Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-11-11
DEATH ON THE RAIL.

DEATH ON THE RAIL.
sad Scenes mt the Friahtfal Disaster o
tho Delaware. Lsckawaans and West
srn Railroad.
The following additional particular
are given of the sad disaster on tn
Delaware, Lackawanna aud Western
railroad, by which two persons wer
killed outright, four fatally and sixtecl
others seriously injured.
The regular trim which leaves Scran
ton at four o'clock was two hours be
hind time, having at least 1000 passen
gers on board en- route for the Centen
h, 4o the h&e &esssfn portion Of the stat;
of New York, and belonged to the farm
ing classes. Theyf seemed exceedingly
happy as they halted in Scranton, chat
ting cheerily OF the Centennial Exhibi
tion, and giving free expression to tn,
pleasurable anticipation uppermost il
their minds regarding the worlds fair
little dreaming that death and disaster
lurked so near to their path, or that
their Joy would soon be shrouded in
grief. Owing to the steep ACTIVITY Of
the grade of the road between Scranton
and Lehigh Summit three engines were
required to draw the mammoth train to
the latter point. Everything passed
satisfactorily, however, although the
journey was necessarily slow, until the
summit of the dreary Pocono mountain
was reached, when the train stopped to
take water. The road at that place is
unusually level and clear of such cuts
or chasms as those which intervene be.
tween there and Scranton. One OF the
engines was detsched, with view to
sending it back to Scranton, and shortly
afterward the train started forward. 1t
had no sooner done 70 than broken
coupling of one of the Pennsylvania
railroad company's cars, Of which there
were four on the train, necessita:ed an.
other halt. The coupling was adjusted
and another start made, when, yielding to
the immense strain, another coupling
broke, and the train halted once more.
Before the several cars could be con-
nected again heavy coal train from
Scranton rounded the summit and came
laundering down the level in the rear of
the passenger train. A minute later,
and, like a flash, tho awful situation
dawned on the mind Of the engineer of
the coal train, and leaping from his
perilous position he saved his life. He
had narrow escape. however, for an
instant later the fatal crash ensued, and
the engine plunged into the rear car of
the passenger train, spreading conster-
nation and death among the bruised
and bewildered passengers, A heart
rending cry rent the midnight air oD
that lo1ely mountain solitude, as that
thousand men, women and children
frantically struggled to free themselves,
and the moon looked down on a harrow
ing and heartrending picture. The
groans OF the dying, the shrieks of the
wounded and the solicitous inquiries of
eager friends after beloved ones, made
the sad, sad scene lamentable beyond
the power of portrayal. Glass, timber
and stout iron were torn in shreds and
scattered along the track, and seven cars
were severely shattered.
The fiercest part of the shock was felt
in tho fifth and sixth cars from the rear
of the train, which were telescoped, the
former dashing Ike thunderbolt
through the latter Il arly it's full length,
and yielding itself entirely to the eager
and awful work of demolition. Both
were packed with passengers, and it
seemed impossible that any could escape
when stout irons we're riven like so many
blades of grass and timbers twisted and
broken into the most fantastic shapes.
The most narrowing scenes ensued. Out
of the shattered sides of the broken
cars men, women and children pale with
terror looked at the white faced moon
that shed it's light serenely on the aw-
full picture, robbing death and pain of
many of their terrors, while the poor
victims struggled desperately to free
themselves from the viselike grasp of
death. Scores were jammed between
the seats writhing in the most acute
agony, sensible, yet helpless to extricate
themselves, and out of the broken,
splintered sides of the cars, heads,
hands and legs were thrust indiscrimi-
nately in the fruitless effort to escape. |
The work of tearing away the splintered
sides from the telescoped cars was a
thrilling ordeal to the wounded and
those who struggled to release them.
Strong men actually wept and women
fainted at the ickening sight as they
the bruised aud bleeding |
victims who We're torn from the wreck.
Those who were fortunate enough to
escape injury fastened to the relief Of
their distressed and dying companions
and used every effort to extricate them
and assuage their sufferings. The most
awful situation of any of the victims was
that of Mrs. Brown. OF Morrisonville,
Madison county, N. Y, who was hurled
hole in the floor of one OF tue
wrecked cars, and lay in q narrow space
between the bottom of the car and the
truck, al id a tangled mass of twisted
iron and timbers. How to release her
rs she struggled and writhed to free
herself seemed most perplexing prob,
lom. AT lcngUu sUuuJ pieces OF iron and
broken rails were procured, and with
these dozens of strong men broke open
the side of the car and pried it up, while
the unhappy woman was released. She
was carried to the station in dying
condition. The most excruciating tor,
ments were endured by those who we're
iammed between the seats and unable to
free themselves. For nearly an hour
many were forced to remain in this hor
rible position-men, women and chill
iren begging their friends "for Gods
sake" to relieve them. Some of them
mad the sharp splinters sticking in their
flesh, others were crushed together face
TO face and held in a deadly embrace,
and others still lay upon the floor, tram.
pied beneath the feet of their equally
unhappy companions. The company's
,hief engineer fortunately happened to
be on the train and, escaping unburt,
rendered valuable assistance in direct
ing and aiding in the work OF saving the
wounded. 1t seems a miracle that in
;he face OF such fearful situation cnly
;wo persons were killed outright.
At the scene of the wreck shortly after
he disaster the sight was a shocking
ne, and was heightened by passenger
,ar in flames upon the track. This was
,he rear car of the i'll fated train, and
,aught fire from the locomotive by
which it was struck. The passengers
we're huddled together, talking of their
escape. in cars with broken