Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-09
Burned to Death In a Sleeping. Car.

RUTLAND, VI. Feb "a
The New York train due to leave Rut-
land last night at ten p. IN. over the Har-
lem Extension Railroad met with 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
baggage 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
nigh. The coupling held, and it was
dragged thus 125 feet, until it crushed
against huge pile of refuse marble, de-
posted beside 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 MIR. Bis
sells son. who was fastened inside in the
debris. He called to his father: "For
Gods sake, get an aXr' and his father
repeated the call. A bystander ran for an
ak, but Mr.. Bisssll 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 euvclopeG in sheet of flame ten
minutes after tn accident. 1t was inn
possible to render any assistance. The
smoke was so dense it is supposed they
both suffocated instantly. The position OF
the remains showed that the father did not
reach 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 its chain
ana other trinkets, and the son 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 sutio-
Gated, and that death ensued from this
cause. 1t is said that the car was mass
of flame in an incredibly short time after
the accident. The curtains, bedding and
bed were all of light and intlammable ma
terial, the Car was of wood which was
thoroughly seasoned, and that with the
varnisl. would render it easily ignited and
quick of consumption. After ignition 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 witnesses
as heart-rending in the extreme. Nearly
all those who escaped were in an almost
nude condition, and the night was ter
ribly cold. Some of them were injured,
and the blood was streaming from their
wounds. The families living in the vi
entity 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.