The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-07-06
'EIlyE5 G;l5.s 5E.rf3
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED
A AHEARTRENDING SCENE
PROCLAMATION Bf THE MAYOR


the cry OF the newsboys-" Fifteen
killed and twenty-three wounded-Ter-
rible railroad smash-up on the North
western railroad-The bodies OF the
killed just arrived" The mere an
nouncement caused people to hurry to
the undertaker's establishment, where
the bodies Of the killed had been taken
and laid out. The train which met
with the catastrophe left here at half
past eight o'clock last evening on the
Northwestern railroad and was COM
posed Of an engine, baggage car, two
passenger cars and one sleeping coach.
There were fourteen passengers in the
front passenger car, about thirty in the
ladies' car and three in the sleeping car.
Most of those in the ladies car were
on their way 10 Kingston Springs to
enjoy the Fourth OF July. The tran,
as usual, reduced it's speed on approach
ing the bridge over Harpeth river sixteen
miles from this city. The engine and
baggage car passed over the pier
in the middle OF the river safe. The
first passenger car had reached the pier
when the bridge gave way under it, and
it was precipitated twenty feet into the
river, falling on its side in eight feet Of
water. The ladies car fell end up on
this, the passengers falling to the front
and the seats breaking from their fas-
tenlngs, fell on them. In one corner of
the front car, under the water, was
John Campbell, of Nashville, whose
leg and head were hurt, but who, with
the exception of one other gentleman,
was the only person left free to move.
They swan through the car and extri-
Gated eight or ten others and brought
them out with but slight bruises. The
others under the seats were killed or
drowned and their bodies were not yet
found at daylight. In the ladies car
thirteen OF the thirty were killed in
stantly and their dead bodies, with the
broken seats, we're piled up with the
other passengers. In this condition
they were left there wounded and dying
in the darkness Of night The sleep
ing car was half way over the break
and lodged against the upper end of
the ladies car. Three persons in it
were buried, but soon extricated them
selves and climbed down and COM
menced taking out the broken seats piled
upon the dead and wounded, and
succeeded in relieving many.
The engine and baggage car hurried
on to Kingston Springs station, where
they woke the operator and telegraphed
to Colonel Thomas, Superintendent OF
the road. The news reached Colonel
Thomas at half past twelve. He al
once started with a wrecking train and
a number of distinguished physicians
for the scene. Arriving at two, they
went to work removing the dead and
dying. All this time the wounded were
fastened under the dead bodies and un-
able to move hand or foot, some pray
ing for mercy, others bemoanIng the loss
of dear ones and others rejoicing that
it was no worse with them. 1t was ex-
tremely difficult for the parties TO reach
the wounded without standing on or
holding themselves up by some Of the
wounded or dead.
One of the wounded, Mr.. Williams,
stout man, OF Nashville, proved himself
hero by telling one of the doctors to
stand on his leg, the thigh OF which
was mangled and crushed, telling him
never to mind, but relieve the others
who were in a worse condition than
himself
Mr.. Thompson, Of Amherst Court
House, Virginia, who was cut about
the head and hip, having his bowels
mashed, has since died. He was under
the impression that he had been in
great battle, and a cannon ball had
struck him below the knee. When
they brought a stretcher to take him
out he told them, "Oh know how that
is. have been wounded in battle before
and taken off the field on a stretcher.
He was very cheerful, but died soon after
reaching the city.
Mr.. John Scott, an employe at the
Nashville depot Of the road, was in the
center of the car conversing with Miss
Heard, OF Trenton, Tenn. John Mar
shall, of Nashville, and Judge Horn.
berger, of Clarksvile, both distinguished
LAWYERS, were seated opposite, and, with
Henry Howard fronting them, were
conversing. w. E. Ieatman and WIFE,
of Mem phis, were seated in the next
seat to the rear, and Charles Campbell
ann wife formerly Miss Celia Case),
of Granville, Ohio, and their little one
year old daughter, were seated next TO
the Yeatmans. These were all instant
ly killed, except Mr.. Yeatman, who
escaped with dreadful wound on the
head and, it is feared, internal injuries.
Mr.. Scott was under all these, and es-
caped with a bru,se on the head and a
crushed foot.
The killed and wounded are as fol-
lows: John Marshall, of Nashville /;
Judge Hornberger, Of Clarksville; (;
Henry Howard, Mrs. Emma Yeatman,
of Memphis; Charles Campbell, wife
and child, and Mrs. Thomas Dunn, OF
Kingston Springs; Mr.. Pendergrast,
of White Bluff; Alexander Wright,
railroad agent White Bluff; J. W;
Thompson, Amherst Court House and
three men unknown, are the killed.
Mr.. Wright, Of White Bluff was
taken out alive and said after being
laid on the bank Of the river that he
felt as we'll as could be expected and
only wanted drink of water, which
Immediately after being taken was
kb ysaun mn fror, hia stomach t0oethel