Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-15

MORE SERIOUS THAN AT FIRST REPoRTEp-TaE
PARTICULARS As RELATED by A PASSENGER on
THE TRAIN.
Brief reference WAS made in a late edition OF
the COMMERCIAL. of Wednesday to an accident
which occurred on the W. < r. r. r., beyond
Laurel, on the day previous. Further particnlara
put more serious estimate upon the accident
than we were led to give IL at the time. Smith
Talbot, Esa., OF West Chester, u passenger Oh
the train, furnished the West Chester Ne,os with
full details, the more important of which we sp
propriate to our own use
1t appears that the tram, consisting OF pas
senger car and baggage car, containing several
passengers, all OF whom were ladies' except Mr..
Talbot and party of laborers, who We're in the
baggage car, while crossing the bridge was pre-
ciptated down steep embankment into mea
dow beneath. The train was running at high
rate OF speed, and the bridge swung sufficiently
from its position to dsplace the track, causing
the wheels of the tender to jump the track.
throwing the baggage and passenger car from
the rails, and after running some 40 yards,
plunged into the meadow below. All the trucks
were wrenched from the body of the cars. The
front of the passenger car and both ends of the
baggage car were shiyered TO fragments.
When thu cars were rolling down tie en-
bankment, tlie stoves, being firmly fastened,
remained Ia position, but the fire falling out
and the lamps being broken ignited the uphol
stery near the only door by which the passen-
gers could escape. The door in the rear end OF
flames We're eNtinguished, and the terrified &C
cupants were released from their perilous situs
ton. This was the condition of affairs whilst
the cars were IN the meadow.
The ladies' were all more or less bruised, aud
one of them was seriousl injured in the
back. The Irish laborers, who were seated
around the stove in tie baggage car smoking
their pipes, were burned considerably by the
stove falling upon them. The clothing of one OF
them WAS almost entirely consumed Conductor
Happersett was badly cut und bruised. He hst
seated himself Immediately behind Nh. Talbot,
and in reply to the inquiry as to how he was get
| ting along, replied that " he had been engaged
as an officer OF the road since the commence
| ment of ts operation, and an accident had never
occurred.
The words had scarcely escaped his lips, when
the jar and shock were felt Mr.. Happersett,
bell rope, and, as he raised from his seat, the
car plunged down the embankment, and threw
him headong towards the front. He seized Nj,
Talbot in tho effort to save himself. Mr.. T.,
however, clutched the sides of the seat firmly
| and went down and over wthsthe car Upon
Strengthening himself Mr., Talbot discovered that
| he was nnhurt but he found the conductor
| jamned beneath the seat OF tho car, bleeding
profrsey and in state OF insensibility. He
was removed from the car and conveyed TO \
house hard by, where he received snch sttention
as the situation admitted Of.
| When the accident occurred the brakesmsn OF
the baggage car was standing on the front plat
| form Of the passenger car and was sfterwsrd.
| found living on the truck of the baggage car,
which had been torn from its fastenings and
piled up against the front end of the passenger
csr-an escape which was truly marvellous.