The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-20
sHRAvE EVEN UNTO DEATH"
The Engineer and Firemen Standing
Dead at Their Posts Of Duty.
THE ENGINE LEAPS THE CHASM.
Graphic Details Of the Accident-How the
Torrent Carried the Bridge Away
Statement Of a Passenger
The Killed and Wounded.
RICHMOND SWITCH, R. l., April 10, 1878.

Inc k1ll00 ana WOQnOeOs
RICHMOND SWITCH, R. l., April 10, 1878.
Switch, R. L. on the Stonington and Providence
Railroad at four O'Clock this morning by the break
ing OF the mill dam just north or the track, on the
Pawcatuck River. The water rushed down the
stream in torrents, caused by freshet, and rising
above the usual level some ten feet, washed away
the bridge and railroad track over the stream.
The Stenington steamboat train, route to Prov
dence and Boston, coming along at the time, was
precipitated into the chasm, the engine leaping to
tho opposite bank. Three crate cars and three
coaches telescoped, and all Of them took fire after
wards and were burned up. The engineer, fireman
and six others are known to be among the killed.
Others are supposed to have been washed down
the stream or buried under the debris. Parties
and searching for bodies. The "Owl" train, rom
New York, was just behind the steamboat train,
and only escaped by being three minutes behind
time. The "Owl" train had four sleeping cars
fllled with passengers, all of whom would doubt
less. have been instantly killed or injured.
ABOUT FORTY PERSONS
are wounded the majority being only slightly hurt.
Engineer william Guile, Of Providence, Fireman
GEORGE Eldridge of Wexford: Albert Allen Of Provi-
dence; jeremiah Cramer Of Boston; John Calihan,
Of New York, and two others unidentified, were
killed. All the bodies were found to be badly
burnt It is now three O'Clock P. NJ, and
some twenty are still missing Among the in
jured are Patrick Burns, James Donovan, Dennis
Hefren, Edward Cranin, Patrick Williams,
Thomas Nolan, baggage master, leg broken, es-
capped through the window; Henry Stiner, Mary
wern, New York, badly; Frank johnson, New Bed
ford, and others, names unknown at present. J.
D. Eldridge Of Harwich, Mass, escaped from the
passenger car first burned and succeeded in saw
ing Mrs. Rebecca Kelley Miss Lizzie Evans and her
brother children Of Captain Evans, Of the steamer
General sedgwick but was unable to save three
other passengers, who persisted, being
CAUGHT AND HELD FAST
among the broken seats. Mary Bohen, aged sew.
enty, had her leg broken and received other seri-
Gus injuries. Her daughter, Honora Bohen, has
her skull fractured and will net survive. A
temporary bridge Is almost nnished when all the
wounded will be forwarded to Providence and Bos-
ton. There were 100 persons on the train, large
number Of passengers remaining in the steamboat,
~ they preferred to take the morning accommoda-
tisn. Among the wounded was Benjamin Knapp,
Jr., . member Of the New York press, bound to
the reunion of the Sixth Massachusetts, regiment.
sylvanus Evans and Mr.. R H. Kelley, OF West Den
nis Mass, were miraculously saved. receiving q
Sev bruises.
THE TKMPoRARY BRIDGE
mas been constructed at this hour, seven O'Clock
r. n, over the stream and trains are making reg
ular trips. Some four thousand people have already
visited the scene Of the accident, and every train
over the read is crowded with persons anxious TO
satisfy their morbid curiosity. Up 70 this time
seven charred bodies have been found but II is i'm
possible to identity them, with the exception OF
those OF the engineer and fireman. Superintendent
Matthews, Of the stonington and Providence road,
has been on the spot constantly since early morn
any, anu mas uOne Ill tnaJ man can DO TO recover
TIE BODIES OF THE VICTIMS
and provide.for the survivors OF the disaster
Physiciansfr from Stonington, Westerly and Proyi-
AeDce were sent to the switch to dress the wounds
Of the sufferers. and special train conveyed them
70 Providence, where arrangements have been
made to further care for then. The engine, a. be-
fore stated, jnmped across the chasm, and the end
Of broken ral on the opposite side OF the bridge
penetrated the boilerhead, causing the steam TO
escape, and thss preventing An explosion. The
engineer and fireman were
KILLED AT THEIR POSTS,
and remained in an upright position even amer
DEATH thesformer with his hand on the throttle and
ths latter having hold OF the brake. Both were
consumed by nre, as there were no means BY
which any person could cross the ssFeasits recover
She bodies.
In conversation with
THE owNEIAor THE MILL DAN.
learned that he examined the dam before rctir-
Ing for the night, and thinking that there was
some danger Of Its giving .sway opened the suice
gAte which relieved IL somewhat from the great
pressure Of the large bOds Of wAtar which u hsls