The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-26
4 WRECK IN IRELAND.
Terrible Disaster to a Sunday.
School Excursion Party.
Blundering Trainmen Cause the
Loss Of Seventy-tWo Lives.

The most horrible railroad accident that
ever occurred in Ireland has happened on the
road between Armagh and Warren Point,
and resulted in the killing Of nearly 100
women and children and the injury Of twice
that number.
: At 10 o'clock in the morning two excursion
trains with 1900 Methodist Sunday-school
children and teachers left Armagh for War
rem Point which is u watering place in
County Down at the mouth of the Newry
River.
, When short distance from Armagh the
trains assembled steep grade to bank rls-
ing fifty feet above the level, when the en-
gine Of the second train became dis
abled and was unable to draw the
cars. The train came to q stand
still, and was waiting for assistance when
several of the rear cars became detached and
Immediately started back down the grade.
Down>they went ut a terrific speed, gaining
added momentum at every second, the brakes
being utterly useless.
The regular train from Armagh, which
had followed the excursion, was just nearing
the foot of the grade when the detached cars
came flying toward it. Before the engineer
had time to reverse his engine and run his
filled with screaming and frightened children,
dashed into it with horrible crash.
The engine was thrown on its side, total
wreck and the runaway cars were also
knocked off the track by the forco Of the COL
liSion. Then was witnessed q dreadful spec
tacle, for the unfortunate passengers were
mixed up and crushed in the ruins Of the
wreck. Their cries as they were crushed to
death beneath the heavy iron and timber OF
the cars were heartrendins. Added to these
were the pitiful cries and groans Of the help
less injured that rose from oil sides.
As soon as the people in the detached cars
saw what had happened and begun to realize
their danger, they tried to escape from
their perilous position through the doors
of the coaches, but found them
locked. Even the forlorn hope Of
leap for life from the flying train was denied
them, and nothing was left but to await the
swift and certain death to which they were
rushing headlong.
The Shrieks of the children were horrible
The bodies of the victims were arranged in
rows as soon as recovered. Many
were mangled beyond recognition,
There is scarcely a family in Armagh aE
embankment on which tho accident occurred
is seventy feet high. Many touching scenes
were witnessed. The children bore their in
juries with great patience. Wreck
ing gangs are at work clearing
away the debris. A private of the
Irish FusiIeers, before the collision, jumped
on the foot plate Of one Of the cars and
dropped four children to the ground. He
then offered to assist others to escape, but
his offer was refused. IN many cases whole
visiting the scene Of the disaster and the air
Is rent with lamentations.
A dozen corpses were found parboiled un-
derneath the wrecked engine where it had
fallen.
The number of injured is about one-third
of the entire number of passengers. Many OF
these were certain to succumb to the effects
Of their injuries.
A cardriver named Hughes, who visited
the scene of the disaster, was so horrlfied at
the sight that he died on the spot. His corpse
was taken to Armagh in his own car.
The train consisted of fifteen carriages. The
bulk of the children were in the front por-
ticn of the train. Only about one dozen
children were killed. The majority of
the victims were about twenty years
of age. They were in the last car
riage, which was completely smashed.
Many of the occupants jumped from the
windows and escaped slight injuries be-
fore tue collision. The passengers on
the hind train were not injured. They
alighted and assisted ir the work
of relief. The scenes on the den ifcation of
victims by friends or relati;-- .;sre painful
in the extreme.
All the bodies were taken from the wreck.
The total killed is seventy-two, of which
sixty-four were identified.
The remaining sections Of the excursion
train were run back to the scene Of the catas-
trophe, and the passengers Of that and the
regular train, who were badly shaken up but
not injured, rendered Immediately such as
sistance as lay in their power.
A man who was riding on the highway
saw the collision, and, without stopping to
see more dashed away at once to Armagh,
and returned with a company OF SOL
diers from the barracks there. These
came provided with stretchers, and, being
the first on the ground to render assistance;
lid good work in extricating the living anc
the dead from the wreck.
The disaster is primarily due to obsoleb;
appliances, the brakes being the old-feshloned
band brakes and worn links.
The engineer, fireman and guard OF the de-
tached section of the rear excursion S1aln, to-
rether with the traffic managers clerk, were
arrested after the accident, for which they
L IrVofnr al