Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-03-03
Serious Railroad Accident---Terrible
Death.

u,
THE New York train due to leave Rut-
land last night at ten p. m. over the Har-
lem Extension Railroad met with a seri-
Gus accident at South Wallingford, which
resulted in the death of Charles III. Bissell
and son, of Chicago.
The accident was caused by broken
rail few rods north of the station. The
train was composed of three cars-a bag
gage, passenger and the "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 it was dragged
thus 1875 feet, until it crushed against
huge pile of refuse MARBLE deposited be-
side Kelly's marble mill. The conclusion
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 passengers
to get out. All had escaped through the
windows and east door except Mr.. Bis
SELLS son, who was fastened inside in the
debris. He called to his father: +" For
Gods sake, get an ax!'' 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
from either of them afterward The car
was enveloped in a sheet of flame ten
minutes after the accident. 1t was impos-
sible to render any assistance. The smoke
was so dense it is supposed they both suf-
located instantly. The position of the re-
mains showed that the father did not reach
the son. The father was in the west end
and the Sun near the center.
The charred remains of the father were
identified to-day by watch with its chain
and other trinkets, and theson by pistol
and smoking-pipe. The remains OF both
were burned to cinder..
1t is supposed that both Mr.. Bissell and
his son were almost Immediately sutfo-
Gated, and that death ensued from this
cause. 1t is said that the car was a mass
of flame in an incredibly short time after
the accident. The curtains, bedding and
bed were all of light and infamma-
BILE material, the car was of wood which
the varnish would render it easily ignited
and quick of consumption. After igni-
ton the heat was intense, almost as fierce
as a blast-furnace. The heavy irons were
melted off and twisted into all sorts OF
shapes: the brass and copper fixtures of
the car were melted and run together in
masses of large and small size; gold and
silver watches, jewelry and glass were
melted into liquid form and dropped upon
the ground and cooled off in masses in all
sorts of fantastic shapes and sizes.
The scene is described by eyewitness
as heart-rending in the extreme. Nearly
all those who escaped were in ali almost
nude condition, and the night was terribly
cold. Some of them were injured, and
the blood was streaming from their
wounds. The families living in the vi
cinity were promptly on hand, and they,
with the passengers in the coach, soon
provided the destitute ones with enough
clothing to protect them from the cold.