Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-20
RAILROAD HORRORS.
Frightful Run-Off in Connecticut.
A Train bitches into o Mill Stream.
rne Cars Cars Smashed to Splinters, Take
Fire.
Some Fifteen Persons Burned Alive.
The Engineer Burned to a Crisp
with His Hand on the
Thr0ttle-YalYe.

=
The Engineer Burned to a Crisl
with His Hand on the
Thr0ttle-Yalye,
SfeNtNGToN, April ia dreadful &C
cident occurred to steamboat train on tht
Stonington and Providence Railroad thi
informing. The steamboat train from Ston
ington for Boston, fell through bridge a
the Richmond Switch. Six cars were burned
and fifteen persons are supposed to have
been killed. Six bodies have already beer
recovered from the ruins.
LATER.-Nine bodies have been, recover
ed. The engineer and fireman were burn
ed to crisp at their posts.
BosToN, April ia dispatch from
Conductor Gardner says the train was al
burned but the smoking car and another
car. About fifteen or twenty persons were
burned to death, and quite number
wounded.
Night Reports.
SToNrNeToN, Conn, April 19--The
steamer StoniDgton arrived here at about
2 o'clock this morning. There were about
ITO passengers who took the 2:30 train from
this place for Providence and Boston. At
the Richmond switch dam across small
mill stream had been carried away, letting
the water from Ennis pond, which sup
plies the power for a Grist mill, down upon
the railroad bridge about 800 feet distant,
completely washing it away. No one lived
near the pond, so that the breaking away
of the dam was not known until the train
was thrown into the chasm. One of the
iron rails on the opposite track was
Driven Completely Through the En-.
CINE.
William Gill, engineer, and George Ed.
ridge, fireman, died at their posts, and their
charred remains have been taken from the
wrecked engine. The former leaves fam
lily. The killed are very much disfgured.
Seven bodies have been recovered. Con-
ductor Olrin Gardiner escaped. Thomas
Nolan, brakeman, was seriously injured in
the thigh. All the other brakemen escaped
with slight injuries. There are about s.
some Of them seriously. It is
thought several bodies have been washed
down the stream as the food was probably
ut its height. The engine made
A Fearful LeapS
passing over the stream and Embedding it.
self in the opposite embankment. Only
passenger coaches were burned, two first
class cars and one second class. The 9th
sr cars burned were what railrosd men
all baggage fats. The three cars that
contained baggage and express crates were
what prevented greater loss of life. The
damaged bridge has been repaired, and
rains are again running on time.
Conductor Gard ner was jammed in be-
tween the seats by the shock put
Averted a DOabIe Disaster
" Immediately calling out for some one 10
% back with a signal of danger for the
nail train which was just behind and ap-
,roaching at rapid speed.
A Narrowing Story.
Jonas Halstrom, a passenger, gives the
GLOWING account of the accident:
He was on the left hand side of the rear
nd Of the car, and in front of him on the
opposite side near the stove were two
ouDg men apparently from twenty to
twenty-five years of age, and directly be-
lind them was Benz. r. Knapp, Jr., of
Boston. Halstrom Immediately after the
hook heard the men and Knapp call for
lelp to extricate them as they were
Wounded and held fast by splintered
portions of the preceding csr. On reach
ng Knapp it was found that one of his
egs was injured, ard Halstrom and several
thers set about to extricate him and the two
Dung men. Suddenly
Volume Of Flames
hot into the car door and instantly the
mass of splinters was on fire, the flames
ushing through the car asquickly as though
be wood had been lot Of hay. The res
uers had barely time to relieve Knapp
rom bis position when they were obliged
o fee for life, and the two unfortunate
Dung men were left to meet their
Terrible Fate
nd were burned to death in very few
minutes. With these exceptions none of
be other occupants of this car were known
D have persisted though quite number
sd very narrow escapes. Just before the
re burst into the car Holstrom and the
theirs were engaged in prizing up the
love which imprisoned the two young
nen who were seated beside it.
Origin of the Accident.
The bridge where the disaster happened
between thirty and forty feet wide, and
epth of the chasm about twenty feet.
Iearly forty rods above this point is grist
nd saw-mill, on the Pawcatuk river,
nd supply of water for the ills is re-
eived by means of a dam. The storm
wept away the dam and the stream be-
wv rose to height of ten feet carrying
way the railroad bridge and abutment,
hitch were found about fifty rods below.
he rails of either end of the bridge were
1T sticking up, and when the train came
ashing along,th engine and tender
Leaped the Chasm,
nd landed on the opposite side. Imme-
lately behind were two crate cars which
Iunged into the opening followed by the
econd class passenger containing num-
or of emigrants and party of sailors be-
,nging in Boston, who were returning
ON New York. As this car piled upon
le crate cars it was
spIIntered into Kindling Wood,
ad the persons inside were tumbled into
ne river and with one exception were saw
i uniDjured. IL the rear of this was q
ar which contained but two passengers
nd Thomas Nolan the brakeman. The
ext car was occupied by quite number
passengers and was the one in which
IalstIom was seated. Behind this was
mother passenger car and smoking car,
9th of which were saved by uncoupling
nd running them back from the wreck.
he general opinion among passengers
eemed to be that
The Fire
aught from the stove in the second-class
ar, though its work was done so quickly
nat its origin will probably never be def
litely known. No one who has yet ar
we'd in Boston can give list of the num-
or killed, but the general estimate is from
to IL.