The New York herald., 1876-02-25
Mr.. BiSSeIl, of the Sherman House, Chi
cagO, and His Son Killed.
BURNING OF A SLEEPING CAR
Thrilling Stories by the
Survivors.
ALBANY, Feb. "a. 1876

reached Walingford station, thirteen miles south OF
Rutland, tho Harlem extension, when the engin-
eer, fearful Of the condition Of tho track, par
TALLY shut Off steam The train does not stop
walllngford, but II passing there,
at reduced speed the engine broken rail All
the cars passed the break safely excepting the
sleeping coach which with or dozen slumber-
ing occupants upset after leaving tho and went
rolling down twenty-five foot embankment, landing
in marble yard The car was wrecked, and the pas
sengers being thrown from their berths by the shock
painful scene ensued 1t nearly midnight and the
weather intensely cold The passengers were es-
Gaping from the best they could assisted by those
from the passenger and the villagers at
tracted to the spot, many OF them in their frantic
haste coming forth with only their night clothing to
shield them from the keen air. AS fast the injured
we're taken out they removed to places Of safety
in the depot building. 1t soon became evident that
the car fire. and before the work Of rescue was
complete Mr. Bissell Of the Sherman House, Chicago
who with his son. occupied berths in the forward end
Of tho sleeping car, got safely OUT but being made
aware that his still in the burning car
back to him. and, becoming overpowered by the
smoke, was burned to death.
THE KILLED
Afterward the position OF the charred remains
showed that the father must have while
entering the window the body found inside tho
charred body of young Bssell also found and he
had evidently been suocated in the attempt to escape
from the Nearly all the passengers In the car
or less injured, and Immediately after the
accident the engine proceeded to Dandy the next sta
tion five miles distant and brought back DR.. whippe
and another physician to attend the sufferers
INJURED.
Among the occupants Of the car were Francis
Tierney and wife, of Chicago both OF wnom were
injured about the face and head, but who were taken
out Of the before the flames had gained headway
A.P.'Ptkin, of Hartford, Conn, who in his berth
at the time Of the occurrence, thrown and
injured severely about the head. 1t thought he has
also sustained internal injuries
The sleeping conductor, and the regular con-
ductor both tho forward end OF the
car when the accident occurred and both
slightly injured and considerably shaken up.
Madame Pierrot, of Philadelphia was also injured,
and an unknown who belonged in Chicago was in
jured slightly.
Several Others, among them W. Chapman of Mon
treal and Fred Woodbridge slightly or
bruised Many Of the passengers lost all their clothing
and effects, escaping only in their night clothes Mr.
Ptkn who escaped in drawers and shirt only, had
his clothing 5000 gold watch and wallet containing
$3.50, besides number ofvaluable papers and memoir
anda-
ASSISTANCE BY rHR VILLAGERS
The villagers did their best render the situation OF
the injured comfortable and several instances OF kind
were recorded as especially noteworthy. One of
these that OF Mrs. Palmer, OF Rutland, who took
of her clothing to shield a lady, who had been
taken out in her night clothing, from the nclement
weather.
The passengers say that young Bissel was about
years OF age Michael O'Conner OF Peekskill.
Nine. Plrct, of Philadelphia, and Mr. c. H. Alexander
all agree the statement that but two killed.
Among the passengers was Rev H. Cunningham, OF
the burning several explosions
heard which were supposed to have proceeded
FIFTY PASSENGERS ON BOARD
The passenger car contained it Is reported. some
fifty passengers but fortunately, none OF them
tainod injurv although the alarm and
ment which prevailed for time was Of the most in
tense character The track repaired very speedily
ana all who we're able TO do so went on their way this
morning
Mr.. A. p. Pitkn, OF the firm OF PItkin Bros. Co.
Hartford, Conn, who was one Of those who narrowly
escaped was brought to Albany from the OF
accident and is lying at the Dolavan House. under
the of Dr. L. K Hun. After Mr.. Pitkin's wounds
dressed he, with much difficulty, gave the follow
ing particulars OF the Disaster
PIrKISs STATEMENT
left Malone at thirteen minutes 10 two p. NJ, on
the Montreal train and left ST Albans time; at
Essex Junction thirty-hve forty minutes
late and supposed the delay caused by waiting for
the eastern bound train; suppose that starting
again the train was endeavoring 10 make up for lost
time; was the first to retire into the sleeping car;
this thrown from the track within 200 yards OF
the depot at South Walhngford, Vt the rolled
down embankment distance OF about twenty five
feet into stone yard, and was literally wrecked
~
entirely burned up; was thrown from my berth, and
suppose this wound indicating largo scalp wound
his foreheadl was by striking large stone which
had crushed through the car, upon which tho
had fallen. partially stunned and held down by
portions OF the car. made four unsuccessful efforts
TO reach the door, but blinded by blood from
my head Mr. w. Chapman, OF tho Merchants |
Bank of Montreal had succeeded breaking out Of
window overhead-the car being upon It's siJe and got
out Icllmbed to the window but owing 70 weakness
occasioned by the loss OF blood fell back
into the car, which had become filled to
would take FIRE made effort |
reach tho window and this time succeeded in getting
about half It's length slid of into the had
nothing on but my night clothes Seeing light in
building about 100 feet distant which subsequently |
proved TO be marble mill, endeavored 70 reach il;
but when about half way there was met by some gen.
table spread, bound up my head. Soon after Mr.. |
Thomas Norton brought slippers, pants and coat,
and was moved TO the depot II being feared that the
mil would burn The engine by this time came back
with DR. Whippe, Of Dandy, who dressed my wounds
. HEKofsM
! desire TO mention the heroism OF Mrs Edward
Palmer OF Rutland, Vt, who stripped OF her own
clothing TO cover another lady who bad been taken
from the in her night clothes also OF the services
rendered by Nine Pierrot, and OF l. E. Yerger Of
Albany who did not leave me until be saw safe in
the Delavan House occupied berth No. s. Mr.. CHIP
OF Montreal, berth No. 10; gentleman and vile
berth No J, which, think, we're all that in
our end Of the car when the fire took place
Both conductors, Mr. Bissel and his Of Chicago
and Mr. Woodbridge nearer the front end OF the
car. What other persons might have come in after
IeIEeu Know NOT lsuppore thht MI blsseil Weht
back into the get his son. and burned with
him. There was pair Of pants found which seemed
20 belong 10 no enc among those saved or the Bisses
but say whether the owner OF them burned
A tall, well dressed man, with sandy hair and side
whiskers, whom noticed passing up and down the car
two or thrce times, among the missing but am
not sure that he burned. Tho accident, IL was
said, caused by rail broken in two pieces.
Mr.. Pitkin very weak from loss OF blood and
from the effects OF the really injuries he had
sustained, and II with much difficulty that he
could at times artlculate
rHE ooxpUoroRs
Tho conductor Of the train Fred. Wilder. Neither
he nor the sleeping conductor we're injured at the
nnflL L.a ncDlnn