Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-08-01

Experiences of an Editorial Pas
senger.

The following graphic description OF
tho LATE terrible accident on the Mem
nbis GAINESVILLE and Louisville Kall-
road and incidents growing out Oh II
= 6ron, the pen of an editor who hap
naDed 10 he n passenger on the ill
nod train: " At Paris, Tenn, the
Louisville bound train was on time,
Conductor said, and most OF the pas
sengers, myself included, arranged lof
"a comfortable q nights rest as en-
eumstances would allow. WINE
sleeping pretty soundly, l was par
tally awakened by the engine blow
ing on brakes, and almost Immediate
Iv this was followed by a rafting noise
Similar to that made by drawing a
stick quickly across a picket feuce. In
a few seconds a terrible crash ensued,
and. nearly simultaneously with TINS
I felt myself rapidly descending. Inc
next sensation was the conclusion pro-
| duced BY the cars striking the ground
below was thrown violently
~a0ainst a seat on the opposite
sida nf the ear and SPIN
tqrs. cushions, window glass,
etc, heaped cOnflsedly around me-
! After %extricating myself from the
mass of rubbish rs best l could, ana
! a~seertaining that / had received no Sc
! rious injury. my neqt thought was TO
| examine my surrounding, and decide
/ upon a plan ofacuon. 8.
"Tbe roof of the car (that immedi-
ately in front Ofthe sleeping carr was
entirely gone, and nothing was pc
! tween Us and a clOudleSs sky. Inc
walls of the wounded smote the al
behind and before US, and no Tune
was to be lost in relieving the distress
/ of those who were not able to help
/ themselves. The more fortunate OF
| the Messengers did their duty in this
/ REGARD nobly, and in all directions
] men with heads tied up with hand
kprrhiefs and hands dripping VIII
! Mood might be seen lifting from the
wreck men and women whose erie,
and means told too plainly OftheIr sui
fprinss. I do not think that there wa:
on the train a man who was able tC
.,.ader service to the badly injured
who did not yield it cheertully.
Hardly had the last of the W0un
lied been removed when the ire IRON
fine engine furnace communicated Z
the ears. and the destroying element
swept rapidly along the train, no
eeasing until all save the rear sleeping
car was q mass OF smoulderlng ruins
The express freight, baggage anc
mails were destroyed, three trunks
| alone being saved
Here a new trouble presented 10
self. the eIGse proximity OF the badly
wounded to the burning train greatly
imDaired their safety, and it was nee,
essarv that they should be mAFel
sgain This was a work Of no small
n7oment and of no little difficulty.
/ An around the scene of disaster were
| rank growing weeds and briers, which
cave the scene IN additional gloomy
| and desolate apPeaE@Een. IheE nae
/ 10 he beaten down, and the EeughnesS
| % the ground made 1t necessary 4
! carry the sufferers sometimes 10 con
siderable distance, When once re
garded safe, car seats, mattresses, pli'
lows. etc. were taken from tie Tfeck
| to make their condition ar eDmiDFtab4t
a. possible. until relief should come
from . distance.
1.-THE wounded all being now tole'
rably comfortable, selfconSrltuted tie
/ tails being ia attendance upon thOse
/ worst of, nothing more was lei @ u
| done until the cars should arrive T2iii
/ CIarksyille. This occurred about
/ o'clock, when all were safely removed
/ and cared for.
While the flames were consuming
| the front sleeping coach, the rapid dis.
I charge of pistols suggested a DANCES
that was necessary to be provided
/ a0ainst. MaBv OF the passengers were
provided With arms Of this descrlp,
! ton, and In their hurry 10 escape, len
I them under their pillows SEQ tnt
| flames reaching them, they were Qls.
/ charged. No accidents that / heard
| of however, occurred from this cause.
/ BY the SANG reason many poor iei-
I lows had their clothing burned, and
| some others their entire stock ready
I cash. and [ noticed four or tiye geii-
1 t!emen, and as many ladies, Cd tht
/ cars at Clarksville i'm their night
EciOtiies.
Numerous instances might be re-
lated illustrative Of absence OF com
plaint under suffering, kgt GOV peXl
striking them in the cGse OF BtF.
Charles Z. Brown, the baggage mas.
ter. when discovered, nothing bat his
head was with his body, being liter
aily buried under the fallen timbers,
baggage and freight, The eX-
press box, ice box and seFefas boxes
Of peaches were heaped upon AIM
and, beneath these, portions Of the
side and roof 81 the ear. NotWith-
standing al this, he gave %Gtterance to
no means or groans, was perfectly
| calm and collected, and quietly indi-
Gated to those who were assisting him
the portions Of his body that Werf
cEamped by surrounding objects.
1t has been definitely aSeartained
! that four persons We're killed outright;
, but il probably never viii be known
! how many We're m0fe or less wounded.
The citizens Of ClarKsyii2 were un-
firing I'm their efforts to relieve the
distress OF such Of the wounded u
were left them, and think III have
been sell cared for.