American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-01-26
A RAILROAD SLAUGHTER.
Particulars of the Terrible Accident Near
TariffVilIe, Conn.

HARTFORD, January 16.-The rail-
road accident at Tariffville occurred at
a trestle-bridge crossing Pennington
River, just west of the village. The
train was bound for Millerton, and car
ried passengers for all stations between
this city and that place, who came in to
attend the Moody and Sankey meeting.
Two engines, baggage and three pas
senger coaches went down on the west
ern end of the bridge, the engine touch
ing the shore, three cars breaking
through the ice in three feet of water,
and one car resting on the end of one
pier.
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The bridge is elevated about 10 feet
above the river at the present stage of
water, and is approached from the east
by an embankment and from the west
by'a long trestle-work across the mead
ows. The first locomotive had cleared
the west span and entered upon the
trestle-work when the entire span gave
way, breaking off Immediately east of
the heavy stone pier in the center of the
river. As the structure gave way the
first locomotive was hurled violent
ly over and imbedded in the
ground and completely wrecked.
The other engine, together with
the baggage-car went down with the
wreck, in an upright position, and the
side of the bead-truss fell over upon
them. The first passenger-car was
whirled around and sank to the bottom
of the river, lying nearly parallel with
the stream. The second passenger-car
went down, end first, upon the first car,
smashing the largest portion into kind
ling-wood, the rear end resting upon
the bridge. The next car occupied a
similar position, but swerved to the left,
and did not rest upon the car in front.
None of the remaining coaches left the
track. The crash and cries of the
wounded and dying speedily brought
assistance, but the first corners worked
at great disadvantage. The cars had
broken through the ice, which made it
difficult to approach near enough to
reach the passengers. The scenes on
the. relief train were heartrending. In
every car were men and women with
heads bandaged or arms in sings.
Some had been terribly sealded. In
one passenger-car were the bodies of
three women, and in the baggage-car
were two more, just as they had been
F.. taken from the wreck Rev. Mr..
= Thomas, Of Winsted, with both limbs
fractured, and severely injured Internal
!. ", crawled out of the wreck through the
roof of the car to the ice, and then on
shore.
THE CONDUCTORS STORY.
T. NJ. Elmer, Conductor, thus de-
scribes the accident: had been in the
mail compaic ment of the baggage-car,
where l left Mr.. Jones, Superintendent,
asserting tickets. L had started to go
through the train, and had got just by
the front door of the baggage-car, and
D was about to open it, when L felt the
rear end settling, and heard a loud
crash my hand was almost on the door
knob. Close by in corner of the car,
to my right, was a stove in which there
was very hot fire. My first thought
was to get away from the fire, so as not
went down a little and settled, and then
the whole car dropped down with but
little pitching on one side and struck
had jumped back from the door and
was few seats back, close to the win
dow when the car brought up Just as
it struck, heavy beam fell down on the
roof and came through, striking me on
the head, knocking me down and cut
ting me on the temple. [ was stunned
by the blow, but soon saw what the situa-
ton was. There were three other men in
the car, all passengers, whom 1 did not
know. 1t was very dark in the car, so
I could see nothing except the streak of
light which came through the hole in
the roof made by the beam, and large
i enough for man to crawl through.
The other men saw the opening, and
we tried to get out, but found we could
not reach the roof. Meanwhile the wa
ter was coming into the car through
the windows, and was rapidly rising,
1t got up to a point above our waists,
and stopped when we knew the car had
struck bottom, and then we felt safer
There was no expression of alarm by
either of us. We waited for the time
being without making aay effort to get
out through the hole, but when every
thing came to stand-stin we went to
work to rescue ourselves, which was ac-
complished by lifting one man up to the
roof and after he got through he assist
ed another, and then 9th
ers were helped out After get
ting out we went to the car behind
the back of the one which was lying
corner ways, out of which car passen-
gers were crawling through the win
dows. This car was pitched down. and
it appears as if more of the passengers
must be jammed on the lower end.
i Cries were heartrending of men and
women, many of whom appeared to be
suffering from extreme pain. Some
were crying piteously, <"Oh! don't step
on me,'' g Get off, for my legs are
broke, y g Help us, do,'' and all such
cries and appeals. We assisted several
ladies out, and got out one young man
who was up to his chin in water. After
doing this was so thoroughly chilled
through that L became numb, and had
to give. up. ~
it#i- A Strange Discovery. 9'a
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Indiana reports a mystery in the find