The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-12-27
THE RAILWAY DISASTER.
A Horrible Scene.

ERIE, Pa, Dec. 26-The immediate cause OF
the accident at Prospect station was a broken
nange ON the tender wheel. About sixty rods
| west OF the station is treste work some TWEEN
" feet high, over which the locomotive and
tender of the Eastern bound express train
passed In safety, but the baggage and passsen-
Syare ears only two coaches being in the train,
Jovnw miown from the trestle and struck top
uoW a,l The weight of the trucks crushed
IN lne cars, Closing in the windows; and to rem
uer Ihe SITUATION even more terrible the pas-
senSer ceacn was partially tilted upon its side
SO tnat Iof tne occupants of that side there were
absolutely no means of escape A,mast i'm
mediately the ears took fire, the passenger
coach burning at both ends. Some half DE-
persons waiting at the station were soon ot tba
scene of the accident but they worked at an
immense disadvantage. NO water could be
had and the snow that was scooped up had lit
tie effect in staying the flames. Only two axes
were available and the woodwork OF the cars
was bolted together so firmly and intimately
that but little hea way could be made with
them. All the time these efforts were being
put forth the flames were steadily gaining and
the shrieks of imprisoned victims, as the
scorchlng heat onveloped them, was appalling
to the bravest heart Now and then rope was
put through cIevice fastened to a form and
the suffer pulled out by main strength
Sometimes it would be a lifeless BODY and
charred arms, legs or head would drop off in
the struggle. In three or four instances the
head was thus severed from the trunk, and in
many more cases the body was bereft of its
limbs. The body of lady was thus rescued
from the flames her had and one arm swapping
off like piece of charcoal while the other
arm was untouched, kid glove covering the
hand and fingers wearing their jewelled 0rna-
menus. The body will doubtless be recognized
with the aid OF the rings, but for these it would
be impossible to identify it, Bodies of three
other ladies were taken out neither of which,
1t is believed, can be recognized. In all it is
estimated fully ten of the nineteen bodies have
been removed from the burning car. 1t is sup
posed that in addition to the bodies recovered
number OF others were consumed in the burn
ing car, and that nothing but their blackened
bones Will be discovered when the fire is ex-
Slnguished and the ashes raked over. Adding
these to the number injured that will die, it is
estimated that the number of lives lost will
not fall short OF thirty, the whole number of
persons in the two cars al the time of the acct
dent being about fOrty-five.
Frank Taylor, of Cory, one of the rescued
passengers, was leaning against some object
anu seeing an acquaintance passing called to
him. The friend turned around and saw Tay-
lor, apparently uninjured, bat suddenly he
said, Tell my wife," and fell over dead. He
must have died from injury, but the inmates of
the burning cars were shreking for aid and
Mr.. Ia 1or's friend did not see him again till
his corpse was brought and placed with the
others
After the groans of the dying were stlled in
death the stencil arising from the burning
bodies is said to have been sickening. With
no means of extinguishing the flames and the
heat being too intense to admit of the bodies
being extricated nothing could be done by the
spectators but to stand quietly by and see the
remains slowly consumed.
The following is a letter correspondent of
the Erie Despatch, who was at the scence of
the disaster:
At the inquest Henry Miller and j. j. Marks
testified that the train was very fast III. III. |
Lee and others contradicted it. The fireman
says they We're running five miles an hour. Or |
vile Swift of Cory was on the train, and his |
body has not been recognized. Two of the four |
bodies unclaimed are shapeless masses. Mr.. |
Douglas, who was in the buried car twenty-five |
says several were killed outright, |
others writhing about until suffocated and some |
were conscious till burned to death.
The inquest adjourned till Saturday, when |
the testimony of Conductor Flanders will be |
taken.