Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-10-08
The Accident ON the w. & IL. Ii. 1t.

MORE SERIOUS THAN AT FIRST REPonrED-THE
PARTICULARS AS RELATED BY PASSENGER ON
THE TRAIN.
Brief reference was made in late edition of
the COMMERCIAL Of yesterday to an accident
which occurred on tho W. * r. r. r., beyond
Laurel, on the day previous Further particulars
put more serious estimate upon the accident
than we were led to give it yesterday. Smith
Talbot, Esq, Of West Chester, Il passenger on
the train, furnished the West Chester Nel0s with
full details, the more important of which we ap-
propliate 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 were in the
baggage car, while crossing the bridge was pre-
cipitated down steep embanliment into mea-
dow beneath. The train was running at high
ratio Of speed, and the bridge swung sufficiently
from its position to displace the track, causing
the wheels of the tender to jump the track,
throwing tho 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 shivered to fragments.
When the cars were rolling down the en-
bankment, the stoves, being firmly fastened,
remained in 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
the car was forced open by the fireman, the
flames were eStinguished, and the terrified oc-
cupants were released from their perlous situa-
ton. This was the condition of affairs whilst
tho cars were in the meadow.
The ladies were all more or less bruised, and
ono of them was seriously injured in the
back. The Irish laborers, who were seated
around the stove in the baggage car smoking
their pipes, were burned considerably by the
ttove falling upon them. The clothing of one Of
them was almost entirely consumed. Conductor
Happersett was badly cut und bruised. He had
seated himself Immediately behind Mr. Talbot,
and in reply to the inquiry to how he was get
ting along, replied that " he had been engaged
as an officer Of the road since the commence
ment of its operation, and an accident had never
occurred"
The words had scarcely escaped his lips when
the jar and shock were felt. Mr.. Happersett,
upon feeling the shock, jumped to catch the
bell rope, and, sas he raised from his seat, the
car plunged down the embankment, and threw
him headlong towards the front. He seized Mr..
Talbot in the effort to save himself. Mr.. T.,
| however, clutched the sides Of the seat firmly,
and went down and over with.t car. Upon
Strengthening himself Mr. Talbot discovered that
he was unhurt, but lie found the conductor
| jammed beneath the seat of the car, bleeding
was removed from the car and conveyed to a
house hard by,where he received such attention
as the situation admitted of.
| When the accident occurred the brakesman OF
the baggage car was standing ON the front plat
form OF the passenger car, and was afterwards
| found lying on tho truck of the baggage car
which had been torn from its fastenings ant
piled up against the front end of the passenger
car--an escape which was truly marvellous.