New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-21

fron the engine. So strong was the momentum
thu, the locomotive reached the opposite shore at
hond distance of fully 80 feet and fastened itself
there in the earth
The three freight fats followed, and then the
.scond-class car. all Of them going down into the
liver he'd The irst-class car telescoped into the
rsar of the second-elass car. and rested the en-
baulrment on the opposite side Of the chasm. The
other passenger-cars and smOl1ing-car followed IN
mck succession, striking the end of the first car
The forward cars at once took fire from the en-
zine, and the flames spread with fearful rapidity
The water was not of sufficient depth TO cover the
tops of the freight crates the flats, which were
burned, and the fire into and through the pas
senger cars before all the passengers could get out
The engineer, William Guild, was damned be-
tween the driving-wheel and the engine, there be-
ing Just enough of his body left to identify him.
The fireman, George Eldridge, was crushed to
Jelly. Some of the passengers escaped through car
windows others were pulled out of the water De-
low, while many more were writing beneath the
ruins One man, with his body partly out of q win
dow could extricate himself further. and called
wildly, Oh, save me am burned to death" His
screams and means were not needed. and death put
an end to bis suferings.
The Shore Line mail train which was closely fol-
lowing, fortunately saw the wrecked trains signal,
and avoided a repetition of the horror. 1t was
backed to Westerly for supplies and medical assist
ance which arrived soon after. Facilities for the
care of the wounded were meager, there being only
a few houses in sight. Everything possible, how
ever, was done for their comfort.
Immediately on the arrival of the relief party the
most vigorous efforts were made 20 recover the
bodies of the dead, and by o'clock seven bodies
were obtained. including the following
Engineer William Guild Of Providence.
Fireman George EldriGge.
Albert F. Allen OF Eddy-st. Providence.
Jerry Creamer OF Boston.
John Callahan OF New-YOrk.
The bodies of the other victims were burned be-
yond recognition, and the fremen and engineer we're
so charred that they were recognized only by the posi-
tons they occupied on the engine and portions OF
their dress The following is a partial list of the
wounded:
Thomas Nolan Of Boston, baggagemaster thigh frac-
Z. Murrigan OF Boston, three ribs broken;
Joseph Phillips sailor, OF Boston bruised
John Carter OF Boston, badly bruised.
John Hongsworth Of Boston, bruised.
Miss Lizzie Evans of New-York. nRht ankle fractured
il. d. Eldndge of New-YOrk, bruised.
William Finley OF Boston, badly bruised.
Dennis Boben If York. injury OF the wrist
Dennis Hefernen Of ireland, cOllarbone broken.
James Donovan of Ireland. slight Commissions and some
Patrick Williams Of New York. slight bruises.
Henry Steine Of New-NOrK, injured IN the back.
Mary BOhan OF Ireland eg fractured and injured IN
Kora6 Bohan daughter OF the above, skull fractured,
probably fatal.
Patrick Burns, leg fractured.
Frank johnson. face bruised
Joseph Olmstead 81 Providence rh fractured.
James Freeman OF New-YorF, slight flesh wound.
The following is Conductor Orrin GARDENERS
account Of the disaster:
We left stonngton Junction at 81 the mail 70 follow in
D r ,c then went back 70 the sraokngcar 70 get
tOrpedOes for signal for na train Just then the awful
crash came jumped from the train. seized a signal
lantern and ran back 70 stop the man T9ln hurried
back 10 ma the train all on IRE and rapidly beng con-
sumed. and people rushing out. ! got an AK 70 cut
away the side OF one OF the where lying
inside crushed badly but driven away by the flames,
and the poor fellow was burned TO death On
s6 baa dnS See6 swept %a down with the CURRENT
carrying Of the tracks and washing away
wide which awful chasm the engine leaped. striking the
opposite side where rail pierced the boiler ITS entire
length Tie tender thrown on top of the engine and
both engineer and fireman were instantly killed. and Their
bodies burned. Our train consisted OF three long
fats OF crates, one second-cass Passensef car Ieo
rstcass passenger cars ana smoking car IN Lhe rear
Fve went entirely into gap and one partially The
rear cars remained on tue track, anu were unin
ured The surv wing passengers rendered every assist
S%nt for but R people who have been rescued dead
alive from the wreck great proportion OF the missing
drowned al the bottom Of the creek Some OF them,
perhaps may have been cared for in the few dwellings
which scattered about TINS dismal Iocah' put that
number must be easily counted.
Jonas Holstrom, who was passenger in the fourth
car of the train, gives the following:
The train left soningtOn at $685. about IS minutes late
The rate Of speed before reaching Richmond switch was
about 80 miles an hour, ana the nrst naa on
the disaster sharp conclusion, winch DuIst open
the car IN which seated and partially hled u with
the wreck of the preceding car wac on the lefhand
side al the rear end " the ana IN rOn OF me on the
narenv from 20 10 years OF age, aud directly behind
them was Benjamin r. Knapp, r., OF Boston lnIne-
diatev after the shock heard the young men and Mr.
KnapD call for help extricate them. they were
wounded aud held fast by the spntered portions OF the
preceding car reaching Mr.. Knapp found that one
of his legs was injured ana I aud several others set
about 10 extricate linn and the Two Young men
suddenly astt oT the mass Of spiinters was on
IRE the flames rushing through the car as quickly
though the wood had been hay. We had barely time 10
Obliged 10 fee FOR life and the unfortunate young
men were left meet terrible tate, ana were burned
70 death IN very few minutes win these exceptions
none the other occupants OF TINS car are known 10
escape just before the are burst into the car aud
others we're engaged in prying up the stove winch
aDparently had imprisoned the two young men VINO
we're seated beside IT, and The light OF the nre was dls
tncly seen outside the rain but we supposed to ne
a signal to warn approaching trains OF 10 ald the res
Cuers utDg their laDOrs
The bridge which was carried away was recently
repaired and it is claimed by the railroad authori-
ties that they regarded it strong and firm enough
for the purposes il was intended to The dis
lance between the abutments was 20 feet, but the
cbasn. after the bridge was carried away, was 40
feet wide.
il is said that the mail train and steamboat train
were both ready TO leave StoningtOn at the same
hour this morning. Had the Shore Line mail train
gone into this rushing food the loss of life would
have been much greater, as there were no baggage
fats on that train to the passenger cars, as in
the case of the wrecked train.
Boston, April 2O.-About 800 men were employed,
Yesterday in rebuilding the bridge and getting the
wrecked engine and cars out of the chasm. and the