The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-29
TUGALOO.
The Tragedy on the New Orleans, st.
Louis aud Chicago RailaOad.
New ORI.EANa. Angus

New ORLEANS, August %, 1876.
Editor Den,0Crdt-The following com.
municatiOn In regard to the late acct
dent upon the Jackson Railroad was
offered to the daily Bulletin for publica-
tion and refused. In justice to the man.
agement OF the road, and for the infor-
nation OF the public, respectfully re-
quest that you give It publicity through
your columns. CHAs. II. TOWNSEND.
TyGALoo. Miss. August %. 1876.
Edtt0r UdttU DuHefH:
DEAR sIR-An editorial In your issue of the
25th inst does. think. great injustice to Col Il.
y. Frost. General Manager of the N. O., st. l.. K
q. H. H., as well as to the officials of that line in
general. You accuse them. Col. Frost in par
ticular, OF endeayoring conceal from the pub
lie the extent of the disaster near Tugaloo. in
road. Having personally inspected the scene
OF the late disaster, and made many Inquiries
OF persons who were In the wreck. as well AZ
ately after the occurrence and who assisted in
rescuing the passengers. can fully corroborate
the statements made by, the officials Of the
Orleans press. AS far as | could learn
!and my examination was very thorough
there, was but one person killed outright
who was Stealing. a ride. and who was found
some distance in front OF the mail car between
which and the tender he WAS undoubtedly riding.
has since died from injuries, Ia the gentleman
from Montreal. Mr.. Alphonse vlleneuve who.
died after being removed to the baggage car.
ored woman Mollie Brooks. Is now at Jackson.
under medical attendance. and Ia in fair way
e e recover. Mr.. Belts, the baggage master. and
rapidly: Mr.. Belts considering him
self well enough now TO proceed to his home in
New Orleans. These three are the only ones
That can learn OF at any point along the line of
the road. and they. with the four you mention
requiring medical attention in New ,rleans, are
oil that can ascertain that were Injured enough
by the disaster to require medical attendance
Your Information rs to the cause of the disas-
Ter, Is. in the main. correct. The culyert was of
and was built when the road was first CON
years ago. The rain along
Inc line OF the road was light: not enough TO
arouse suspicious of danger in the minds OF the
section bosses, whose orders are i'm peratiye. to
pass over the line Immediately after a heavy
f;lln to guard against wash outs; but TO give an
drg-I will state that the marks
upon bushes and trees in the vicinity show that
!, 9 water was from twelve to fifteen feet above
for long distance on each side. The velocity Of
he current must have been terrific as large
% asses OF masonry. weighing several tons. were
'arried at least three hundred feet from the
'olvert, and are now lying scattered through a
'ttton field below the opening.
TO sum up the casualties from this disaster:
'nc person tthe tramp was killed outright; "a
passenger died on tho way to jackson, making
wo deaths in all. Seven we're injured SO as to
'equire medical attendance; all Of whom, It is
aid, will recover. with the exception possibly,
n the colored woman. From this statement In
which nothing Ia extenuated" it will be seen
hat the report Of General Manager E. D. Frost
strictly correct and not in the least colored in
ne interest OF the railroad company. Indeed
vi who know him, without other evidence
you'd ac9uit him OF any such design. For COM |
'arison. append his report II is as fellows |
An unprecedented heavy food fell last night |
the region. eight and a-half miles north of |
ackson. Miss, and a twelve foot culvert WAS |
Washed out directly under the train. The engine |
ender and mail car passed over; the baggage |
ar smoking car and ladies' coach went into the |
ole. The sleeping car did not get off the track. |
ne passengers hurt were in the smoking car |
nd la lies coach.
The summary of casualties is as follows: One |
amp. stealing passage. killed two pa sen-
ers mOrtally wounded. and ten injured. but
one dangerously"
will add that the accident resulted from
rovidentiai causes. which no human agency
ould have guarded against. Very respectfully |
CHAS. H. TOWNSEND.