Year: 1871

ALBANY Feb Z 1871.
The grsaf topic Of conversation here to-day with
In and without the Legislature, has been the ter
ribe accident OIL the Hudson River Railroad. The
first Of the horror reaches here about thre
o'clock in the merning; but 1t came in such ques-
tionable shape that but few persons willing to
put any credit In lt whatever. Beside the general
increduity on the subject was rather confirmed an
hour afterward, when several railroad en-
plOyes put In an appearance and, In answer co the
questions put to them secuted the idea Of loss OF
life and declared that what had given rise TO the
rumor was simply the burning OF the bridge near
New Hampburg The papers were, consequently.
eagerly scanned this morning at breakfast time;
but not word was there about an accident. 1t was
not long, however, before


THE TERRIBLE TRUTH


was broken TO several parties here who HAD friends
on the train, by means OF dispatches from Pough-
keepsie. These dispatches were necessarily very
brief, but they were sufficient to make the general
anxiety oil the more painful. One of them was
addressed to lady stopping at the Delavan House.
1t read, ''Safe; Peter dead" Another. 'sHaye not
found him yet" Still another, ''Yes"-snort enough
indeed, but 1t doubtless told volumes to the who
SO anxiously awaited reply to his dispatch nquir
ing If his.son was safe. Probably


THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURES
were more excited over the news than any other
class Of the community III this neighDorhood. 1t
would indeed be heartless for me to state why In
few cases the anxiety was SO excessively great,
why It had more political selflshness about than
dread uncertainty to the fate of fellow being;
but there is no denying the fact that the Lower
House as O whole were fearfuly agtated
over the accident, and frJm motives the
sincerity Of which could not be questioned.
When the two houses met every face





The Speaker was pale and nervous, and when he
called the House to order he did SO in mechanical
sort OF way while his eyes wandered llstIessly from
one to the other OF the six seats in front OF that
were not occupied. The usual order OF business
was begun in the usual way, but nobody paid any
attention to either the reading Of the clerks the
regular calls OF the Speaker. The atmosphere of
the room seemed to weigh heavily upon all, and
no one person was at his ease. Even the pages
took the Infection, and whenever they got
O chance assembled together in little groups
Of four and five In some OF the dark corners OF
the chamber, whence were certain to come every
few moments fresh rumors to the fate of the MISS
ing ones, which were passed from mouth 10 mouth,
gathering new face and new coloring as they
passed. until they finally assumed the shape Of facts
officially promulgated from the scene OF the awful
disaster. The sending OF dispatches to New Ham,
burg asking for information kept the messengers
running constantly IN and out Of tie chambers and
the arrival OF every answer, was certain signal Tor
a rush OF members about the recipient. A page ran
breathiessIy in with


A DESPATCH IN HIS HAND


and went straight to the Speakers desk. "Where is
1t from ~ "Wnat does it sayS' rang out from all
sides, and every body drew breath OF relief when
1t was announced that O'Brien, Roche, Conselyea,
Prime ana Irving were safe. The latter was sick at
home; the others were at New Hamburg, safe and
sound. their train, which left New York st eleven