TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN AMERICA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1564, 21 May 1887, Page 3

TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT IN AMERICA.

FALL OF A TRAIN THROUGH A BRIDGE. A terrible accident occurred on Maroh 14 on one of the snborban branobes of the Boston and Providence railway, near Ros» lindale station, six mlleß from that city. A train, composed of engine and eight cars, left Dedham Btation at 7 o'clook, and, as is customary at that hour, ftvery car was orowded with working men proceeding from the outlying suburbs to their dally avooatlona m the city. All went well until the bridge near the Roslindale Btation weas reached. This bridge, says the Boston correspondent of the "Telegraph," whioh is fa'rly solid & straoture of the usual railway type, spanned a roadway at a height of about 30ft, The engine and three care passed over m safety, and then, without the slightest warning, the bridge collapsed, and, with the remaining five oars and their living freight, crashed into the roadway below. The smoking oar. which was at the rear of the train, turned completely over m tha descent, and fell upon the other cars, wh ; ob, already partly wrecked and heaped np, were thereby smashed to splinters. The engine driver, realising what had occurred, Instantly uncoupled hiß engine, which dashed at a terrific pace into Roslindaie, whence telegrams were despatched to Boston conveying news of the disaster, and asking for prompt and ample medical assistance. The passengers m the uninjured cara made their way into the roadway, and other willing helpers hurried to the spot from all directions. The soene was a terrible one, and the groans and shrieks from the scores of helpless men and women pinned beneath the heavy beams and ironwork of the wrecked cars and bridge were heartrending In the extreme* It seemed for awhile, also, as if other horrors were imminent, for the smoking car was smouldering ominously, and here and there breaking into fl-smes. United effort was directed by the railway offiolais and volunteers upon the fresh danger, and the fire was soon extinguished. Meanwhile the work of rescuing the dead and wounded had been going on with vigour. Many bodies were decapitated or otherwise smashed beyond recognition, and that of Conductor Tilden was out clean m two. The telegrams to Boston had been promptly responded to, a apeoial train having bi ought surgeons, medicines, matt 'esses, etc. • The work of rescue was skilfully and coolly directed. UPo time was wasted upon the dead ; as the Burgeons certified that life was extinct— m moßt cases a mere formality— the >odieß were placed aside; The surgeonß dyvoted their energies to the wounded, performing such operations as were urgently necessary, end sending home those fortunate ones whose injuries were comparatively trival. The mere serious oases, of which the proportion was exceptionally large, were removed to the Massachusetts and other hospitals m the oity and suburbs.

The list of the killed and injured Is a long one. Thirly-two persons we-ee killed, Including men and women and six school girls, and about 40 Injured. Among the latter aro several of whose reooverv there is no hope at all. Of the dead, 27 have been Identified and five are unknown. Moat of the bodies are fearfully mangled, some being decapitated. The grief and horror oaused by^the acoldeot In Boston and the neighborhood are intense. As the train was a looal one, most of the killed and Injured live m the vicinity of the scene of the accident. Tho dead were removed and laid m the neighboring fields.

The latest particulars Bhow that the firet carriage turned completely over, and one. immediately following broke through Mid nmoohod ib Into a tUOUSand splinters. Then came over carriages tumbling one after another In the street, a distance of 30ft at leaßt. Those In the forward carriage who went down could not have lived to know what had happened. They were maogled and squeezed into horrible shapes. The other oars were terribly mixed up with sleepers, rails, heaters, etc. Out of the broken Bides of one oarrlage before the next waa fairly upon it, three women and four fcirls and a oouple of men were huried. Their limbs were broken and dislocated, and their heads and faoes cut and bruised j but they ate yet alive, and may survive. Very few of thoge who were not disentangled from the debris by tho shock lived. The carriages that wont through remained fastened together, and m an inclined position, looking, like a ladder, and bo wedged together that one oould walk from the si reet below to the top of the stone wall that had served as an abutment to the bridge, along the sides and roofs of the cars When the accident occurred those iv the suspended carriages who had strength to do ao orawled ont through the windows, and amid tbe din of the crash found their way on hands and knees to the street below or to the top of the high stone wall above.