The Portland daily press., 1871-08-28

shock of the collision came, in the act of TAX
ing his seat on the opposite side, near vocal
ist, who had been amusing the passengers with
his singing, and was thrown backward some
distance, landing on his back across card ta-
ble He recovered himself as soon as possible
and ran out upon the platform. The engine
and tender of the express train were buried in
the rear car of the accommodation train, which
had been split as neatly as if it had been doue
with saw. Men were then engaged in pull
ing away the fragments; and in moment ne
noticed that the forward cars were in flames.
The scene was appalling. The unfortunate
victims were shreking for help, and the tram
men were working with vigor to release them
from their awful situation Many were crying
fer water. He heard the cry of Rowe, whe
was under car, and saw men tearing away
the debris to release him, and others placing
jack, screws under the framework to raise IL
from its position. His own bruises prevented
him from moving quickly, but he took hold
and helped carry the dead and wounded to the
room in the station. He counted twenty-three
dead bodies laid out upon the floor of the sta
ton house, and was told that four more were
lying on the other side, to be brought in. One
man who lay dead had no sign of injury upon
his person; no doubt he died from inhalation
of steam The bodies of two women-a moth
er and daughter, he was told, lay side by side
in the station house; the head OF the latter re-
posing upon his great coat. Their faces were
covered with cloths, and he did not lift them
to see their faces. In fact the excitement was
so great that the majority of the people were
anxious for their own safety. The scene he
describes as truly heart-rending; and he would
not have witnessed the terror of those awful
hours for untold gold. The cry of the wound
ed was for water, and in his judgment many of
the dead perished from the inhalation of steam
as no external bruises were shown upon their
bodies. OF course the unlnjured train men
and passengers did all they could in an inn
promptu way to extricate the dead aud relieve
the wounded. Information was sent at once
to Boston and special train came cut with aid
to the sufferers, and accompanying it was Jere
Prescott, the Superintendent of the road. His
presence Immediately restored order in the ex-
cited crowd. Everywhere present with a cool
and collected demeanor, hearing reports and
answering questions with imperturable self
possession, he facilitated the humane efforts
going on. and in very short time had the
wounded cared for in the best way under the
circumstances, with the assistance of the sur
geons who were brought on the ground. At
IL o'clock an extra train was in readiness and
brought the passengers by the Pullman train
through to this city, arriving here about five
o'clock Sunday MOI Mug. Miss Lulu Pearson
who is among the killed, has brother living
in this city, who will leave this morning to
take charge of the remains of an only sister, Of
whom he is berett in sudden and awful man.
ner. Mr.. Rowe, the brakeman, who was re-
ported last night to be in comfortable condi.
ton, is resident of this city, to which he re-
moved short time ago. His wife, ON hearing
of the accident, went at once to her husband.
who was taken to the General Hospital in
Boston.