Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-02-10
Terrible Railroad Accident.
. CAR LOAD OF PASSENGERS BURNT !

CAR LOAD OF PASSENGERS BURNT!
A most appalling railroad disaster oc'
Cured on the Hudson River railroad, at
New Hamburg, on Monday night, II
appears that an oil train was bound
South, and when passing New Hamburg
an axle of an oil car broke and dragged
along the ground till it reached the draw
bridge, when striking the timbers itthrew
the car off the track and upon theup track
in the face of the second Pacific express
An attempt was made to stop the express
which was then approaching, but there
was not time enough and when it struck
the oil car, fragments Of which scattered
in every direction and at once ignited,
enveloping the entire express train in
flames. The express train was composed
of locomotive, baggage car, express
car and or 6 sleeping cars The loco
motive was at once hurled INTO the river
and the engineer killed and the baggage
and express cars were piled on top of the
engine. AT the same time the Chicago
sleeping car was one sheet of flame, and
though desperate attempts were made to
rescue the passengers, it is said that not
one got out alive Two of the other
sleeping cars next to it were also wrap
ped in flames, but the passengers in them
all got out safely and then the bridge
took fire. In less than ten minutes after
ward the whole structure fell, carrying
with it the Chicago car, and burying it
and its inmates out of sight under the
water and among the ruins of the
locomotive and express cars. This ter
rible result settled all doubts as to the
probably of rescuing any one dead or
alive, then there was nothing to be done
till daylight.
A latter dispatch from New Hampton
further describes the scene of horror
Upon the ice near the wreck a body was
found with the entrails torn out and the
head and legs crushed. The ice sur
rounding this wall of death is thronged
with the inhabitants of this village,
whose dismay and expressions of awe
and pity we cannot adequately describe.
The baggage car which has been en-
ployed as temporary morgue, contains
a spectacle which is most appalling. A
mother found with her babies in her
arms, is CHASTITY sight. Yonder an in
FAINT of about fifteen months is stifened
by the frost, and as it lies extended in
the dead car, seems to extend its little !
arms toward its parent,
Another latter dispatch says: As
fast as the bodies are raised to the sur
face they are placed in the baggage
car, where fire is kept going so as to |
thaw the clothing in order that search |
may be made for anything which may
lead to Identification. One lady was
70 und with babe in herarms. Ofthe dead
is Rev. Mr.. Fowler who preached his fare
wellsermon and ASST sted at the commu-
MON in the Chapel of St. Chryser, of
New York, last Sunday, and was on his
way as missionary to Salt Lake City
to take charge Of the church there in
connection with Bishop futile.
The bodies of Mrs. Fowler and her
two children, of which the arms yet re.
main as they were discovered closely
embracing each other, and it is surmised
that finding egress impossible, they re-
solved to die together.
Nineteen bodies have been recovered.
Among the dead are Geo. F. Benedict.
editor of the Cleveland Herald and wife.
The thermometer was below zero all
night, rendering the efforts of the citi
zens to recover the bodies very difficult
and hazardous, and several were badly
frost bitten.