Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-07
THE LATE ACCIDENT.
Statement of a Passenger on the Inflated
Train.

Editors Appeal The following are a
few additional details in regard to thelate
accident on the Mississippi Central road,
which you are at liberty 10 publish;
We left Oxford about 2:45 pm, and be-
ing behind time, Col. Sam Tate orderedMr.
Mcdonald, the road-masteT, to try and
make up the lost time. The road-master
was in charge Of the train, as the conduc-
tor lMr. Adams) was very sick at the
time, and was in the sle~eping-car. A
Mr.. John Robinson, of Oxford, was going
rs far as Grenada, l believe, and being
acquainted with the engineer, rode on the
locomotive. The engine crossed the
trestle safe, and just as it had cleared the
t~restle, the engineer told Mr.. Robinson to
Jump, as the trestle was breaking. He
lRobinson) did SC, and by it saved himself,
being a member of the fraternity. The
people of oxford deserve great praise for
their attentions to the killed and wound
ed, and also those that were unhurt.
About six weeks ago a gentleman Whose
name / forget in Oxford, made out the
monthly report of the section boss, and
stated that Buckner's trestle 1.-THE one on
which the accident happened) was unsafe
for a hand-car 10 pass over, to say nothing
Of a train. The report was made to Mr..
Mcdonald, (killed), the road-master, but
10 repairs were made; consequently, the
E, NJ. GoTTHoLD.
From statements made by DIR. Stennet,
Of st. Louis, to the Democrat, we learn
the following additional particulars:
The doctor states that the trestle has
been frequently reported within the last
three months as unsafe, and the section
boss, who lives close BY. has, on many oc-
~casions, tagged the up trains and directed
the engineers to run slowly. This state
ment is denied by the railroad manage
ment, but il was stated TO be true by the
section boss, by the family of the road
master, and by the family of the secretary
Of the company-the last being on the
wrecked train and of whom one, a young
man, aged about twenty, was so
badly wounded that he died after
being taken TO Water Valley. Col. Tate
did not believe these statements, and the
train at the time OF the disaster was run
ming at the rate of between thirty and
forty miles an hour. The locomotive
passed over safely, but spread the track
apart at the north end ofJhe trestle near
est Oxford. The baggage car struck the
drst bent, causing it to settle between
eight and ten inches. Il then jumped to
the right of the road and fell over. The
express and pOstoffice car followed, land
ing on the top Of the baggage car. A sec
class car fell oyer, parallel with the
stream. The forward coach followed,
dropping to the bottom of the stream in a
position parallel with the road. With one
exception all the passengers in rear of
this car were instantly killed. Nineteen
dead bodies were taken from the ruins, for
persons were badly wounded, and about
one hundred others slightly. The passen-
gers remained near the wreck until nine
o'clock in the evening, when they were
aiken by another train to Water Valley.
Here no one had been informed of the ac-
cident, and no provision whatever had
been made for the comfort of the wound
Il was not until nine o'clock the next
morning that any of the officers of the
road made their appearance. At that time
the treasurer called at all the hotels and
directed the prOprietors to refund all
money paid by passengers for entertain
ment. After that time every comfort was
provided for the sufferers. Great depreda-
lions were committed by the negroes, who
hocked from all directions and stole cloth
ing and other property belonging TO the
lead and wounded.
GIVE me one trial, and your trade will
insured. HEZEKIAH,