The Republican journal., 1873-01-02
The Pennsylvania Railroad saster.

The Pennsylvania Railroad saster.
We have the following palculars of
the fearful railroad accidentear Erie,
"a, on Tuesday, Oath, by vlch nearly
thirty lives were lost =
The immediate cause of f. accident at
Prospect station was bren tlange on
the tender wheel. About Sty rods west
OF the station is a trese work some
twenty feet high, over web the loeomo-
tive and tender of the E'tern bound ex-
press train passed in s;etv, but the bag
gage and passenger carr only two coaches
beng IN the train, we, thrown from the
trestle and struck to, downward. The
weight of the trucks rushed in the cars,
closing the windows and to render the
situation even more trrible, the passenger
coach was partially ited upon its side, so
that for the OCCUPANTS Of that side there
were absolutely NJ means of escape.
Almost Immediately the cars took fire,
the passenger coach burning at both ends
Some halt dozen persons waiting at the
station were soon at the scene of the acct
dent, but they worked at an immense dis
advantage No water could be had, and
the snow that was scooped up had little
effect in STAYING the flames Only two
axes We're available, and the woodwork
OF the cars were bolted together so firmly
and intimately that but little Roadway
could be made with them All the time
these efforts We're being put forth the
flames were steadily gaining, and the
shrleks OF imprisoned victims, AS the
scorching heat enveloped them, was APP
palling to the bravest heart
Nou apH tb,,o ,o,>., ,,,,, $50 &l,....-.
a crevice, fastened to a form, and the SUI
terer pnlled out by main strength Some
times i would be Il lifeless body, and
charred arms, legs or head would drop
off in the struggle In three or four in
stances 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 head and one arm swapping off
like piece OF charcoal, while the other
arm was untouched, a kid glove covering
the hand, and fingers wearing their lew
elled ornaments. 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, it is be-
lieved can be recognized.
Al al III Is eStliHdted lully ten OF the
nineteen bodies have been removed from
the burning car. 1t is supposed that in
addition to the bodies recovered, a num-
Der OF others We're consumed in the burn
ing car, and that nothing but their black
ened bones will be discovered when the
ire IS eXtinguished and the ashes raked
over Adding these to the number iniur-
ed 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 at the time of the accident
being about forty-five. ava -
FRANK ayers s was leaning against som,
OBJECT and seeing an acquaintance passing
called to him. The friend turned and sa v
Taylor apparently uninjured. bit sudden
| ~ ne said, "Tell my wife" and iell over
| dead. He must have Died from injury.
but the inmates of the burning cars were
shrieking for aid. and Mr. Taylor's friend
did not see him again till his corpse was
brought and placed with the Others.
| Alter the groans of the diving were
stilled in death the stencil arising from the
| burning bodies is said to have been sicl,
| enlng With no means of extinguishing
| the flames, and the heat being too intense
~ ''io WI Viz poileS peihS eXtllCated.
nothing could be done by the spectators
but to stand quietly by.lnd see the re-
mains slowly consumed.
The following is a letter by cores
pendent OF the Erie Despatch, who was
at the scene of the disaster: At the in
quest Henry Miller and J J. Marks testi-
ned that the train was very fast. H. H.
Lee aud othets contradicted it. The fire
man says they were running five miles an
hour. Orvilie Swift, Of Cory, was on
the train, and his body has not been re-
cognized Two of The four bodies I'M
canned are shapeless masses, Mr. Douglas
VINO was IN the buried car TWENTY-FIVE
minutes, says several ~eIo hiIIeu uu,iIg IT.
others writing 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.