Dreadful Railroad Accident

GREGG, CORBITT, LONG, STEVER, HUFFORD, HURST

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 7/5/2006 at 13:05:27

"Fairfield Ledger", Aug. 27, 1868, Pg. 3, Col. 2

DREADFUL ACCIDENT -- Two Children Killed -- One Man and One Child Terribly Injured. It becomes our painful duty to record the particulars of a terrible accident which occurred on Thursday last, August 20th, at about 5 o'clock p.m., at the railroad crossing 2½ miles west of town. On that day Mr. Andrew GREGG, an old citizen of our county, about 70 years of age, living six miles west of Fairfield, was in town with two horses and a wagon. On starting home he took with him his three grandchildren, Lizzie C., aged 11 years, Charles H., aged 9 years, and Alfred E. CORBITT, aged 7 years. These are stepchildren of Mr. David LONG.

The children were lively and cheerful in anticipation of the fun they would have at grandpa's. Alas, their bright anticipations were never realized; for in about an hour they were all brought back to town in a pitiable condition -- one of them dead and the other three apparently dying. Mr. S. F. STEVER, from whom we get most of the particulars, informs us that the railroad train was behind time, and was running at a high rate of speed. The road makes a sharp turn at the Mitchell crossing and the train can only be seen for a short distance; it is also very difficult to hear it. He was just behind Mr. GREGG's team, and while Mr. GREGG's team was on the track the cars came rushing on. The whistle was blown, but the engine was only a short distance from the crossing. The speed of the train could not be checked, and the wagon was struck just in front of the fore wheels. The horses -- mangled and dying, were thrown on the west side of the track, and Mr. GREGG and the children were thrown high in the air and about 40 feet on the east side. Mr. STEVER jumped from his wagon, and, before the train could be checked, had gathered the four persons -- apparently dead -- together. The youngest boy, Alfred, was killed instantly. The train was backed down, the bodies placed on it, and brought to town.

Mr. GREGG and Charles were taken to David LONG's, and Lizzie and Alfred to Wm. LONG's... the wounds of Lizzie consisted of a fracture of the skull, the under jaw broken in two places, a severe bruise in the side, and several scratches. She was first taken to Drs. HUFFORD and HURST's drug store, where her wounds were dressed. She was then carried to Wm. LONG's house.... Charles had his left thigh broken, skull fractured over the right eye, the right side, arm and leg severely bruised, as though scraped against a log.... He seems to be doing very well. This is the most terrible accident that has ever happened in our county....

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.