Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-06-25
Terrible Catastrophe.
Collision OF Two PicNic Trains on
the Pacific Railroad ncar
st. louis.
From the st. Louis Republican, ssl

- ~SeS ~'As
Once again wo arc called upon to
record ono of those Notwithstanding
catastrophes that's so often light upon
unsuspecting victims. and turn the
pleasant scenes Of life into mourning
and despair.
Yesterday morning Sunday two
trains on the Pacific railroad left the
city depot at an early hour, each Ia
den with nearly a thousand happy
beings. bound for the pleasant picnic
grounds of Castlcwood station and
vicinity. Tho Brotherhood of loco
motive engineers gave one OF the pic
MICS at Cnstlewood, and the Brick
layers and Masons gave tho other
about q mile beyond.
+. The day was spent in mirth aud
pleasantly, and ut five o'clock in tho
afternoon tho cXcursionis.s again CHI
tered the cars and started >nn thcir
return trip, filled with pleasant OIL
ticipati ons Of home.
The train bearing tho Castlcwood
party, and consisting OF twelve
coaches and a baggage car, for some
reason stopped a little beyond Mera-
mec station and about a mile east Of
C%astlcwood. 1t had been thcre but a
few minutes when the Whistle of q
locomotive in the fcar was beard,
just aroun5.. Sharp curyo that inter-
ruplSs The view there, and in less than
"a minute tho train bearing the other
excursion party caIno along and
dashed into the stationary train.
Then ensucd n scene of confusion
difficult to realize from description.
The two e II cars were shivcred to
atoms, and the locomotive of the COL
liding train was completely wrecked.
Screams and groans filed tho air, and
those who escaped were running
around frantically seeking for rcla-
tives and friends. Active limbs were
quickly at work pulling out those
who were cntangled in tho wreck, and
binding up wounds, and rendering
such assistance at tho circumstances
required.
THE DEAD AND WOUNDED.
Tho %latencss of the Hour at which
the train arrived in the city, in con-
sequence of the accident, prccluded
tho possibility of learning the full
particulars in relation to the dead
and wounded. 1t is reported that
there were nine persons killed aud
about the same number wounded.
From some passengers OH tho Cas-
tlewood train we learn That a little
hoy, who was lying OF the floor Of
the car next to the locomotive of the
colliding train, was killed instantly,
and also q young maj aged seventeen
years, in the next cal.
The reaE train did not suffer so
badly as the forward ono Two Of
the cars were thrown off the track
and rolled down the cmbankmcnt.
More passengers, however, arc re-
ported to have been Injured on this
train than on the other. When the
sound of tho locomotive whistle was
heard most of the passengers in the
rear cars of the front train jumped
off and the other cars were not much
damaged, the principal injury being
the unshipping of the seats. What
personal injuries were sustained by
passengers in them were mostly brui-
SEES. 1t is reported that several per-
sons werck killed by the rolling of the
two cars down the embankmcnt.
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
The accident is reported to have
occurred by the flagman of tho sta
tionary train not having had time to
get sufficiently far around the curve
10 be seen by the engineer of the
approaching train, in consequence of
tho latter being SO close behind.
When tho engineer of that train
caught SIGHT of ;he train in front. he
reversed his engine. whistled down
brakes. and inst ns tho collision wos
about to occHr. iumpeI Off: by which
act no no doubt saved his life Hc
saws hat his train Mt that moment
was moving Mt about six miles nm
hour.
ARRIVAL, oF THE TRAIN
The tram arrived with tho castIo.
wood arty met a l;ttIo af,nu t,~nino
O'Clock" Mnmv omx;aus nossa,s wnro
there waitimG fo, tbc;r fricm,is o,,d
relatives who had been oxnectaI
home lone hrfnrn Nni i;,tIa an"nn
hension Vas felt that mn accident baJ
occurred hut m"th;nr oouht h aa