| From the Memphis Appeal |
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| October 20, 1862 |
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| Terrible Railroad Accident |
| Thirty-Five Killed |
| Forty or Fifty Wounded |
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| One of the most terrible railroad
accidents it has ever fallen to our lot to record, occurred on Sunday
morning last, between the regular passenger trains on the Mississippi
Central railroad. the down train, with eleven cars, drawn by engine
James Brown, conducted by Peter Kirby, and the up train, twelve cars,
engine A. M. West, Mr. Bender, engineer, conducted by Mr. Snelton,
collided one mile below Duck Hill station, causing one of the most
terrible wrecks of machinery we have ever beheld, and furnishing a
chronicle of casualties exceeding anything of the kind ever known in
the South, and but seldom equalled in the country. |
| The down train is reported to have waited
its time as prescribed by the rules of the company, for delayed trains
when the signal was given to proceed. Before advancing a mile the
approach of the up train was discovered by the engineer of the former,
who gave the signal to stop, reversed his engine, and jumped off. The
conductor and engineer of the train coming north also leaped from
their positions. The collision was immediate, and of fearful effort.
The train going south is said to have been moving slowly, while that
from the south was running at a high rate of speed, making an effect
to reach the station within the prescribed time. On the down train but
one man was killed and a few slightly injured. The engine was
completely wrecked, while the tinder was driven into the car in its
rear, which was demolished. The injury to the balance of this train
was comparatively slight. but upon the other train loss of life,
personal injuries inflicted, and the destruction of property, was
unprecedented in the history of collisions. The engine had penetrated
far into the other, and its tender was piled on top. Two flat cars,
behind the tender, filled with soldiers were completely demolished,
the bodies of the unfortunate being almost undiscernable in the wreck,
while the trucks were piled upon each other in the most frightful
manner, and the baggage car and first passenger coaches, one sleeping
car, and two platform cars were all more or less injured, but none of
them were displaced from the track. |
| As stated, the two platform cars in front
were crowded, as were the platforms of the passenger coaches, with
soldiers, who were on their way to their regiments and were unable to
obtain seats. Nearly all of these were killed or injured. One man was
killed by being thrown from a platform car at the rear of the train.
None of the officers or attaches of the road were injured, except Mr.
Kirby, the conductor of the down train who received a slight sprain of
the ankle in jumping from the train. None of the regular passengers
were injured with the exception of few bruises. Many of the latter
informed us that the concussion was so slight as to scarcely attract
attention and upon examining as to the cause of the stoppage of the
trains they were horrified to learn the extent of damage inflicted. |
| The casualties were thirty-five killed and
between forty and fifty wounded. Most of the latter were severely
injured, and the attending physicians gave it as their opinion that
several could not recover. The severely wounded were taken to Canton,
with the exception of a negro who was brought to this city. His arm
was smashed so badly as to make amputation necessary. The following is
a list of the killed, as definite as could be certained: |
| Ed. G. Mealer, company D, 1st Arkansas battalion;
S. L. Merritt, company H, 10th Arkansas; J. H. Thompson, company E,
15th Ark.; S. H. Towsend, company A, 1st Arkansas battalion; A. J.
Coyle, company K, 19th Arkansas; J. H. H. Mosely, company H, and J.
S. Rogers, company K, 20th Arkansas; D. S. Morgan, Captain Tweedy's
company, Williamson's Arkansas battalion; Ashberry Norman, 3rd
Arkansas cavalry; W. P. Buck, Adam's regiment Arkansas volunteers,
from Arkadelphia; J. N. Thompson, 3rd Arkansas; Wm Reynolds, company
C, 21st Arkansas; J. R. Spiney, company G, 6th Texas; H. S. Turr,
company H, 1st Texas legion; Geo. R. Kyle, company C, 6th Texas; J.
J. Alsop, 4th Missouri; R. H. Bowen and Washington Lott, 2d division
1st regiment Missouri State Guard; B. N. Conger, company G, 22d
Mississippi; R. Wells, from Holmes county, Mississippi, a soldier,
Augustus Anderson, Gile county, Tennessee; Ewing West, teamster; W.
A. Clarke, Pointe Coupe artillery; Silas W. Tussell, Bledsoe
battery; Thos. W. Youngblood, 38th Mississippi; and Clifford
Thrailkill, of French Camps, Choctaw county, Mississippi. Four
bodies of the whites were not identified, all soldiers; and four
negroes were also killed, one of whom was the fireman on the train. |
| With a single exception the dead were
buried close to the spot where the accident occurred, in a common
grave. Every attention was bestowed, and care taken to identify the
deceased. Hundreds of people witnessed the sad spectacle of consigning
to their last place on earth almost two score of fellow beings, who,
but a few hours before, were buoyant with health -- who had previously
face the enemies of their country on the battle-field without fear,
and were again on their way to meet the foe. Strangers as they were,
their melancholy fate caused tears to flow from many eyes, that then
and there for the first time beheld such fearful slaughter. One
gentleman, deceased, was recognized by a faithful servant, to be Mr.
Clifford Thrailkill, of French Camps, Choctaw county, Mississippi, and
his body was taken charge of by Major Daniels, secretary of the Grand
Lodge of F. and A. M. of Mississippi, and brought to this city
"for more decent interment." |
| We were unable to obtain a complete list
of the wounded. Several had been moved before we reached the scene,
whose remains were unknown. Of those remaining, severely wounded, we
obtained the names of the following: |
| Wm Reynolds, 42d Tennessee,
shoulder dislocated; J. W. Hardin, 23d Mississippi, slight; J.
