The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-04-25
TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT

SToNINGTON, Conn.,, April 10. "A
dreadful accident occurred on the
steamboat train on the Stonington
s. Providence railroad this morn
ing. The train fell through the
bridge at Richmond switch. Six
cars were burned, and fifteen per-
sons were supposed to have been
killed. Six bodies have already
been recovered from tho ruins. The
accident was caused by q fresbet.
Nine bodies have been recovered.
The engineer and fireman were both
burned to a crisp at their posts. A
dipatch from conductor Gardner
says the train was all burned except
the smoking car and another car.
About twenty persons were burned
to death and n number of others
wounded. The bodies of VIM. d.
Gould, engineer, George Eldridge,
fireman, Albert Allen, of Provi-
dence, Jerry Creamer, of Boston,
and two unknown persons, have
been recovered.
The steamer Stonington arrived
here at about two O'Clock this after
noon There were about 40 pas
sengers, who took the 80 train for
Providence and Boston. At Rich
mond switch dam across q small
mill stream had been carried away,
letting the water from the pond
which supplies the power for the
grist mill down upon the railroad
bridge, located about 300 feet be-
low, 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. VIM. Gill, engineer, aud Geo.
Eldridge, fireman, died at their
posts, and their charred remains
were taken from the wrecked ell
CINE. The fireman leaves a family.
The killed are very much disfg-
ured.
The engine made a fearful leap,
passing over the stream and embed
ding itself in the opposite embank-
ment.
Three passenger coaches were
burned, }wo first-class cars, and one
second-class car. The other three
cars burned were what railroad men
call baggage flats. The three cars
that contained baggage and express
crates were what prevented the
greater loss of life.
The damage to the bridge has
been repaired, and trains are again
running on time.
Mr.. Jonas HOlstrom, q passenger,
gives the following account of the
accident: He was in the left-hand
side of the rear end of a car, and in
front of him, on the opposite side,
near the stove, were two young
men, apparently from twenty to
twenty-five years of age. Behind
them was Benz. II. Knapp, Jr., of
Boston. Holstrom, Immediately
after the shock, heard the young.
men and Knapp call for help to eX-
tricate them, as they were wounded
and held fast by splinteredsportions
of the preceding car. On reaching
Mr.. Knapp it was found that one of
his legs was injured, and Holstrom
and several others set about extri-
eating him and the two young men.
Suddenly a volume of fame burst
in at the car door aud instantly the
mass of splinters was on fire. and
the names were rushing through the
car as quickly as though the wood
had been lot of hay. The rescuers
had barely time 10 relieve Knapp
from his position, which they were
obliged to Zee for their lieVs, and
the two unfortunate young men
were lefs 10 meet their terrible fate,
and were burned TO death in q very
few minutes.