Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-20
THE TRESTLE TRAGEDY.
DeathsOf the Injured WOman-A Sad
story.


From the Knoxville Press and Herald, Jan. II
The terrible injuries which poor Betty
Mulberry received on Thursday morning,
by being crushed under the pilot Of an en-
CINE, while on trcstle on the East Ten
neSsee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad,
above Bulls Gap, resulted in her death at
six o'clock yesterday morning. lmme-
diately upon being informed Of the acct
dent, Capt. Joseph JagueS, Superintendent
of the road, sent for DIR. NJ. VI. Alexander
and desired him to 60 forthwith to the re-
lief of the sufferer at RogeTsville Junction.
The physician upon learning the extent of
her injuries, assured Capt. JagueS that they
were necessarily fatal, and the death of the
woman could be but a few hours distant.
The Crcat-hearted Superintendent, never
theleSs. wished DR.. Alexander TO 90 and to
stay with hSr until the end.
Upon his arrival. the physician found
that his anticipatiOns of the worst We're to
he realized. Her limbs were crushed. her
skull broken, an eye torn out, and bruises
innUmerable over the entire body. The
noble doctor was filled with tender compass
sion at the pitiablc condition Of the suffer
ing woman. 1t was but little that medical
skill could DO. Death was lowering nigh,
and the inevitable result could not be STAY
ed. DR.. Alexander remained by her be l.
stead all the day, and through the lag.ard
hours Of the night, giving such gentle min
iStrations TO the dying woman IS his kind
u heart suggested.
The story Of the tragic death Of Bette
Mulberry may well cause pitying tears to
well up from compassionate hearts. When
lifted from the ground To which, after be-
ing crushed by the remorScieSS iron pilot,
she had been thrown Off the treStle, the
poor woman was found TO be halEfrOzen,
clothed in but a single garment tattered
frock-and was barefooted and bareheaded.
From her own plaintiye words, feebly
spoken 10 the kind physician, as she lay on
her dying couch, the fact was learned, that
on the night preceding the accident, she
had wandered long without finding shelter,
and at length, wearied and cold, had Jain
down, the earth for a pillow and the SKY
for a covering, and thus, on night when
the mercury was down nearly 10 zero, had
shiveringly slept:
Gold, bitterly cold.
FOodicSs and tirclcSS,
Almost a1tIrelcSS,
WTapt in rags 20 SCantv and thin.
With bones that stare through the ColOrless
skin.
Weary and worn,
Tattered and torn,
Cold world,-bttcrly cold
Awaking, benumbed and starving with
cold rs well rs hunger, Bette Mulberry
YEARLY dragged her frost-hitten limbs along
the frozen road and upont he trestle Dead
ened TO every sensation and sound, she
listlessly poyed slowly on and the great
iron monster was upon her, ere she turned
her bloodlesS, af!righted face towards the
pale, anxious gaze Of the engineer.
Lying i'm duh Semi-cOnsciOUSness, under
the kindly narcotiSm of the physician. the
mangled Bette Mulberry nea~ed the close
Of her pitiful life. Towards q ybrcak. she
awOke TO consciousness and Intelligence.
The clouds which had darkened her intel
lect since infancy, disappeared. As the
dying woman, TO whom nature had denied
the graces Of wOmanhOOd and the world had
refused a home or friend, was leaving be-
hind the storms of pitilcss life and nearing
the shining gates which shut out ali grief
and pain, Intelligence was restored 10 her.
and in low tones she spoke Of her dead
father and mother, of her friendleSS life. OF
her consciousness Of approaching death
and of her ardent desire 20 depart aud be al
rest. Surely, she had gleam OF the light
from the Golden City. And 50, sine died
and Christian burial was given the lifeles,
tenement of clay.