Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-28
Memphis People injured.
Baggage Lost with the Express Car
Lists of Killed and wounded.

Az daylight this morning the news
reached the city that frightfnl railroad
tragedy occurred on the middle division
Of the Memphis and Louisville railroad
line, about twelve o'clock last night, at
point some twenty. FIVE miles this side Of
ClsrksvilIe, and about one hundred and
seventy four miles north of Memphis. A
brief dispatch to the LEDGER, which is
published elsewhere, brought the first
tangible news of the disaster. Yet that
gives no names, and those who had
friends on the train were in a state Of
feverish anxiety all day. E
The through Express train, which left
here yesterday afternoon at three o clock,
consisted Of car for the baggage and
Express messenger, a smoking-car, three
6rst-class cars and q sleeping-car. At
Humboldt, where connection is made
with the train from New Orleans, another
sleeping car was taken on, making in all
train of seven cars, besides the loco.
motive and tender.
As far as we know, nothing unusual
happened on the way, and the train
passed the various stations on time, aud
no one dreamed of the dreadful chasm
before them = the gap of death =
where so many were to plunge,
in twinkling of time, never to
be taken out alive. Between twelve
and one o'clock sometime, the train
went through a. bridge to the dry
bed below, q distance of full seventy feet.
The scene that occurred, the sudden
awakening, the shouts, screams, impre-
cations and prayers, and the groans Of
the dying, mingled with the entreaties of
the wounded and helpless, the Kissing OF
steam and the spread of the flames that
consumed the wreck, are to be imagined
rather than described. The particulars
thus far are painfully mesgre, yet full
enough to tell a terrible tale of suffering
and sorrow. The bare, awful fact is tele'
Rrsphed that the train was demolished at
Budd's creek and afterwards burned, all
except one car. As the accident occur
red at time when passengers generally
had composed themselves for rest, the
consequences must have been the more
appalling. A number of Memphis peo-
pie we're on the train, but we have not
ascertained their names.
TheExpress messenger on the train was
seriously injured, and not expected to
live until night. His name is Dugan, and
his home is in Louisville. We learn later
that he is dead.
One of the killed was gentleman from
New Orleans.
Mr.. Nolen Fontaine, ofths firm Of Fon-
taine, Hill & Co., was on the train with
his wife and three children, going North,
with complete supply of baggage.
Mr.. Lou Mabb. of the saloon ia the
Bethel Block, telegrsphs that he is safe,
Capt. Hamilton Pike, son of Gen. Pike,
telegraphs that he and bis sister are safe.
The sale Of tickets in this city were
light, as yesterday was not the day for
packets to come in, therefore the travel
which left on the train was rather slim.
But we have no means, as yet, OF ascer-
tanning how many passengers Joined the
train at Humboldt from New Orleans.
The wires were destroyed by the acci-
dent so that it has been very difficult to
obtain much reliable information.
Mr.. J. 7. Maynard, the route agent OF
the Southern Express Company, tele-
graphs that the money in charge was lost.
The amount was probably $500. The
freight list was quite light Loss triiiing.
Mr. Johnny Dugan, the through mes
senger, was one of the most faithful en-
ployes of the Express Company. He was
about twenty-five years old and was un-
married. His parents live in Louisville,
the place of his home for many years.
Repairers went out from Clarksville
and Danville to restablish the lines of the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
which were laid on the bridge and com
pletely destroyed.
A wrecking train went down from
Clarksyills this morning after daylight
The lines Of the Southern Pacific aud
Atlantic Telegraph Company were not
injured but having no office nearer than
Clarksvills, their lines could not be made
more available than the others via Nash
vile. - rr. HT
The bridge, where the disaster occur
red, was about one hundred feet long, and
seventy feet high above the bed of Budd's
creek. This creek is generally dry in
the summer, and is doubtless so at pres
ent. The terrible plunge of the cars
must have injured every one, and the
wonder is that any escaped.
LATER AND FULLER.
The following dispatch received at one
o'clock to-day gives the latest aud fullest
particulars get received:
Special TO the PURLIo LEDGER, per Southern
Pacific and Atlantic Telegraph Line
CLARKsvILLE, July 2s.-The Northern
bound passenger train, duehere at fifteen
minutes after one o'clock this morning,
went through Budd's creek trestle, nine
miles sogth Of this place, about hslfpasi
twelve an.