Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-30
THE RAILROAD DISASTER,
Additional ParticuIars-Halfa MIL.
lion I'm Properly and Money Lost
Trains Running ~ Usual Scenes,
Incidents and Spcculations.


We take the following extracts from
the Courier Journal account of the late
disaster on the Memphis and Louisville
railroad. 1t is proper to state that trans
fers of passengers are made at Budd's
creek aud the usual connections made,
Mr.. W. Fl. King, the general passenger
agent at Louisville, telegraphs that the
bridge will be up and that trains will run
through asfusual tomorrow:
PROPERTY DESTROYED.
The fire made nearly complete ruin
of the train and its contents. Only three
passengers saved their baggage. All the
remaining property, save the garments,
money and jewels upon the persons OF
the passengers, was consumed. The Ex.
press books and papers were saved, and
from them it is ascertained that there
was about 100000 in the safe. At last
accounts from the wreck, the safe had
not been recovered. The destruction of
the cars, Express and mail matter and
baggage involves loss little if any short
of three hundred thousand dollars.
DISPOSITION OF THE VICTIMS.
The south-bound train reached the
scene of the disaster some two hours after
its occurrence, affording all needed relief
to the sufferers. The whole ofthem we're
taken back to GAINESVILLE, where the dead
were. neatly dressed and placed in metal.
lie burial cases, subject to the orders OF
their friends, and the wounded were
kindly ninistered to by the citizen of the
place. The train which arrived here at
four o'clock yesterday brought eighteen
of the wounded, none of whom are in
dangerous condition. Four of these,
Mrs. Mccall and Norman Mccall (wife
and son of Mr.. Hugh Mccall, killed), of
New Orleans; c. 81. Sage, of Fulton, N.
Y, and W. C. Sheppard, of New Or.
leans, were conveyed to st. Joseph's In
Urinary, on Fourth street, and the others
were cared for at the homes of their rela.
tives and friends in the city. Some of
the Injured remain in GAINESVILLE, where
everything in human power is being done
for their comfort and restoration.
WHAT THE PASSENGERS SAY.
As described by those who we're aboard
the Inflated train when it went down, the
situation was awful in the extreme. Ia
With the above named gen.
tlemen, now at 81. Joseph's Inirmary,
we have cleaned many interesting par
ticulsrs concerning the disaster. Most
of the through passengers from New
Orleans embarked at Memphis for Chat
tsnoogs, and the cars were but partially
filled up to the time of the accident.
Soon after leaving Paris, where the train
men are changed, the passengers retired
for the night. An INCREASED rate of
speed yes noticed by the passengers,
and it operated to make many Of them
yakefpl. Mr.. Mccall, one of the killed,
was even alarmed at the rapid motion OF
the train, ana expressed bis conviction
that there was danger ahead. Other
gentlemen in the same sleeping car
shared this feeling of insecurity, and two
of them, Mr.. Doll and Mr.. White, rose
and dressed themselves lttla WLils be-
fore the tsrsibis esash. Ehis. idea may
have been Imaginary, out there was
connection between it and the fallen
trestle.
THE MIDNIGHT sMAsH-UP.
About ane O'Clock, the sleeping travel'
ers we're awakened by Q sudden rough
movement cf the train as if it were OF
the track. After this jolting motion the
train appeared TO come to a stand, and
those who had been aroused congratu-
lated themselves that all was right again.
Just at that instant, they say, the train
was on a poise. ready to fall oyer the
tres!le hight. In another second the
whole line of cars had pitched down.
ward, and lay crushed and CHASTITY heap
ia the basin Of the creek. Notwithstand
ing the turning and SCATTERING of the cars
and the indiscriminste wreck of human
beings, hardly voice was heard. The
stiffness was as profound as death. Two
spans of tho bridge, about nifty fact in
length, and four bents Of the trestle fell.
The speed was so high that it carried the
train under the track on the other side OF
the creek. The train fell in zigzag or
letter position, and so laylupon the
ground,
OPT OF TIE RUNE,
As soon as those who we're but slightly
recovered from the shock, they
set about extrieating the lees fortunate OF
their companions. The dead and manned
were all removed to the most comfortable
localities around, and the cushions, bed
ding, etc, from the wrecked cars, were
happily brought into use. 1t is fact
not little singular that the children, OF
whom there vas a goodly number, we're
perfectly quiet during the desperate &C.
cident, and without exception escaped
unipjured. They seemed to take the
fearfpl leap as one of the incidents Of rail.
way riding to be expected IL not desired.
THE WRECK on FtRE,
While the unhurt passengers were hu-
namely engaged in releasing and caring
for those incapable of helping themselves,
the debris Of the train took fire from the
engine furnace. This occurrence, dire as
it might have appeared, created no undue
excitement, owing TO the precautions
adopted by the ooolrhesded men per-
forming the work Of extrication. The
Ere burned slowly, beginning at the en-
CINE and gradually approaching the rear
cleaning ooaoh. The entire train and