bun
died it up in cushions, quilts and pillows,
| in order TO save its life, if possible, was
taken from the ruins as sound and lively
as though nothing unusual had hap
pened.
Mr.. Hamilton Pike, son of Gen. Albert
Pike, with his sister, were on the train,
but escaped with slight bruises, and re-
ceived universal commentator. as did
Mrs. Sawyer and young Mr.. Wood, of
New Orleans, for their heroic and ener-
getic efforts to save and relieve the
wounded.
Great praise is awarded Mat. Low, the
conductor, for his GOODNESS in the prompt
discharge of his duty.
DR.. McCombs, from Bowling Green,
accompanied the train which brought the
Injured to Louisville.
Young Mr.. Mccall, of New Orleans,
was tossed from his berth into that of a
lady on the opposite side of the car. The
lady sustained painful injuries from the
shattered window glass, and Mr.. McColl
was pretty badly gashed and bumped.
THE FATAL STRUCTURE.
This consisted of four spans OF. short
wooden girder bridges Joined to trestle,
and were but three years old, while the
trestle was but two years old. II was
thought to be perfectly safe portion of
the road. The remnants of timber left
standing show perfectly sound.
WHAT CAUSED THE FALL.
All endeavors on the part of the rail-
road company to discover the cause OF
the accident have been fruitless 30 far, as
the bridging is nearly all burnt. Some
of the surviving passengers however, at
tribute the casualty to either or both the
reckless speed the train was making or
the insecurity of the bridge :and tses.le-
work. tits not believed 10 have resulted
from any defect in the machinery of the
locomotive, as the engineer, whose life
was sacrificed, was known to be exceed
.ingly careful in that natter The trav-
cling public should be informed of the
true origin Of this fearful disaster with
the least possible delay, and no doubt the
railroad authorities will act upon it
promptly and rigidly.
The Nashville Banner Of yesterday
say;
MIR Sam P. Rose, of the Upton Record,
arrived in this city yesterday evening by
the Louisville train, direct from the scene
of the late diaster, having been ono OF the
unfortunate passengers, Mr.. Rose was
in the lGdiea' car, sitting pretty well for
ward, with lot Of empty seats in front.
The train was running fast at the time
probably at the rate of twenty miles an
hour. He was lying back in his seat try
ing to doze. From state of semi-con-
seriousness be was aroused by dreadful
crash. This was the locomotive falling
through the trestls, and was speedily fol-
lowed By two other distinct crashes, as
the freight car and the gentlemen's car
went tnmbling down upon the ruins Of
the locomotive.
Then came q tottering of the car in
which he was seated, and the dreadful
sensation Of falling through space, and
the swift thought, none bat those who
have experienced similar things can tell
hov falt the mind operates under these
circumstances, we are all going to eter-
nifty together. Then came screams from
the female passengers, and Immediately
after savage, crash, as the car struck on
its end and was dashed into fragments.
Then the tga sleeping coaches came
topping down upon the coaches in front,
crushing them all into fragments. What
followed beggars description the groans
Of the passengers wounded, the cries Of
those pnhuEt, made spectacle one
would not speedily forget. The psssen-
gers, such as were not badly hurt, made
their way from the cars and commenced
to rescue those who we're still penGad up
by the DEBRIS
All hands went vigorously at work in
the dark tit was midnight, and after half
an hour succeeded in drawing out the
dead bodies Of the engineer and fireman,
in rescuing the mail agent and baggage
master, and others. Ia few minutes the
pile of debris caught FIRE, and then the
spectacle was one Of savage picturesque
ness. The faces Of the passengers we're
nearly all covered with blood, their
clothes torn. and general dilspidstion
everywhere apparent. The spot was one
wild and dreary in the extreme, and the
passengers we're left 10 themselves until
tho down train arrived at two clock.
Mr.. Rose was, himself, severely bruised
and battered up, and lost his baggage.