The Liberator

Novel Accident.—On Friday when the Railroad Cars were about eight miles from Bordentown, proceeding with passengers to New-York, it was discovered that the baggage was on fire. The engine was immediately stopped, and every exertion used to extinguish the flames; but being some distance from water, the fire soon obtained such headway, that it was found impracticable to put it out. Efforts were made to obtain an axe to cut away the sides of the car, but this could not be procured, and the only resort was to capsize it, when it rolled over, and unfortunately rested bottom up, preventing any access to the trunks, &c.

The passengers (upwards of two hundred) had to stand by and witness the destruction of their property, saving now and then an article as it could be snatched from the flames. The wind blew very fresh, and the fire was seen at a great distance. Besides the baggage of the passengers, the mail bag was totally burnt, with all the newspapers. The letters were also much mutilated, many of them burnt, but the number is not ascertained. A trunk of a lady from New-Orleans was entirely consumed, except, fortunately, $3000 worth of diamonds, which of course were uninjured.

Many of the passengers were left entirely destitute. Among the number a lady with a child, who had a journey of more than six hundred miles to perform, and who lost every vestige of her property. Among the passengers who were the greatest sufferers, were Mrs. R. e, of Boston, and Mrs. Austin of the Theatre. The former lost a large quantity of valuable clothing, worth fifteen hundred dollars, but fortunately saved her diamonds and other jewelry. Mrs. Austin also lost all her baggage, including many valuable articles of dress, but saved a box of jewels which was providentially taken from the centre of her trunk. A German gentleman and his wife who lost all their clothing, were fortunate enough to recover a tin box, which was in one of their trunks, containing documents necessary for the recovery of a large estate in Europe, whither he is proceeding for that purpose.

Mr. Knowles of Amherst Mass. had a package in his trunk, containing $15,000, which was fortunately rescued from the flames. A rough estimate of the loss was made by the passengers, and it was computed to amount to upwards of five thousand dollars.—Transcript.

A letter from the Agent of the Camden and Amboy Rail Road, states that the burning of the baggage on Friday last, was caused by the ignition of a large quantity of Lucifer matches, which were in some case or trunk, which must have been ignited by friction. A bushel of them was found under the car after the fire.