Year: 1859




sister, Mrs. DakiD, infant and nurse. When
the sleeping car went into the ravine it turned
completely round. The first knowledge had
of the disaster, found myself in the water
full three feet deep. 1t was some moments
before the car maintained its position, and
then I called to my wife and her sister and
nurse, and found them all alive. I first car
ried out the infant up to the top of tho bank,
then my wife and Mrs. Dakin, then strange
infant, and after that its mother. By the time
1 had accomplished this, went down to the
water and found that tho torrent had subsi
ded-it being not moro than foot deep.
There was no person killed in the sleeping car,
although 1t was so reported. Lost all my bag
gage and all my clothing except what had or, ).
rs did Mrs. Dakin, my wife, nurse and in
FAINT.


STATEMENT OF FRANCIS DAKIN.


Am from Freeport, Ill. Was on board the
train, in company with Miss Moore, sister-in-
law, also of. Freeport. Was in the car next
forward Of the sleeping car, and when we went
over the precipice, the one car was completely
demoished--not piece exceeding fifteen feet
in length could be found. The first knowledge
1 had after the fall, found myself up to my
middle in the water. At that moment, stick
of timber or something else struck me and I
went under tho water. When 1 rose to the
surface, I found myself between the sleeping
car and another car, which must have passed
completely over me, as was on the opposite
side of it from where l vent down. grasped
hold of the car and cambered on the top. l
then discovered Miss Moore in the water, with
strange infant clinging around her mock
This infant was the son of Mrs. Huggins,
which she had thrown out of the window pre-
viously, to save it. l then assisted Miss
Moore to the shore, with tho infant, and after
wards IN old lady. Lost my hat, and had my
pantaloons entirely torn Off from my body.
Miss Moore was badly bruised on her face, but
nothing serious. Shall go to New York to-
morrow. . ..


BENJAMIN BRADFoRD's STATEMENT.


am from Monticello, Maine. Was on the
train when the accident occurred, in the Sleep
ing car. Was somewhat bruised, but not seri-
ously. Was asleep in my berth when the train
went into the gorge. Did not wake up until
the water came into the car. When got out
of the car the water was not more than twelve
or fifteen inches deep in the ravine, so suddenly
did it fall. A man who lay in the berth oppo-
site me fell out on the floor and lay there
! until daylight in faint condition, when he
was taken out and removed. 1 am of the
opinion that the embankment was mostly gone
before the cars reached the place.


a GEO. ToMLINsoN's STATEMENT.


w 10 III tuo duodu VI INC blGtplHR Cdl
when the accident occurred, but the moment
the car struck found myself outside, in water
three or four feet deep. A splinter hit me in
the face and went under. When l arose
was between two cars. Got on top of one
The car swung completely around after got
on it. then jumped from it on to another
car, thence to the tender, and then ashore
While l was getting on to the second car
heard one terrible shrek from a number OF
| l.. A..
all was hushed. In three minutes after l had
got on shore, the water in the ravine had al
most entirely disappeared, so that could walk
| from the shore to the car. l think the jar o.
the train as it approached started the track, anG
! that when the engine went down, it went dowI
with the track. / feel bound to say that tn,
women behaved most bravely during this try
ing time, exhibiting heroism worthy of re
cord.
! The scene of the calamity presents a horriC
aspect. The locomotive-the George Bliss
until yesterday afternoon, was almost complete
| ly buried in the Sand, and fragments of th,
machine and cars were scattered in every di
rection. The baggage, emigrant and all th,
passenger cars, except the sleeping car, are
| complete mass of splinters. The sleeping ca
| is very little injured. II is said that it wen
down SO easily that the lights in it were no
extinguished


A portion of the dead and wounded wer
taken to the South Bend and Misbawaka, an
others to the farm houses close at hand. FINAL,
] all the dead bodies were taken to the latte
named place, where an inquest was held, bu
when the train left last evening, no decision
had been rendered. At that time full Ave hun
dred persons were at the scene of tho disaster
engaged in digging for dead bodies, but no ad
ditional ones had been discovered. 1t is Geare
that number were washed into the St. Josep
River, a short distance below, by the force O
the current through the ravine, but prett
thorough search failed to discover any.


3 Upon the best information that could be OBJ
tanned, it was thought that but thirty fv
bodies had been discovered in all. Add t
this, the body of Mr.. Summers daughter, no
yet discovered, and four wounded that vii
probably die, and the aggregate mortality Q
this terrible disaster will be forty.


There are many intensely interesting Incl
dents connected with this sad affair which W
should like to give, but the lateness of the hou
and the crowded state of our columns for
bid.


We cannot close without rendering ou
thanks to the generous proprietors of the Mill
burn House at Mishawaka, and to other citi
zens of that place, for many attentions durin
our sojourn there. f