, 1876-12-31

AC1KvELAED CORRESPONDENTS ACCOUNT
10 the We&tern Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, O., Dec. 30.--The following is
from special to the Cleveland Leader:
The haggard dawn which drove the darkness
out Of this valley Of the shadow OF death sell
dom saw ghastlier sight than was revealed
With the coming OF this morning. On either
side of the ravfne frowued the dark and bare
arches from which the tseacherous timbers had
fallen; while at their base the great heaps Of
ruins covered the lou men, women, and chill
dren who had 50 suddenly been called to their
death Tha three charred bodies lay where
they had been placed in the hurry and confusion
Of the night. Plies Of iron lay on the thick icc~
or beddcd in the shnllow water Of the stream.
The fires smoldered in great heaps, where
many Of the haplees victims had been all coz
sumed, while men went about in wild excite
ment, seeking some trace OF lost one among
the wounded or dead.
The list OF saved and wounded having been
already sent, the sad task remains OF discover
ing who may be among the dead. The latter
task will be the most difficult OF all, until the
continued absence OF here and there a friend
will allow OF but one e1planation-thar he was
among those who took
THIS FATAL LEAP.
AL the witnesses so far agree to the main
facts Of the accident. It WAS about o'clock,
mud the train Was moving along at moderate
rate Of speed, the Ashtabula station being just
this side OF the rayine. Suddenly, aud without
warning, the train plunged into the abyss, the
forward locomotive alone getting "across in
safety. Almost instantly, the lamps and stoves
set fire to the cars, and many who were doubt
lessly only stunned, aud who might otherwise
have been saved, fell victims to the fury Of the
flames
On the arrival Of the Cleveland train, the
Surgeon Of the road organized his corps OF as
sistants, and made tour Of the various hotels,
where the wounded were attended to, such help
being given to each as was possible. The people
Of Ashtabula lent willing hand, and all that
human skill and mQae{ could do to save life or
ease pain was done. The train which came from
Cleveland for the purpose was Immediately
backed into position, and long before daylight
the least wounded we're being prepared for
transportation to Cleveland, to be sent to hos
pita1s or their homes. 49,:
- rae SCENES AMoNG THE WOUNDED
were as suggestive almost as the wreck In the
valley. The two hotels nearest the station con-
tanned majority of these, rs theywcre scattered
about on temporary beds On the floors OF the
dining-rooms, parlors, and offices. In one place
man with broken leg would be under the
hands Of the surgeon, who rapidly and sldllfullr
went at his work. In another, 4 man coTc.e<l
with bruises and spotted over with pieces Of
plaster, would look as though be had been
showed upon, except when the dark lines of
blood across his face or limbs told a different
story, In some other corner, poor woman
moaned from the pain which she could not con-
ceal, while over all there brooded that hushcd
feeling Of ave which always accompanies calanl- |
tiles Of this character.
Towards morning the cold increased and the !
wind blew fearful gale, which, with the snow, |
that had drifted waist-deep at points along the |
line, made all work extremely difficult
At o'clock the beds In the sleepingcsr Of !
the special train we're made up, and such Of the |
wounded as could be moved were transferred |
there. |
TH8 BRIDGE
From an Interview with Mr. Charles Collins,
the Chief Civil Engineer Of the road, learn !
that the bridge was Howe truss, built entirely |
Of iron, and eleven years old It Vas sfxtg-liue