Newspaper Account #3 of Railroad Accident that Killed Henry Martin Walker, Sr.

This is from The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), Sat, Mar 4, 1865, Page 1.  The best I can figure this is the article The Pantagraph was citing in my last post of this series.  It is the only New Orleans newspaper I could locate called "The Times" for that time period.  And it was published on March 4th not March 3rd.  You will note that it is well written.  But overall it does not resemble the article The Pantagraph allegedly republished.

One thing I found interesting is that yesterday's article was published in a Union state in the hometown paper of most of the boys in the regiment.  This article was published in a Confederate state, that is under occupation by the same forces who were killed in the accident.  Very interesting to compare.  The former was full of emotion.  I find this one rather dry.

Railroad accident on the Opelousas Railroad. 

Nine Persons Killed 

Forty-Six Wounded 

(Click to Enlarge.)

     In these days of battles and death dealing marches, the loss of life consequent upon accidents by railway or steamboat seems insignificant in narration; Nevertheless, it has its horrors to us, when it comes near own door.

     Yesterday, about noon, a train bound down from Brashear, under the charge Mr Cregier, was coming along at a very moderate speed, had passed Bayou des Allemandes. and had arrived nearly to Boutte Station, when a horse and a mule, which had got upon the track, seemed disposed, as usual in such cases, to run a race with the train, but it was believed that they could hardly attempt to remain. The mule did leave, and so did the horse, but bewildered, it would seem, turned back and jumped upon the track directly before the engine as it was about to reach him, leaving no time for reversal or stoppage, and thus the locomotive, tender and first car passed over it.  The next car, a box car, was drawn cross-ways over the track, and the other cars were driven against it, and the great portion of them broken to pieces against it.

     In these cars, such as are, need for freight ordinarily, were the members of the 33rd Illinois Regiment, which had just been relieved from duty along the line of the railroad, and were on their way to this city.  The officers were chiefly in the passenger car, at the rear of the train.

     The only sufferers were members of this regiment, but one commissioned officer, Capt. H.H. Rosecrans, of Company D, being among them.Those in the passenger car escaped injury, though the shock was great.

     Nine of the soldiers were either killed or found in a dying condition on examining the wreck, and over forty-six seriously injured.  the surgeons of the regiment Drs. Rex and Antis, were happily along, and soon administered such relief as was possible to the injured.  Quite a number of amputations were required, one poor fellow losing both his legs.

     In the meantime advice was promptly sent to Algiers, and in due time a relief train arrived, and the injured, as well as the uninjured, were conveyed there last evening.  The regiment is now at the depot.

     Much praise is awarded to Col. Lippincott and his officers, to the conductor, Mr. Creiger, and in fact to all passengers and soldiers, black and white alike, for their attention to the victims of this accident.  All concur in saying that there was no neglect on the part of the engineer, firemen, or employees on the train.  The train was proceeding at even less than usual speed, and the accident can only be attributed to the perverseness or delirium of the hose in leaping back upon the track.

Please forgive me if the articles are getting repetitive.  I want to document on this blog this accident and the death of my 2xg-grandfather.

Copyright © 2015 by Kevin W. Walker