The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-11

aud the darkness of the night rendered
the work of extricating the victims neces-
sarily a slow and tedious one, but scores
of ready hands were actively engaged
in doing all that could be done under the dis
tressing circumstances. Many trying and touch
ing incidents occurred and many acts of heroism
were recorded. The news Of the disaster soon
spread through Jackson and by daybreak the
crowds ut the scene of the catastrophe were
numbered by hundreds and greatly hindered
the work of the rescuers and required the
constant efforts and watchfulness of the police.
The railroad officers summoned hacks, omni-
buses and whatever vehicles could be obtained,
and conveyed the passengers and wounded to
the city and provided for theirimmediate wants,
while the citizens were doing all in their power
to mitigate the horrors of the accident.
PANIC STRICKEN PASSENGERS.
William Murchie of Inverness, Canada, was
in the first coach, second seat from the front
of the car. There were about a dozen women
in the coach, and he helped them to get
out before he realized the extent or
the smasl,-up. Mrs. r. j. Warren, of
Ganges, Allegan county, with her son, who is
thirteen years old, was in the second coach.
She was on her way home from the State of
New York, where she had been visiting for
several weeks. They occupied seats ON the side
of the coach that was so badly smashed, the boy
lying asleep ON u seat in front OF his mother.
When she heard the cash, and saw
the side Of the car come crushing in
toward her, she involuntairly leaned over
toward her sleeping boy and in this position she
was held until extricated. Her shoulders and
back were considerably bruised but the injuries
are not of severe nature. Mrs. Laura A. Pink
ley, of Walworth, N. Y, en- route for Albion, Of
this State, on visit, was also in the second car
and was considerably bruised about the head
and face.
CARING FOR THE INJURED.
The wounded being cared for at the Hubbard
House are:-
Reuben Carter, of Gardner, ILL.,, who had
been on visit to England and was on his re-
turn trip.
William Buggy, North Troy, VT
John Jeffries of Newark, Nj.
Henry Barrows, Newfoundland, Wayne coun-
ty, Pa
NJ. d. Carlisle, of Detroit, express messenger,
who had fractured clavicle and severe cut i'll
the back of his head, has been running on the
ups last winter, but this is the first scratch he
has ever received.
1t required two hours to extricate Arthur
Rogers from the wreck.
The saddest case which came under my OBJ
servation was that of Willie Rice, f,sir-haired
and bright-eyed little boy, four years of age,
whose father and mother and sister were all
killed. He was found clasped in his dead
mothers arms, and so fastened in the wreck
that it took three hours, with axes and
other implements to extricate him. His left leg
was broken and his left arm and chin badly cut.
His family lived in Philadelphia and were on
their way to some point in the West.
At the residence Of John Watts. near the
scene of the accident, are:-
Delbert M. Benjamin, of Jersey Heights,
n. j.
William Bunny, Gssss,-<l,c
Mrs. A. w. Steele, of Detroit, to whom the
shock caused temporary deafness.
Mrs. Thomas Clement, Of Lockport, n Y,
and her little girl about six years old.
Mrs. b. b. Hart, of Clinton, Iowa.
Mrs. George A. Jones, of Chalado, Pa, who
was on her way to Nebraska to join her hus-
band, who recently moved there She had with
her her family, consisting of five children. OF
these a little girl, eighteen months old, was
killed instantly, and the mother never saw it
after the accident. One of the other children
sustained q slight confusion in the head.
At the residence of Mr.. England, also near
the scene of the disaster, are the following
Robert Neild of Trenton, Canada.
leopold Hoffman, of Randolph, Mass.
The track, where the accident occurred passes
through u somewhat deep cut, and the road is
of course completely blockaded. The morning
Eastward bound express was obliged to cross
over to the Lake Shore and Michigan
Southern Railroad and reached Detroit via Mon
roe many hours late. One of the most miracu-
lous facts in connection with the accident was
that none in the sleeping cars were in the least
injured, while it seems impossible that such
collision could occur without resulting in gen.
erll ruin to the entire train.
At this writing the doctors are of the opinion
that all the wounded will soon recover, but the
extreme head which prevails here will no doubt
seriously retard this.
WHO IS TO BLAME.
The investigation into the cause and respon-
sibility for the accident is now going on, and
the facts so far elected place it between the
ward master, the telegraph operator and the
engineer of the switch engine.
The Michigan Central officials have exam
ined the different yard employees on duty last
night at Air Line Junction. where the switch
engine was placed on the main track. 1t ap-
pears that the men engaged in making up
freight train ut the east end of the yard went to
the telegraph Office at the Junction and got infor-
nation that the Pacific express was nearly fifty
minutes late. Colwell. the yard master, re-
ported to Jones, the engineer of the switch en-
CINE, that they had forty-five minutes of the
Pacific's time in which to make up the freight
train, and it was in this work they were en-
gagged when the collision occurred. The follow
ing is a synopsis of the testimony takcn:-
Robert II. Jones. engineer Of the switch engine
testifed as follows:-My engine was standing in