The Sarnia Observer and Western Advertiser
June 8, 1854
We regret to have to announce to our readers the occurrence of a
seroius accident on the line of the Great Western Railway, which has
resulted in the loss of 7 lives, 3 fatally wounded and a number of
others more or less injured. The accident occured to the Day Express
train, from Detroit, on its way to the Suspension bridge, about two
o’clock yesterday afternoon. The train had just left the Lobo station,
about nine miles west of London, when the engineer discovering a cow
on the side of the track, a short distance ahead, slackened his speed.
while the train was passing the animal, she attempted to run under the
third car, which, singular to say, threw it off the track, and
precipitated the fourth and fifth cars down the embankment of 70 feet,
carrying death and distruction to the passengers. the fourth car was
first class and was not much injured. two passengers in this car were
killed, one instantly, and the other surviving but a few hours. The
fifth was a second-class car, and was principally occupied by
emigrants, who had, through some unaccountable mistake, taken this
train supposing it was going west. This car was literally smashed to
pieces and five persons instantly killed, besides injuring a number of
others, two or three fatally.
Our informant, the Rev. G.P. Harris, who was in the first car that
went down the embankment, and who fortunately escaped unhurt,
describes the scene of the disaster as heart-rending in the extreme;
the groans of the wounded and wail of the dying could not but excite
sympathy from the most callous.
The Conductor and other officers of the Company rendered every
possible assistance to the unfortunate sufferers, and no blame can be
attached to the employees for the occurence of this sac calamity. the
train arrived in this city this morning about one o’clock. This is the
first serious accident that has occurred on the Great Western
Railroad, and we hope it may be a long time ere we are called upon to
record another – Christian Advocate.
