Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-28
kailrOad Disasters.


One of the most terrible railroad accidents
on record occurred at Revere few miles from
Boston on Saturday night. The Bangor ex
press t:ain ran into the rear end of another
passenger train while running[at high speed,
and fearful scene Of death cns,lcd. The rear
car of the forward train was crowded with pas
scngcrs, very few of whom escaped death or
injury, those who were unframed by the COLI
sion suffering from the escaping steam from
the engine of the express train Twcnty-four
persons wee killed and thirty or forty wounded,
some of whom will die. The details, as report
ed by telegraph. make the disaster no less hor-
riblc than the New Hamburger slaughter, on
the Hudson River Railroad The response
bility Of the affair is thrown>upon the conduc-
tor and engineer Of the express train.
Some Of the passengers IN the rear portion
of the accommodation train heard the ominous
whistle, but too late to escape. On came the
express train at great velocity, and then the
engine struck the rearmOst car full IN the cen
tire and forced its way, in telescope manner
two-thrds Of the length OF the car. The
smoke stack w;s instantly knocked off, and the
boiler penetrated all Of the distance named IN
to the rear car, the rear part of the latter being
smashed into a thousand spinters, throwing
the debris out on either side Of the engine
tender OF the rear half Of the car not frag-
ment rs big as i house window could be found.
The tore part of the eng Inc WAS utterly demol-
ishcd, its pistons bent and its rods broken
The car was crowded with people, every seat
being occupied, aud many standing in the
aiseS. In among these the locomotive rushed,
quick AS fash Just as the Beverly train had
started mangliug aud killing i'll the most
frightful manner But this was not the only
and perhaps not the worst visitor the untortu-
nate passengers had simultaneously with the
collision the head cap Of the boiler was broken,
and in an instant the wretched sufferers were
shrouded in i cloud Of kissing steam, and del
uged with boiling water which brought death
| instantly TO many Of the wounded and will
prove fatal to others who had probably not
been otherwise seriouly injured. The lamps
spilled their contents, but the fire, if any, was
undoubtedly extinguishcd by the water and
steam Although the Beverly train was Just
moving when the collision took place, its mo-
ton did not prevent injury to the cars In front
Of the last train. The coupling between the
two rear cars broke, and the platforms OF all
of them were jammed up together, with the
smoking Car overlapping the baggage car, and
rods and timber were lncxtrlcabIy mixed and
interviewer. Fortunately the eutaug cement was
notso great, but that the passengers succeeded 10
getting out quite speedily, and happy WAS it
for them they did So, for the kerosene lamps
were upset, and the contents spilled upon the
upholstery, and in an instant the smoking car
was in :: Ll;lzr The flames travelled with
Great speed from one car to another until three
Of them were cnveloped These were subse-
quently moved up the track L half dozen rods
and allowed To burn until there was nothing
left for the tire to feed upon. An effort was at
first made to put out the fire, but this was
prevented, and the flames We're useful III light
ing up the dreadful scene in the rear and iacll-
itacd services for the wounded. The work OF
reScung the victims was ut once begun, asSls-
tanrc being sunn furnished from Chelsea Charles
town, anl ut late hour from Boston,
Poor Creatures were damned within the wood
and iron work, and could not get out. The
axe WIS applied vigorously, aud soon rope
wis applied to the sides of the cur, aud all the
remaining frame work was pulled asuuder.
The dead and mangleI bodies We're taken out
carefully and <lrc,liIy, and placed on
the pl.tlir,m or in the depot. Some We're pm
ned with spilutrr<, somc had arms and legs
broken, willie others We're manglcd beyond re-
cognlion Most Of the dead were apparently
free from bruises but the peeling skin and
dcalhly ,allor which oversprcad the flesh told
plainly that the steam and scalding water
caused death.