| From the The Confederation (Montgomery,
Ala.) |
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| May 31, 1861 |
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| Railroad Accident |
| We learn that on
Tuesday {May 21} an accident occurred on
the Wilmington & Weldon Railroad, by which a locomotive and freight
train of several cars were precipitated into a marshy swamp at a place
called Goshen Gate, completely smashing up the locomotive and cars. At
the time of the occurrence the cars were passing over a bridge, which
gave way, owing perhaps to some defect in the trestle-work, when the
locomotive, tender and cars fell into the swamp, a distance of nearly
thirty five feet. The locomotive and cars suck into the mud and mire and
were battered and broken into fragments. The track was completely
demolished leaving a deep chasm, wherein the cars remained on Wednesday
night. Efforts were being made, however, to remove the wreck. Passengers
on the road were compelled to cross, at this point, over pieces of
lumber taken from the broken scantling of the bridge and the wrecked
cars. There were only three persons on the train when the accident
occurred, one of whom received some slight bruises. Had it been a
passenger train, a number would unquestionably have been killed. |
| Charleston Courier, 24 |
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