Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-04-23
Horrible Railroad Slaughter.
Death by Fire and Water.
A TRAIN PRECIPlTATED INTO A RIVER.


| OANNANoA Ao-'' "A pm ~ "A ui0ouAu u'
accident occurred to the steamboat train
on the Stonington and Providence rail
road this morning. The steamboat train
from Stonington for Boston fell through
the bridge at Richmond Switch. Six
cars were buried in the river. Fifteen
persons are supposed to have been killed
Six bodies have already been recovered
from the ruins The accident was caused
by the frcshet weakening the bridge.
BosroN, April lo.-Numbers of the
passengers and survivors of the wrecked
Stoningion train reached Boston this af
te-noon. Among them were several of
the wounded None Of them appeared
to be seriously injured, except Nolan, the
brakeman, who was taken to his home.
Conductor Gardner and the baggage
master had just gone back in,o the
smoking car when the accident happened.
The conductor was jammed in between
the seats by the shock. but showed great
presence Of mind by calling out to some
one to go back with signal for the mail
train, which was just behind them, and
coming at rapid speed. Some of the
unharmed Immediately rushed back and
signaled the coming train, and a double
disostar uaa oyar,ad
All the badly wounded were taken to
Providence, and arrived there about 3
o'clock this afternoon, and were taken to
the hospital in that city.
Mr.. Jonas Holstrour, who was a pas
senger in the fourth car of the train,
gives the following account of the disas-
ter -
The train, which consisted of five cars,
left Stouington at 3:05, about 35 minutes
late. The rate of speed before reaching
Richmond Switch was about 35 miles an
hour, and the first intimation he hal of
a disaster was sharp concussion, which
burst open the car in which be was seat.
ed, and partially filled it with the debris
of the preceding car
Mr.. Holstrour was on the lef. hand
side of the rear end of the car and in
front Of him, on the opposite side, near
the stove, were two young men, appa
rently from 20 to 25 years of age, and
directly behind them was Benjamin R
Knapp, jr., of Boston. Mr. Holstrcur
Immediately after the shock heard the
young men and Mr. Knapp call for help
to extricate them. as they were wounded
and held fact by splintered portions Of
the preceding car. On reaching Mr..
Knapp it was found that one of his legs
was injured. and Mr. Holstrour and sew
eral others set about to extricate him and
the two young men. when suddenly a
volume OF fame shot into the car door,
and instantly the mass of splinters was
ON fire, the flames rushing through the
car as quickly as though the wood had
been lot of hay.
The rescuers had barely time to re-
lieve Mr.. Knapp from his position when
they were obliged to fee for life, and the
two unfortunate young men were left to
meet their terrible fate, and were burned
to death in very few minutes. With
these exceptions, none of the other oc
cupants of this car were known to have
perished, though quite number had
very narrow escapes. Just before the
fire burst into the car Mr.. Holstrour and
others were engaged in prying up the
stove, which apparently had imprisoned
the two young men who were seated be-
side it, and the light of the fire was dis
tinctly seen outside the train. but was
supposed to be signal to warn approach
ing trains or to aid the rescuers in prose
cutting their labors.
The bridge where the disaster happen
ed is between thirty and forty feet wide,
and spans chasm of twenty feet in
depth. Nearly forty rods above this
point is grist and saw mill on Pawcat
uck river, and the supply of water for
the mills is received by means of DAM
The storm swept away the dam, and the
water in the stream below rose to the
height Of ten feet, carrying away the
railroad bridge aud abutments, which
were found about fifty rods below. The
rails at either end of the bridge were left
sticking up, and. when the train came
dashing along. the engine and tender
leaped the chasm, and landed on the op-
posite side.
Immediately behind were two crate
cars, which plunged into the opening,
followed by second class passenger car
containing a number of emigrants and
party of sailors, belonging in Boston,
who were returning from New York. As
this car piled upon the crate cars, it was
splintered into kindling wood, and per
sons inside were tumbled into the river,
and, with one exception, were saved un-
injured.
In the rear of this was a car which |
contained but two passengers and Thomas
Noland, the brakeman. The next car
was occupied by quite a number Of pas