Connecticut western news., 1872-07-05
The Grand Trunk Disaster.

The disaster ton the General Trunk Railroad, was one of the most calamitous that we have had to record for many days. About eleven miles below the Belleville station the engine jumped the, to 1 tbe e"ssrcrXipg sccXEn death and fearful torture ward cars. The baggage csa tn ..~so;ned @ on the track and telescoped the smoking car, and second class passenger car, 1eav- ing them on top of the engine exposed to the escaping steam from the boiler. Here the poor creatures were hopelessly, penned for some time, breathing the vapors of death and suffering all the agony of immersion into boiling cauldron of superheated water. An eyewitness, says that immediately after the accident he went tothe second-class car. It and the smoking-car were telescoped on the To- comotive, the steam from which issuing from the cars was so dense that he could see nothing. One after another of the scalded victims were crawling from the openings. Crow-bars were immediately put into requisition by the passengers from the first class cars, all of whom es-I capped injury, and openings were made. Many were found entangled, and were extricated with the utmost difficulty, timbers having to be broken. Five per sons were found dead and were carried to the roadside, where the wounded lay for nearly three hours in the most fear full agony. On their arrival at Bellville everything was promptly, done to allay their sufferings. The medical men of the town were summoned, mattresses procured, and the large freight shed turned into temporary hospital, where the patients receive every possible atten- tion. The medical men and their assist ants were unremitting in their attentions, while the ministers of the gospel yied | with each other in their zeal in the ad- ministration of their sacred office. The sight was one to baff1e description. The terrible cries of the sufferers rent the ears of the lookers-on, who made every possible effort to grant their re- quests for water and food, and their con dition under the influences of their ter rible injuries was fearful to witness, whilst prayers and cries of premonition of approaching dissolution were here and there heard. After the injured ar rived here some of them passed away, a happy relief being afforded from their dreadful agonies. Those who were the least injured walked about swathed Tn bandages, and conversed freely about the occurrence of the night. The ex- press and baggage car was forced past the broken engine without injuring the express messenger or baggagen1an, but the smoking car telescoped the second. class car. The latter going forward knocked of the safety valve of the boil
 CT, and remained on top of the engine
 allowing the steam to fill the second-class car, which was crowded with passengers
 many Of them lumbermen en route fol Quebec. The two frst-class cars ant the Pullman car were comparatively un
 injured, and the passengers were trans shipped, and went East. .i..~.., .-. 1 Sixty-fve men and women were fear fully scalded and otherwise injured, si1 of whom died on the spot. Not mor' than ons-third of the injured will live
 John Hilbert, the engineer, was instant ly killed, and the fireman badly injured
 one of his legs will have to be amputa
 ted. H. Nelson, the conductor, ant
 other train hands escaped uninjured.
 l; The dying and wounded are lyinl
 stretched on mattresses on the floor o
 the freight shed so much disfgared 9
 to be unrecognizable. ..sr