The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-01-03
rhe Catastreplss iW Detatl.
Especial Telegram,)

OBTAINED WITH DIFFICULTY.
AsHTAsuLA, o., Dec. 30.-The most
horrible railroad catastrophe that ever
in the United States, il not in
the whole world, occurred here last even
lag.
Train No. 8, the Paeific::express, on the |
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern rail-
road, Conductor b. Hem, OF Buffalo, was
cue here from the east ut 5:l5 pm. on |
yesterday. 1t consisted of two first-class
coaches, one smoking car, one drawing
loon car, three sleeping cars, and tour
.xpess and baggage cars, drawn by two
locomotives, the Socrates and Columbia
THE FURIOUS SNOW STORM
whic. ragged all day and night made the
train bout two hours late. The Lake
Shoreailroad bridge over the Ashtabula
river, short distance east of the station,
was akron truss bridge OF 1856 feet span.
60 feet ,ove the level OF the water, and
built ins64. The train came upon this
bridge a,bou,7:l5 pm, and as the fol-
ward eng,e, th Socrates, was nearing
the western abuuent,
TIL. BfSGE GAVE WAY
with an awful era, which was heard by
many persons up Town. a distance of
one mile, thougho course. they did
mt know what wahe cause of the
sound they heard. engineer OF the
toward locomotive. mel McGrein, felt
the shock, and imuat.sy threw open
the throttle TO its fst extent, and so
.ho, ahead on the tnent in safety.
breaiing the coupgIod connecting
With the engine C,ltia, which was
umedstely behind, (which, with all
ms rest Il the train, ,'precipited into
the abysswith the fall bridge. The
nas.engerswho cscapay the whole
was SO sudden thaty remembered
only the sensation of e long dis
tance before they suu
ATTBE W'
Mr.. j. A. Manninfs'ucer Vi 'he
water.works ut these' was NJ Tue
Lake street cross,nge '''"e' saw '''e
,r.,, con,,ro .,d fall. lie says
the third car from IA i.' an" "'oo'
ON and .nd ,,e q, TWO sleeping cars
went over il an1t'he IRE seeiheu 10
hraak Gu, .rsf nat third car, spread
inc ,o,ves rady. He was the first
MP " mon, the first, to reach the
gh the f ae ssalthu a h.Hb been put out
<foaed 1t wason the east sid" a. tho
river. which vss some ~ feet wide and
from two to fop,Iee' deep
IL FIRE ALARMS
Wore -dnded almost instantly, but the
.r>W was drifted SO deeply that 1t was
some minutes before even those who
lived nearest could reach the scene, and
then they could do nothing more than
help the surviving passengers to escape.
Lines Of men were formed up the steep
banks, covered with deep snow. and thus
as quickly as possible the rescued persons
were brought up and taken to hotels and
private houses. The fire companies
turned out and the engines were hauled
down through the drifts, but long before
they could arrive
THERE MAS No HotE
Left OF saving and lives. They were
ready and anxious 10 throw water upon
the raging ilames, but were ordered not
TO do so. Ii is but just TO add that some
who were in the wreck fully believe that
more hves could have been saved II the
engines had played upon the flames
when they were forbidden To do so, and
their belief is based upon what they
themselves saw and the cries OF the
wounded which they themselves heard.
The scene was
AWFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
Down In the desp and narrow valley
ragged the fierce flames like an opening
10 the internal regions, while ever and
anon the shrieks OF the poor sufferers
could be heard by those nearest to the
wreck and even the forms OF one or two
OF them could be quite plainly seen,
though they were beyond the reach OF
human aid. The most
HRARIRESDING INCIDENTS
are told. Several persons firmly wedged
between heavy timbers, yet not MORALLY
hurt. were burned 10 death before the
eyes OF helpless bystanders. \ man, a
woman, and child are now known to
have died in this way. A man was
roasted for tall half an hour, uttering the
most pitifnl cries for aid meanwhile be-
tore death came. One Of the most re.
maTkable ESCAPES recorded il that of a
gentleman. one OF party OF four playing
whist In double seat. Two OF hi. CON-
panions were crushed and the third was
nortsily hurt, but he escaped uninjured.
TWO BABES
Mere taken from the wreck alive and not
fatally Injured. There was no one TO
claim them.
All the witnesses 50 far agree a. to the
main facts Of the accident. II was about
8 O'clock, and the train was moving along
II . moderate rate Of speed, the Ashta-
buls station Icing Just this side Of the
rsvine. Suddenly, and without warning,
the Tram plunged ia the abyss. the for
ward locomotive alone getting across IN
ssAety. Almost instantly the lamps and
ssovsS set Ne to tLe cars. aud many who
were doubtless Only stunned, and who
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