New Orleans Republican., 1871-07-09
with a bruise on the head and a crushed

/
foot. .e. -.....-.
The scene at the depot ON the arrival Of
the train with the dead and wounded was
heartrending in the extreme. The mothers
| fathers, brothers, sisters and friends of the
victims were there to learn of some dear
one, and many were Mortified to see, with
out being forewarned, the mangled dead
body of that dear one.
Mr.. Charles Campbell, of Edgefeld, was
an invalid with consumption who had spent
| last winter in Florida and was ON his way
| with his wife and child to spend the sum-
| mer at the springs. The writer of this
| called to see him and his family last eve
| ming, and conversing with Mrs. Campbell,
while her beautiful little child was playing
on the grass in the yard, heard her speak
hopefully of the future. They had not then
fully determined to go on the evening train
but soon after Mr.. Campbell thought he
felt strong enough, after the labors of the
day, to go. In two hours afterward they
were dead.
Mr.. Campbe1's sister and brother were
going to visit them at the Springs to-day,
and enjoy a sort of picnic. They went to
the depot to take the train at four o'clock,
but were Mortified at meeting there the
dead bodies of the'dear brother and sister
they were going to surprise. The under
taker GroOms was at the depot with
placed and taken to his establishment to be
dressed, which has just now I'll oclock)
been completed.
The wounded were tenderly conveyed to
and cared for at their homes and hotels.
The Northwestern railroad has, it is well
known, been unsafe for years to travel, but
since its lease by the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga Railroad Company, has been under
going repairs, and has been since April or
May considered as safe as any road in the
country. This bridge had been carefully
examined, and pronounced safe, and was
thought by all to be perfectly safe.
The Nashville Union and american extra
presents other details:
STATEMENT OF CONDUCTOR DAVIS.
Conductor Davis had passed over the
bridge No. Z, with train No. A, at P. NJ,
coming to Nashville, and passed safely,
the bridge being regarded in sound and
safe condition. Bridge No. was built
four years ago, and is of the Howe truss
pattern. The bridge beyond it was torn
away last year and rebuilt, but No. 7 was
not deemed unsafe and was permitted to
remain. Train No. 3, to which the accident
occurred, left Nashville, bound west, at
$40 2. N Monday evening. The train was
composed OF one baggage car, one second
class car, one frst-class ladies' coach and
sleeping Car, with seventy or seventy-five
passengers. The train arrived at Belview,
twelve miles from Nashville, at 9:10 on time
and dropped several passengers. 1t pro-
ceeded two miles further on, to bridge No.
7, over Harpeth, and the scene of the dis
aster. fourteen miles from the city. On
reaching the bridge, Conductor r. l.. Lam
dis rang the bell to notify the engineer that
he had passenger to let off at Smiths
Mill, a flag station, about fifty yards be-
yond the bridge. The speed of the train
was slackened at this signal, and as soon as
the engine struck the bridge the engineer
felt it giving way and soon the crash came.
Had the train been running at the usual full
speed when crossing, the conductor is of
opinion that it would have passed safely;
but running slowly, with a view to stop
ping II, 1t was precipitated below. The 10
connective and baggage car passed safely
The lady who was going to get off at the
flag station was among the killed. The train
fell a distance OF twenty-four feet, there being
ten feet of water below at the time. The
ladies coach and the sleeping car .ammed
into each other, the car tumbling crosswise,
the wreck falling in the river in the shape
of L. The scene that followed beggars
description. The screams of the living,
the frantic efforts for life, the groans of
the wounded, and bleeding forms of the
dead to be rescued from the wreck. so re-
Gently full of hope and lusty life, presented
a sad and a slckening scene, the like of
which has never before been witnessed in
this community. Most of the killed must
have been killed outright or have died in
few minutes after the crash. Mr.. Lands,
the conductor, is badly hurt. A deep abra-
sion appears across the temple, penetrating
to the bone