Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-03
RAILROAD HORROR.
Two Passengers Burned 20 Death In
a SIeeping-Car.
p,rr, avn W. Fob d


SIeeping-Car.
RUTLAND, VT, Feb. q.
THE New York train due TO leave Rut |
land last night at ten p. IN. over the Har-
lem Extension Railroad met with aserious
accident at South Wallingford, which re-
suited in the death of Charles II. Bissel
and son, of Chicago.
The accident was caused by a broken
rail few rods north of the station. The
train was composed Of three cars-a bag
gage, passenger and the 90 City of New
York" Wagner sleeper. The train passed
safely over the break except the rear truck
of the sleeper 1t sprung off, and went
over an embankment fifteen feet high.
The coupling held, and 1t was dragged
thus 1875 feet, until il crushed against
huge pile of refuse marble, deposited be-
side Kelly's marble mill. The Concus-
sion broke the coupling, cast off the
truck, turned the car upon its side, and
threw the rear end several feet across the
mill race way, and at nearly right angles
with the track.
The patent heater was broken by the
! fall, and in moment the car had caught
! fire. The wind was blowing from the
west, and famed the flames through the
car, the heater being at the west end.
Mr.. Bissell was the first of the ten passen-
gers to get out All had escaped through
the windows and east door except Mr.
Bissell's son, who was fastened inside in
the debris. He called to his father For
Gods sake, get an aXl' and his father re-
peated the call. A bystander ran for an
AK, but Mr.. Bissell was Impatient, and
jumped through one of the windows to
reach his son. Not sound was heard
ro m either of them afterward. The car
was enveloped in sheet of flame ten min
utes after the accident. 1t was impossible
TO render any assistance. The smoke was
so dense it is supposed they both suffo-
Gated instantly. The position OF the re-
mains showed that the father die notreach
the son. The father was in the west end
and the son near the center.
The charred remains of the father were
identified to-day by watch with It's chain
and other trinkets, and the son by pistol
+, and smoking-pipe The remains OF botl
were burned to a cinder.
, 1t is supposed that both Mr.. Bissell ano
his son were almost Immediately suifo
. Gated, and that death ensued from this
] cause 1t is said that the car was a mas
: of flame in an incredibly short time atte
J the accident. The curtains, bedding ant
bed were all of light and infiammabl'
d material, the car was of wood which VIZ
. thoroughly seasoned, and that with tn
= varnish would render it easily ignited ant
=. quick of consumption. After ignition
/. the heat was intense, almost as fierce as
n blast-furnace The heavy irons wer
|, meltsd off and twisted into all sorts c
: shapes; The brass and copper fixtures q
= the car were melted and run together i
/, masses of large and small size; gold an
= silver watches, jewelry and glass wer
/, melted into liquid form and dropped upo
A. the ground and cooled off in masses in a
:. sorts of fantastic shapes and sizes.
D, The scene is described by eye-witLesst
=, as heart-rending in the extreme. Nearl
II all those who escaped were in an almoi
u nude condition, and the night was terr
bly, cold. Some of them were injured
y, and the blood was streaming from the
IL wounds. The families living in the v
cinity were promptly on hand, and the
with the passengers in the coach, soc
ne provided the destitute ones with enoug
Or clothing to protect them from the cold.