The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-07

across the track. rail was torn from its place
and entered the first passenger car, penetrating
it from end to end, and at the same moment the
car which contained over sixty negroes, with
the conductor, Mr.. Peter Kirby, the omnibus
agent, Mr.. William White, and the newsboy,
Charles Eccles, was
PRECIPITATED OVER THE EMBANKMENT
about eight feet, and fell on its side. The
stoves were thrown down, and in very few
minutes the
CAR WAS ON FIRE,
and the flames burst forth. Conductor Kirby
who was standing in the vicinity of the stove at
the time, was pitched forward on to it and was
burned about the face and legs: The shrieks of
those who were in this
FIERY FURNACE
were literally heart-rending, and those who
witnessed the horrible scene will not forget it
to the last day of their lives. The light wood
work OF the car was soon all ablaze, and over
half dozen colored persons, young and old,
male and female, perished in the flames. Strong
men were to be seen at the windows endeavor-
ing to get out and a moment afterward they
fell back and became the prey of the devouring
element. Women, with their clothes one mass
of flame, were also seen to fall, while
CHILDREN WERE TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT,
and in two instances perished beside their
parents, who would not forsake their offspring.
In fifteen minutes there was hardly vestige of
the wood of the car remained, and the burning
bodies were fully exposed to view. The top of
presented all the appearances as If he had
been
BURNED ALIVE IN THE STOVE
ITSELF while the other sufferers were burning
beyond all power of Identification. The sight
was q horrible one and made all recoil with
poor unfortunate beings as the flames envel-
oped them and burned into their very vitals,
and then turned away again.
THE FORCE OF THE CONCLUSION
may be well understood when it is stated that
the solid pier was broken completely in twain,
and the car hung over the yawning gulf which
was about thirty feet In depth. The car was
rent asunder, but fortunately there was no water
in the gully, or the maj rity of the passengers
would certainly have been doomed. AS 1t was
nearly all the passengers received wounds and
bruises. The car which went over the precipice
was
CHOPPED UP LIKE KINDLING WOOD
and thrown into the gulley, while the ladies'
car on the brink of the chasm was minus the
front platform, and with nearly all the windows
smashed, while the interior presented a total
wreck. This car previous to the accident, was
the finest and handsomest on the road.
THE SCENE PRESENTED IN THE AFTERNOON
was of the most dismal character. The baggage
car had been rolled off the track and lay par
TALLY down the embankment while on the OPP
posite side of the track was the debris of the
car in which so many had lost their lives, q heap
of smouldering ashes, in which were the charred
remains OF InOse VINO nau perlSneQ IN Jne
fames far past any sign of recognition, and it
was impossible to tell whether the sufferer had
been male or female.
With one exception, all seemed to have pc
rished within a few feet of each other. The
futid smell from the
BURNING OF HUMAN FLESH
caused every one to seek their way to the bot
tom of the gully, where the workmcn were
engaged clearing away the wreck.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The frightful calamity was caused by the in
tense frost which prevailed at an early hour iI
the morning. No blame is attached to any one