P. Henderson, 3d Arkansas cavalry, arm fractured; W. W.
Stevens, 1st Arkansas, shoulder dislocated; J. A. Simpson, 1st
Arkansas battalion, slight in the back; Mr. Gerard, 1st Texas
legion, seriously; J. Ives, 2d Texas regiment, seriously; R.
L. Barnett, 3d Texas cavalry, seriously; W. Roberts, company
F, 1st Arkansas battalion, slight; P. L. Simpson, 19th
Arkansas, company H, seriously; E. Roberts, 1st Arkansas,
company F, seriously; M. Faulkner, 1st Arkansas, company A,
seriously; L. C. Taggett, 15th Arkansas, company F, slightly;
J. Tidwell, 37th Alabama, company K, slightly; S. Cook, 38th
Mississippi, company A, slightly; J. M. Stanley, 37th Alabama,
company F, slightly; J. W. Barnes, 3d Texas, company F,
slightly; W. H. Polk, 37th Alabama, company G, seriously;
Lieutenant J. V. Perryman, 37th Alabama, company A, slightly;
W. Kelly, 21st Arkansas, company C, seriously; W. H. Abrams,
4th Missouri cavalry, seriously; J. A. Carn, 1st Arkansas,
left arm off; J. S. Walser, 35th Mississippi, company C,
slightly; T. Benson, fifer 2d Arkansas battalion, seriously;
H. Arnold, 5th Missouri cavalry, company I, slightly; T.
Clisham, 10th Tennessee, company F, seriously; S. Ardney, 10th
Tennessee, company H, lightly; Dabney, servant of W. Cross,
arm off; Bill, servant of Mrs. Bird, hurt inside. |
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| Too much praise cannot be awarded to our
medical friends, railroad officers, and citizens, who were so
cheerfully volunteered to repair to the scene of the accident on first
receiving intelligence of its occurrence. Superintendent Jones, of the
Memphis & Ohio road -- who happened to be in the city -- promptly
tendered the use of one of his engines, and in short time a train from
the Mississippi & Tennessee road, well loaded, was on its way. |
| The officers of the latter road,
Superintendent Livermore, Mr. Murphy, and others, who were present,
commanded the approbation of all by their activity and zeal throughout
the day. Drs. Williams, Gillrspis, Hughes, Drans, Hodges, and perhaps
others were on the train, but their labors had been anticipated to a
great extent by the physicians who were present when the accident
occurred. We regret we were unable to obtain the names of the latter,
who gave every attention to the wounded, and dying that was possible,
immediately after the occurrence of the accident. As early as possible
a train arrived at Duck Hill, bringing President Goodman and a number
of his attaches, who at once proceeded to render every assistance
possible, and repair the road. It was expected a new track around the
wrecked engines would be finished last night, so that trains will not
be delayed to-day from running on their regular times. |
| There are various opinions as to the
parties who should be blamed for this fearful accident. We
investigated the causes as thoroughly as was possible in the midst of
confusion that prevailed, but will forbear the expression of our own
opinion, as the matter will undoubtedly undergo an early and severe
investigation by the officers of the Mississippi Central. The
conductor and engineer of the down train returned with the train to
this city. the same officers on the up train were seen but a few
moments after the collision. No one noticed their departure from the
scene, and nothing has yet, been heard of their whereabouts. An awful
responsibility rests somewhere, and it behooves the company to
ascertain where and punish the offenders. We are informed that this is
the first collision that has ever happened on the road and its serious
results will, no doubt attract the earnest attention of ruling powers,
in order that a similar occurrence may be prevented. |
| Duckhill, Miss., October 19, 1862 |
| Editors Appeal |
| I was on the southward-bound train
this morning when the fearful collision took place, of which
you have heard ere this. |
| The scene was horrible and
fearful. Thirty dead now lie before us, and thirty-two
wounded. This number may increase when the wreck is thoroughly
removed. I send you a list of the wounded, which I obtained at
early dawn. A lieutenant, who was not pleased to give me his
name, took charge of the dead, and will, doubtless, furnish a
list. |
| Many energetic gentlemen united
with me in relieving the wounded as early as possible, and
gave such aid to relieve their present suffering as the
facilities on hand and nature of the locality would admit.
Among those most prominent during the night, I would mention
Surgeons Wm. P. Russell, of General Price's division; Captain
and Assistant Quartermaster C. L. Hudson, Dr. G. C. Phillips,
22d Mississippi, and Colonel Miller, of Vicksburg. These were
among the most active known to me. Many others, equally
meritorious, I did not know. I mention this fact because some
seemed indifferent during the darkness of night, when the most
labor was needed, but became very officious after the severest
labor was past and daylight revealed faces. |
| It was all done under the
supervision of General Pemberton, our new commander, who was
aboard, and by his commands displayed the first great trait of
a good general in caring personally for the sick and wounded. |
| Captain Binford opened his
hospitable mansion to all on board -- near two hundred -- and
gave them a warm and hearty breakfast free of charge, for
which he receives most grateful appreciation. |
| J. T. Freeman |
| Hospital Agent, C. S. A. |
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