Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-07-02
A DEATH PLUNGE.
Details of the Appalling Disaster on
the MoreIos Railroad in Mexico.

the MOreIoS Railroad in Mexico.
The accident which occurred on the
Morelos railroad late in the evening
loses none of its horror through the re-
ceipt of fuller and more accurate adj
vices. The scene of the catastrophe was
on the river San Antonio, near the vii
lage of Malpais. For some time past
this section of the country has been
swept by fierce storms, swelling the
creeks into torrents and laying waste
many fertile fields.
The bridge spanning the river at the
point mentioned, although known to be
unsafe, was still in use when the fated
train, bearing battalion of soldiers, at
tempted its passage. The result was a
crash as the undermined support gave
way, and the engine and cars were
hurled headlong down the chasm.
Scarcely had the magnitude of the dis
aster become apparent when a new hor-
ror was added. In the freight vans,
comprising a portion of the train, was a
consignment of alcohol. This took fire
and the consequent explosion contribut-
ed much to the loss of life.
The few who escaped uninjured at
once applied themselves to the rescue of
their unfortunate comrades /; but it was
some hours before the exact extent of
the disaster became apparent. 1T is
known that thirteen officers and one
hundred and ninety-fve privates We're
either killed outright by the fall or
roasted to death, while fifty others sus-
tanned injuries of more or less serious
character. The train was entirely con
sumed. When information of the
appalling calamity reached the city of
Mexico the excitement was unbounded,
and immense crowds thronged all the
news centres anxiously awaiting the
particulars.
Never, in the history of the Republic,
has so frightful a disaster been chroni-
cled, and its occurrence, it is feared,
may still further prejudice the popular
mind against railway enterprises. How
ever, 'Los Gringos,' as the natives term
all outside barbarians, can come In for
no share of the blame in this connection.
The Morelos Railroad is n narrow gauge
line, built by Government subvention,
and is entirely the work of Mexican en-
gineers.' 1t was first opened to the pub
lie on the 18th of June. In addition to
the loss of life already mentioned it ap-
pears that the engineer and fireman of
the train were scalded to death.
The disaster occurred at eleven o'clock
on Friday night as the train-which was
a long one and drawn by two engines
was passing over the wooden bridge.
For moment after the plunge of the
cars from the bridge all was darkness.
Suddenly 100 barrels of brandy, loaded
on two of the vans, caught fire, and the
burning fluid inundated the mass of
passengers struggling in the ruins.
Only few, who were not disabled or
hopelessly wedged in the timbers, es-
capped The dead and living were wrapt
in a sheet of flame and slowly burned
before the eyes of the survivors, who
were unable to save them.
The Secretary of Public Works and a
number of army surgeons went to the
scene of disaster early Saturday morn
ing. This list of the killed does not
include the railroad officials and en-
ployees, or the women and children of
the soldiers, many of whom were on the
train. Only sixty persons in all were
saved alive, and of those forty are more
or less injured.