The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-06-11
SERIOUS SERIOUS RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
A Train, with the President and Family
on Board, Wrecked by Cow, Near
Annapolis Junction-Several Persons
Severely Injured President Grant
and Party Unharmed-Par-
ticulars of the Disaster.

The smash up which occurred on the Washington
branch or the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad last night
turns out to be- more serious than was at first sup
posed Considering the destruction Of the cars, the
wonder Is that 90 few people were injured IL ID
the nrst accident Of any consequence that has hap
pened on this branch Of the road In five years and
seems TO be due entirely TO the carelessness OF the
employees OF the road at Annapolis junction
STATEN. The through train for New York left
washington last night promptly on time,
In charge Of conductor Dennis. Of the New
Jersey Railroad Company, and local conductor Du-
val Of the baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The train
consisted Of eleven cars, There were about 100
100 through passengers and about fifty for Baltimore
and Philadelphia. In addition, there was COM
partment car attached, In which were President
Grant and party and the Secretary OF the Treasury
Mr.. Boutwell, At the time OF the accident none OF
the Presidents parry had retired 80 rest They were
engaged In conversation, the gentlemen OF the party
smoking
The train was run at the usual rate Of speed, and
arrived at Annapolis Junction on time. The
through trains t. New York do not stop
between Washington and Baltimore, but at
the stations along the road, especially the
leading ones, the speed is usually lessened. About
100 yards north Of Annar OILS Junction sudden
shock was felt through the entire train. The par
ties In the Presidents car supposed 1t was caused
by o sudden application OF the brakes. 1t was at
this time that the engine struck the COW and pushed
her temporarily from the track. BY the time the
engine tender, baggage and postal cars had passed
the COW staggered back again upon the track
The smoking car, which came next, was tmme-
diately thrown Off the track. being laid obiquely
across it. At this point the coupling between the
smoking car and the postal car broke, and the en-
CINE, baggage car and postal shot on ahead, the
oin hatn iOno of WI had
The engine had come considerable distance when
1t was discovered that the conductors bell rope was
broken, and then the engine was reversed and
backed to the of the disaster 1t appears that
the COW. which was the immediate cause Of the &C
cident, had been struck before by the half-past
eight O'CLOCK. train from Baltimore Inc
at Annapolis consists in the fact that this COW was
allowed TO wander up ana down the road after she
had been struck by the engine attached TO the train
south from Baltimore at least half an hour previous
The person in charge Of the station, an Irishman by
the name OF Fitzsimmons admits that he was In bed
at the time and seems more troubled about his hav
ing lost his nights sleep than anything else.
When the second shock was felt which was occa-
stoned by the rear cars jumping up against the smo-
king car, everything was confusion. The night was
unusually dark, and many of the through passengers
1t some time before lights could be brought for
ward from the rear cars and from the neighb0ring
through line between New York and Washington,
was on the train in charge OF the Presidents car.
Through his efficient management and direcnon
attend to the wounded. The scene at this stage was
appalling. Those who were injured were crying out
escaped were rushing wildly hither and thtther
looking after friends and acquaintance and endeav-
oring to ascertain the extent Of the disaster. The
women and children as might be expected, were In
a terrible condition through fear.
The accident occurred at deep cut In the road,
which fact contributed the destruction OF the cars
by jamming them up against one another The
smoking car was completely demolished. nothing
being left of 1t but the trucks and few boards OF
the floor. At the time Of the accident the car was
wen niied with smokers. The escape OF any Of them
smoking car was thrown OH the track the ladies'
car, Immediately behind 1t, and o chair car In
one side Of eacn resting the bank In
way the passengers in the smoking car were tempo
taneousy extnguished all the lights In the cars and
the total darkness without and within added consi
derably to the dismay and confusion.
In extricating the buried passengers from their
perous situation some ludcrous as well as alfectng
scenes occurred Conductor Duva heard inc voice
the spot found her and two children wedged
In between portions OF the wreck He pulled them
ton of a few scratches they were uninjured. one
Old gentleman was running up and down calling Tor
his gold spectacles and asserting that they had cost
him twenty dollars; others shouting for their
carpet bags umbrellas and canes: In the somer.
saut Of the cars some had lost their watches ana
retired to rest were In the worst plight Many OF
them rushed out without coats, pantaoons, boots or
diffcult to find anything. Mr. W. Prescott smith at
once teegraphed to Washington and Baltimore for
| aid. BY midnight engines had arrived from Wash
iDgton and Baltimore with surgeons to take care OF
| the wounded, and road laborers to clear away the
wreck. DIR. Scott, physician residing In the
Under the direction Of Mr.. Smith, who seemed to
be ubiquitous the offlcers aud hands on board the
tran and such OF the passengers as were uninjured
and had retained their presence OF mind, were set
| OF work assisting aud providing Tor the wounded.
The mattresses were taken out OF the sleeping
fha nd In on
those who most seriously Injured Others were
assisted to seats. The surgeons, as soon as they
arrived set about dressing the wounds OF those who
| were injured. The laborers commenced to clear
| away the wrecked cars and get them OF the road,
so that the train or so much OF II as remained,
| might proceed on its way. Il was half.past four
O'Clock when the train moved or, and 1t arrived In
Baltimore soon after nve.
unusually cool and unconcerned He evidently
thought II was not his funeral, and he smoked nus
cigar with as much complacency as II he had been
| sitting In the White House. Mrs. Grant was
| much frightened, and the President did not leave
his car. Secretary Boutwell,, however, was out offer
ing his services to the wounded II was impossible
| to-day to OBTAIN full list OF the wounded,
partly owing sS the r suS ono o. Ra e
| road, and partly from the fact that most OF
those VINO were injured went on either 70 washing.
ton or Baltimore, where they were taken care OF by
| their friends, or scattered among the hotels.
| The most seriously injured was man named
and one side Of his face was cut in fearful manners
his skull was also featured and he was otherwise
injured internally III earea me- canro' on recover ad
spread In q baggage car. -
| Mrs Lincoln, OF Washington, and her child,
| twenty months old, were seriously Injured. Mrs.
Lincoln herself was badly cut and bruised about the
head and face. Her child had It's back broken, and
| cannot recover :.
| Mr dickinson OF Georgia. received an ugly cash
| IN the head, and was considerably bruised about the
| body. ,. 49,,
Mrs Esmer. OF washington had her shoulder dis
| located. - .
broken Another man, passenger, was struck
by n dyinn splinter In the back and badly
| hurt. Those already mentioned are the mos
serious cases. The others, to the number OF about
thirty were not so far disabled as TO prevent
| them from proceeding on their journey. At Anna
polls junction to-day about NIFTY men were engaged
| In getting the wrecked cars on the track Inc re
| mains OF the smoking car were piled In heap ant
burned for the purpose Of getting the old iron TIT
other cars were dragged on TO one side by means o
| road was ali cleared and the trains run
ming "a usual. Mr.. W. Prescott Smith de