The New York herald., 1871-08-28
SLAUGHTER.
The Massachusetts Railroad
Horror.
,>->~>~>~>~o~y>>~>>~--~~>
THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER.
-~O~~~~~~~~~~-~N-~>~~~~~
Eickening Sight at the Dead
House.
>-N~--~>~>>~~~~~N~>~>~>~~
Indifference Of Railroad Employees to the
Wants Of the Sufferers.
~~~>~~~~>~->~->-~S>>-~~~>~
Twenty-four Victims Of Official
Incompetency.
List OF the Slaughtered - Four
Bodies Unrec0gnized.
Cause Of the ColliSion-Au Inves-
tigation Demanded.

BOSTON, August 81, 1871.
OF all The cruel ana sorrowfu railroad slaughters
OF the present generation, Including even such as
the memorable Norwalk massacre the terrible
Angola disaster and the recent catastrophe at
New Hamburg, there are none which were more
directly
THE RESULT OF CULPABLE NEGLIGENCE
than the fearful one which took place the Eastern
Railroad, seven OF eight miles IRON this city, at
about quarter past eight last evening Careless
ness OF the most objectionable description sent
between twenty and thirty souls hurriedly before
tdeir Maker, ana ~ many more were either fatally
wounded OF 80 badly manned and bruised as to
render their future life only painful burden. The
calamity Is hardly worthy OF the dgni0ed name OF
an accident. II was nothing more Or less than a
needless
SLAUGHTER OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
who had temporarily committed their existence to
tho careless servants OF reck less corporation. The
disaster was IN every respect an unusual one. Two
trains came together, ana one telescOped within tne
other, Out unlike most collisions they were going
III the same, and In opposite directions. local
train, known rs the ''Bevcr'y train, left the depot
in Boston at about quarter 10 eight, about half
hour behind the usual time. On account OF its being
Saturday night tie cars were unusually crowded,
and many OF the passengers were OF that class who
seek Sab5atn'5 recreation along the scashore and
swan,pscott, Lynn and Salem. Every seat was oc-
cupied, ami very many were obliged to stand and
the train heavily loaded that two loco
motives wcro required 70 pull 1t along. The train
was OF the ''way." OF Accommodation descrip-
toD, and was obliged to stop for u considerable
period at every station between Boston and
Pcvery. AS before stated, this train left
at q quarter to eight. Fifteen minutes later
the Bangor Pullman express len, and as there were
no stops 10 oe made, il closed up the gap i0ter
vening between itself and the accommodation train
which had proceeded II. At sixteen minutes Fast
eight the way train was at the Revere station and
ct about this rnoment the lightning train, watch
WIS alec due and had the right OF way came .bun.
dering along and shot into the heavily loaded accom-
modalion train with tho fearful results stated. All
was dark without and Gr:zzling rain was falling
ana as The collision came The train was just sterling
away from the staten. The cars were lighted
within by frai kerosene lamps In the ordinary man.
ner, and the passengers unmindful o. approaching
danger, in some doing carelessly In their
seats and In others chatting merrily among Them
selves, and, perhaps, In many Instances indus-
Etously arranging for an excursion some other
pleasant event on the following Sabbath. All u.
ru,nbling noise neard and those who
were In the rear Of tho car cOuld not fail to have
been suddenly apprised Of the
TERRIBLE AND SUDDEN DEATH
which was so rapidly approaching. A light, small
at FIRST but growing larger and brighter through the
darkness, seen coming nearer and nearer. All vt
once the sharp sh!iil wh tie OF dOwr brakes was
beard but still the locomotive Of the lshtnng ex.
press tearing along at what seemed he and
actually was Il fearful rate OF speed, ana on the
same track and IN close proyiniy to the tram con.
tanning the frightened and death-dOOmed passen-
gers and which was almost mOtonless at this uine.
On 1t came unyil the speck OF light became great
glare and the rumbiing was thunder. The engine
got so near that nothing could avoid what was 10
follow. These who saw with horror realized the
situation. They leaped from The plattoIm for their
lives, and III the last car there was a rush Tor the
door and momentary panic. Quite number got
OIL this way. In The meantime the great locomotive
come on until there arrived a moment when tho
glare became darkness and the rambling thunder
was changed 70 terrific crash, followed by the
hissag Of the escaping steam mingled with
YELLs OF TIE DYING, GROASs OF THE HURT
ana shreks OF the frightened. II was an awful
moment. The engine struck the car and
cleared Its way through men ami women with the
Debris 1t made on either side. Clear and clean
through this car 1t went, reducing it to iragments
but even then II had not lost its powerful momcn-
tum. II crushed on into the next car and aid nos
stop IN its deathly way until 1t had gone half Its
length. Some power seemed 10 raise up the loco
car II appeared 10 have entered above the level Of
the moor and run In like closing telescope. Tho
conclusion was OF such tremendous force that it
threw the other cars Of the Beverly train from the
track. partially overturnng thcm The lamps wero
upset and
THR KERos gNg OIL TOOK FIRg.
There was, Of course, great rush, and the flames
were communicated to the clothing OF the women.
The panic was irghlful. and many were hurt sua
badly burned. the greedy Games travelled
with great speed from one car TO another
until three Of them embraced In the fiery folds
These were subsequently moved up the track half a
dozen rods. that the flames should not interfere
with the sufferers in the rear car, and then they
were allowed TO burn until there was nothing lett
for fire to feed upon. An effort first made to
pu: ont the fire, but was prevented nnd the flames
were useful III lighting up the dreadful scene IN the
rear and facilitate the services for the wounded.
But this was not the only and perhaps not the
worst visitor the unfortunate passengers hac
simultaneously with the collision the connecting
pipes OF the engine broken, ana In an instant
the wretcred sufferers were sbrouded ina
CLOUD OF BIINDING, Kissing STEAM,
ana deuged with boiling water, winch brought In
slant death 70 many OF the wounded. and will
prove fatal to others who had probably not been
otherwise seriously injured. The occupants OF the
Pullman train. who sustained no harm, beyond
severe fright and good shaking, except few
cases where some slight bruises were received
rushed out to ascertain the extent OF the catastro
pho. Among the shivered fragments OF the car that
was rst struck lay the. .motioness bodies Of these
already dead, while the wounded were
wRJTHiEG AND sB.IEKING IN AGONY
of palm and those who able were trying TO ex-
tricate themselves from The debris which was upon
and about them. At the second car the scene WAS
silnilar. The wreck was not so complete. but the
extent Of the injuries to the occupants was about
as great. The scene az the burning cars was quito
~ fearful. many Of the passengers there having
their faces. hands ana mbs terribly burned. and In