Utica, New York, USA
1858 - TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT. SEVEN OR EIGHT KILLED - FIVE OR SIX FATALLY INJURED - OVER FORTY WOUNDED - CRUSHING OF A BRIDGE.

Utica, May 11. - A frightful accident occurred this morning, at half-past six o'clock, on the Central Railroad, by the crushing of a bridge over the Sanquoit Creek, some 3 and a half miles west of this city, near Whitesboro. Seven or eight persons are already dead, and five or six others are barely alive. The injured number forty or more.
The accident occurred in the Cincinnati express train, due here at 20 minutes past 6.

It was somewhat behind time at Whitesboro, and was coming up at a high rate of speed, when it met, on the bridge over the Sanquoit Creek, the Utica accommodation train for the West each on its own track.

The engines crossed the bridge, but as the passenger cars of the express and freight cars of the accommodation came upon it, the north side gave way, precipitating the freight cars into the creek, piling the passenger cars one above the other, and splintering the platforms and seats to atoms as the cars struck the abutments.

The passenger car on the accommodation did not reach the bridge. Different stories are told as to the cause of the accident.

One is that an axle of the express baggage car broke as it reached the bridge, and threw the trains together.

The other attributes the casualty to the rottenness of the timbers of the bridge.

Major Priest, the local superintendent of the road, happened to be on the accommodation train. He at once despatched a sufficient number of men to the relief of the sufferers. A large number of the wounded were brought to this city, and taken to Bogg's Hotel, the McGregor House, the Northern Hotel, and the Railroad House.

Others were cared for at Whitesboro.

Physicians were summoned, and everything was done that could be to relieve their sufferings.

The Compiler
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
May 17, 1858

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