The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-27
SICKENING SCENES.
Statement of One Of the
Survivors.

thereof having but just been concluded. This
calamity was the third Of q series which has been
occurring through the criminal carelessness Of
| somebody or other the Main Central Railroad,
and is to be made the subject OF judicial nvestga-
| ton.
But there has been one near Boston tonight
which, so far at least as loss Of life is concerned
Is Of tenfold more Importance than It's predecessor
The lateness Of the hour prevents my obtaining
curate details OF the sad occurrence but the facts
seem to be as rollows:-
The fifteen minutes past seven passenger accom-
mediation train for Beverly, under charge Of con-
ductor Mason, was delayed half an hour beyond the
time of Its departure by tho non.arrval OF inward
trains. Not deeming it expedient to re.
main longer, Mr.. Mason started his train,
with one baggage and tour passenger cars, at
half-past seven O'Clock, and made the usual stop
pages until he came to Revere, a station seven
miles from Boston. There his train was brought 10
halt started on, and then, for some reason not
yet understood, 1t was halted again. Little did the
conductor Of that train dream the consequences Of
his action In this instance he was
chatting with his acquaintance on the road.
Suddenly he heard cry OF danger and looking
back he beheld bright light coming round the
curve scarce half a mile from the station. He saw
the danger at and gave the signal to start But
1t was too late. That light avant courier Of
DEATH One moment later and the ponderous engine
Nswburyport, drawing the Pullman express train Of
eight heavily laden cars, came crashing into the
rear Of the Inflated accommodation. A shrek Of
horror arose on all sides as the machine ploughed
its way two.thrds OF the way through the swaying
mass Of humanity before It, and was only stopped
in its career after nearly the whole car had been
crushed into fragments
10 add to the terrors Of the scene the scaldlng
water from the locomotive was thrown upon the
crowd, and the entire train burst into names
The agony OF the moment can be much better i'm
agined than described. The oungers about the sta
:ion-and there were but few in number-recruited
from those. passengers who were unhurt hurried to
the spot and lent their ready aid to the ameoration
OF the suffering which was occasloned.
One after another the bodies OF the dead were
taken from the ruins-twentY-one In num-
ber-and laid side by side in the
waiting room of the station. They pre-
sented slcKening sight Not one was there
whose face or body was not scalded almost beyon
the possibility Of recognition, and their blood
stained garments anu the bubbling froth which lay
stagnant upon their lips betokened too well the
agony which they had suffered
There were but three women In the number, and
their dress seemed to indicate that they belonged
to the middle walks Of life. Their faces were dis
torted beyond power Of description.
Among the men there was one whose right SIDE
was nearly destitute Of flesh and whose limbs
were gashed to the bone. There were
mutiated. As they lay IN the station 1t was painful
to witness the eager ana anxious faces of those who
sought through these remnants OF mankind. in
search of some beloved relative or friend. But at
the hour ut which l write-one A. M.-there had
been no one Identified.
The wounded, fifteen in number, were removed to
the houses near by, and those who could bear the
journey were taken to the Chelsea Marine Hospital
three miles distant. Their injuriesl are. for the
most part Of severe, but not dangerous, character
passenger who was upon the accommodation
train and escaped without hurt. besides corroborat
ing the particulars given above. states that when
he first became alarmed he saw the bright
light OF the engine seemingly but very
short distance away. lie jumped across the track,
and heard the whistle down brakes; but 1t was
affor hofo fhn talo nenc
occurred. He remembered nothing thereafter
until aroused from faintng fit by the shrieks OF
the dying men. He at bent all his energies to
succor the wounded.
The scene OF the disaster presents fearful sight
On the main track lay the charred and still burning
fragments of the accommodation train, which Is
totally destroyed, and the machinery Of the engine
and large pieces Of the baggage behind 1t were
strewn all about the ground.
No such disaster has ever occurred on an Eastern
railroad It's difcult and, in fact, impossible, at
this hour to x the blame for the calamity upon any
single person. Perhaps Il might be thought that as
the first train had started out Of the depot
half an hour behind time, and that 1t
had two stops TO make before II MADE
run of seven miles, 1t was scarcely advisable to
permit the departure Of an express tram only
fifteen minutes later. Others might opine that the
conductor (Nason) Of the accommodation train
acted wrongly in permitting his train to remain SO
long at way station.
| The lnouess which viii commence tomorrow.