The New York herald., 1870-03-04
TEE HsMas SLAUGHTER ROUSE.
The Worst Rnilrond in Americn-The Late
Disaster at Oxford, Miss.-sseven Disasters
in One notwithstanding OF the People.

The Worst Railrond in Aniericn-The Late
Disaster at Oxford, Miss.-sseven Disasters
in One Month-feeiing OF the People.
OXFORD, MISS, March ], 1870.
The terrible accident two mites out or Oxford,
which resulted in the death OF twenty five persons
ana In the serious wounding Of forty more, has
cited profound indignation throughout this por-
tion OF tie State. The particulars Us published in
the HERALD are in the main correct; but 1t should
be distinctly understood that The train did not In
any sense run OF tho track, but that the horrible
affair came from the well known rotlenness
OF the trestle timbers OF the bridge work
spanning the gully over whicn the train
was about to pass. The facts in brief
are these:-The regular morning train, after
leaving HUMBOLDT at high speed reached Buckner's
trese. the engine and baggage car crossing safely,
but the other cars were precpltated below The last
car hung by the track Ut an inclination Of fifty de-
grees with the perpendicular, and passengers were
crushed together and packed like sardlnes at the
lower end, with stoves. chairs, seats &C., on top.
Many perished there from suifOcatiOn. The others
were killed by brnsing contasions and fatal blows.
head aud suffered instant DEATH the dead and
wounded are being carefully attended. On Friday
last there was another disaster, nine miles beyond
DuTat which resulted in the delay OF the train for
twelve hours. The cause was the absolute rotten.
ness ana worthessness Of the trestle work at that
point.
These frghtful calamities have aroused the people
TO the inevitable danger attending travel on
the road. The Mississippi road to-day IL undt
for use, Is rotten, shaky, rickett, and Is the
worse slaughter house In the Union. Seven acct
dents have occurred III one month, With the pros
pect OF increase az long as the IRON assassin IS
allowed to continue its nurderons travel The road
bed Is more stable than shifting sands. No re-
pairs to speak OF have been made since the war,
and these accidents have resulted from criminal
negligence and brutal indifference AZ soon as the
great smash up was over the company burned
the ana trestcwork, and, people
here believe, TO cover evidence OF the rot
tenhess 10 the treste tlhnDers. In many
localities the rails yield frightlully the speed
over them, and often al the joint there is an unified
space Of several inches. Ine road throughout is
dangerous, Is mechanical slaughter house and he
who ventures TO travel IL does al the peril OF his
life. The stockholders anu management are lmbe-
cile The rolling stock ID heavily noftgaged and no
judgment Can be collected. SO that the managers
care nothing. They raining the people Ol Missls
sippi, keeping sway travellers and settlers and
numbering victims without rcmorse. They feel inoe-
pendent and, as man remarked, ''dont care
d." The only relief Ia 70 close tie road and de.
mand It's proper repair. YOu may expect 10 hear OF
disasters when the number oi victims IL large
enough 10 render the trIning circumstance item
OF news.