Humboldt, MS Train Plunges Off Trestle, Feb 1870

A FEARFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT

Oxford, Miss., Feb. 27.
A fearful accident occurred about four o'clock yesterday afternoon, to the regular morning train on the Mississippi Central Railroad for New Orleans. The train leaving Humboldt behind time, rapidly approached Buckner's Trestle, which is forty feet high, and over a ravine. The engine passed safely, but the remainder of the train ran off the track, crushing the trestle, and completely wrecking the baggage mail express and three passenger cars. The cause of the accident is believed to have been the unsound condition of the trestle timbers, which permitted the rail to slip out of place, and destroyed all off the cars which crushed through the trestle or plunged into the ditch. Every car was utterly destroyed. The baggage mail and express freight broke loose and landed on the sides of the ravine into which the wreck plunged. The first and second passenger cars were shattered into pieces. The remaining passenger car kept its place on the track, while the front end rested on the wreck of the second car in the ravine, at inclination of 50 degrees. Two women and two children, twelve white and three colored persons are known to have been killed, and it is feared some others.
A special train from Louisville was only half an hour behind the wrecked train, with a large party of northern and western railroad men with their ladies, and a few passengers in the party were all safe, and assisted in securing the victories of the wreck.
Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 26.
A special despatch from Oxford, Miss., says that 17 persons were killed by the railroad accident, among whom were COL. SPEARS of Brandon, Miss., MISS McDONALD, the Road Master, two ladies and two children. The remainder of the killed with few exceptions were emigrants on their way to Texas. About 14 or 15 passengers were wounded, several fatally.

Daily Kennebec Journal Maine 1870-02-28
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!