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The Railroad Horror

The Railroad Horror image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
August
Year
1887
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The awful railroad accident at Chatsworth this past week equ&ls anything that has ever occurred in the history of travel in our country. An excursión train filled with a company of pleasure seekers, is dashed through a burning bridge, and in a moment's time one hundred lives are lost. We have had other disasters this season, indeed, more than the usual number, but this is the climax of horrors. The recital of particular as given in the daily press is heart-rending. They were mostly people in the prime of live, active business men with their families, seeking a short season of rest and recreation. The train was loaded and two engines were required to do the work, rushing along with the speed of thirty miles or more an hour in the effort to make up lost time. It was a sudden crash, a cry of agony, fire, tumult indescribahle, and then all was over. In numbering up the victima it is sad to read the names of the middle-aged and the young thus suddenly arrested in their journey. The cause of this catastrophe is the most lamentable of the whole occurrence. It was a wooden bridge spanning a small stream, which had dried up during the excesaive drought. A company of men were sent out to burn the grass adjoining tbis structure so as te prevent fire, but having kindled the fíame they did not gtay long enough to see it put out. So tViA hriHorp fanrrVit fire and when the train carne up the smouldering timbers gave way and ttere was wreek and ruin. Four accidents have occurred this seasoB, the cause of which has been traced in each ingtance, to the giving away of bridges underneath the train. Ii it not time that these structures should be more solidly built and more carefully guarded. We have hardly recovered from the shock occasioned by the giving away of the fatal bridge on the Vermont Central, and the sacrifice of life at White River Jnnction, when this Chatsworth horror sends a new thrill of terror over the land. We are thankful that the Unes of travel through our city have by constant watchfulness and careful management been spared such visitations.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register