PANAMA RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 412, 15 October 1856, Page 5

PANAMA RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

[From the ' Alta California,' May 23.] The greatest of railroad calamities lias been reserved for the thick wilds of Panama; and ihe terrible event transpired at about five o'clock, p.m.. Tiu sclay, May 5, on the Panama railway, three-and-half miles from Aspinwall. On the sth instant, the steam-ship, George Law, with between 1,100 and 1,200 passengers, arrived, after a voyage of fifteen days. The passengers were landed for transit, and early on the morning of the Cth, two trains, composed of nine cars, which were crowded with people even to the outside platforms, were arranged for the trip. Previous to their departure, another train was started, containing the mails, express matter, and baggage. The other trains followed, and when they had reached Matcliin, 17| miles from Panama, it was discovered that the locomotive of the first train was off the track at Obispo Bridge, with no immediate prospect of being replaced. The passenger trains were now united, and as there were no accommodations for remaining over night, started back foe Aspinwall. with but one locomotive, the other being retained to assist in clearing the track. The train, though running at nn unusual rate of speed, proceeded safely until within a short "distance of Monkey Hill, Grave Yard Station, when the forward or separated from the engine and leaped from the rails eigh'. of the other cars leaped upon it, and the whole nine were torn, splintered and heaped into a mass of fragments, beneath which were buned most of the pors'iis belonging to that end of the train. The scene was appalling in the extreme. Instantaneously hundreds of those who that morning had expected before night to behold the Pacific, and tread the decks of the vessel that was in waiting to bear them to nrwhomes, lay dead, and mangled beyond r cngnitioi', or were groaning from the pa;ns of frightful wounds. The accident occurred just over a culvert, at a point where the forest seems impenetrably dense— where the ground is low, wet, and marshy—and where, on each side of the road, there is a deep ditch filled by recent rains. Portions of the wreck were thrown into the ditches, carrying with them numbers of the dead and wounded, some of whom were f mud far in the mud and decomposing weeus and

foliage. The nature of the locality rendered the wreck accessible only with difficulty, the surviving passengers being compelled to stand in water to the knees while endeavouring to assist the sufferers. Several, however, succeeded in extending them relief; yet, though they toiled all night before the ghastly spectacle, it was not until Inte in the morning that the broken cars were sufficiently removed to induce the belief that all, or nearly so of the unfortunates had been taken out. The locomotive, in becoming detached from the train, was thrown off the track; not stopping to enquire into the extent of the ruin behind him, the engineer hurried on to Aspiuwall. Upon his arrival a train was immediately despatched to the scene of the catastrophe, and returned at eight o'clock in the evening, with a part of the wounded and uninjured. This train continued to run during the night, but the majority of those occupying the broken cars remain-id in them, wet and without food, until conveyed, on the afternoon of the 7th, to Panama. The exact number losing their lives by this fearful calamity will never be known. The fate of many now mouldering by the dreary roadside can only be surmised by friends, in failing, after a long while, to leceive tidings promised at the last parting. So far as every circumstance would admit of a close and laborious inquiry, and from the most plausible basis, there appears to be little doubt that the number killed, including those who were too badly injured, to long survive, is nearly one hundred !