The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-09-07
A Graphic Account of the Frightful Railway
Accident in Massachusetts,.
Boston. Aug. q

| Accident i'll Massachusetts,.
Boston, Aug. q.
! A fearful accident occurred last night on the
Eastern railroad at Revere, seven miles from
Boston. The Bangor lightning express train,
which left Boston at S>o'cloek, 8 overlook and
ran into the Beverly accommodation train ff-
teen minutes later. Two of the Beverly coach
es were demolished and the slaughter of pas
scngers was terrible. Twenty-one persons were
killed outright, including three ladies, and
forty or fifty wounded.
At the time of the collision the accommoda-
ton for Beverly had its red signal lights be-
hind, and the red signal was hoisted at the mast
head of the signal post or the express to hold
up, which it did at Everett but subsequently
proceeded, and was under full headway when
near the Revere station, the engineer evidently
not being aware of the proximity OF the Bever-
| ly train until perhaps within sixty rods of it.
lie then whisted 'down brakes" but not soon
enough to arrest the calamity.
Some of the passengers in the rear portion of
the accommodation train heard the ominous
whistle but too late to escape. On came the
express train at great velocity, and then the
engine struck the rearm> car full in the CEN
tire, and forced its way 10 telescope manner
two-thirds the length of the car. The smoke
stack was instantly knocked off, and the boiler
penetrated all of the distance named into the
rear car, the rear part OF the latter being
smashed into a thousand splinters, throwing
the debris out on either side of the engine tens
der. Of the rear half of the car not q frag=
ment as big as house window could be found.
The fore part of the engine was utterly demols
ished, its pistons bent and its rods broken.
The car was crowded with people, every seat
being occupied, and many standing in the aisless
In among these the locomotive rushed, quick
as flash, Just as the Beverly train had started,
mangling ard killing in the most frighttul man
ner. But this was not the only, and perhaps
not the worst, visitor the unfortunate passen-
gers had. simultaneously with the collision,
the head cap of the boiler was broken, and in
an instant the wretched sufferers were shrouded
in cloud of Kissing steam, and deluged with
boiling water, which brought death instantly to
many of the wounded, and will prove fatal to
others who had probably not been otherwise
seriously injured. The lamps spilled their con-
tents, but the fire, if any, was undoubtedly e1.
tinguished by the water and steam. Although
the Beverly train was just moving when the
collision took place, its motion did not prevent
injury to the cars in front Of the last.
The coupling between the two rear cars
broke and the platforms of all of them were
iammed up together, with the smoking car
overlapping the baggage car, and rods and
timbers we're inextricably mixed and inter-
woven. Fortunately the entanglement was not
so great but that the passengers succeeded IN
getting out quite speedily, and happily was it
for them they did so, for the kerosene lamps
were upset and the contents spilled upon the
floor, and in an instant the smoking car was IN
q blaze. The flames travelled with great speed
from one to another until three OF them were
enveloped. These were subsequently moved up
the track half dozen rods, and allowed to
burn until there was nothing left for the fire to
feed upon.
An effort was at first made to put out the fire,
but this was prevented and the flames were use
full in lighting up the dreadful scene in the rear
and facilitated services for the wounded. The
work of rescuing the victims was at once be-
gun, assistance being soon furnished from
Chelsea, Charlestown and at a later hour FROM
Boston. The Frost Hose Company, just re-
turned from an excursion to Providence, were
promptly on the ground, having seen the FIRE
burning. Dozens of poor creatures #efe
iammed within the wood and iron work, and
could not get out. The axe was applied vigor1
ously, and soon rope was applied to the sides
of the car and all the remaining framework
was pulled asunder.
The dead and mangled bodies were taken out
carefully and speedily, and placed on the plat
form or in the depot. Some were pinned with
splinters, some had arms and legs broken, while
others we're mangled beyond recognition
Most of the dead were apparently free from
bruises, but the peeling skin and deathly pallor
which overspread the flesh told plainly, that the
steam and scalding water caused death.
Public sentiment throws the fearful respon-
sibility upon the conductor and engineer OF the
express train. The engineer escaped with a
few bruises by jumping from the train The
accommodation train was three quarters OF an
hour late, which fact, it is said, was known to
the managers Of the express tram. Ihe ap-
pang railroad accident caused intense exct5e ths
scene. The railroad officials have cleared away
the debris and ruins, and the road is in run
ming ordor again.