Rhode Island American And Gazette

The late accident at the Quincy Rail Road.— The melancholy disaster, of which a short notice was given in yesterday's paper, occurred upon the inclined plane, constructed for the purpose of bringing down stone, from the granite quarry to the level part of the rail road, preparatory to their being transported to the wharf.

The elevation of the plane, if we recollect correctly, is about 80 feet, in a distance of about 400 feet, and it consequently rises about one foot in five, being adapted exclusively to the purpose above stated, and not to the purpose of travelling.

The cars used for transporting the stone are of great weight, the wheels alone of a single car weighing more than a ton. The cars are loaded upon a level piece of railway at the summit, and are let down the inclined plane, being suspended by a strong chain which passes round a vertical shaft and drum at the top, and being attached to another car, which is at the same time drawn up the other track of the railway. The revolution of the shaft puts the chain in motion, and this revolution is regulated by a horse, travelling about the shaft.

The four gentlemen to whom the accident happened, had arrived at the foot of the inclined plane at the moment when a loaded car was about to descend, and consequently an empty car to ascend. They jumped upon the empty car, and were slowly drawn up to very near the summit, when: from some accident, which we have not heard satisfactorily explained, the shaft slipped from its place, the chain became detached from it, and the car upon which the four gentlemen were standing, instantly rushed, with frightful rapidity, down the plane.

When the car struck the level part of the rail road, it rebounded to a great height, and with such force as to throw the gentlemen from their places. When it again came down, it fell with such force upon the rail road, which at that time was supported at a considerable height from the ground upon timbers, as to break through the road, and to fall upon the stones, a considerable depth below.

Mr. Backus was thrown to a height of fifteen or twenty feet, and fell among the rocks and was shockingly bruised and instantly killed. The other three gentlemen were also thrown to a considerable height, but fell again upon the car, and with it upon the stones beneath the rail road. Mr. Gibson is very dangerously wounded, having his jaw, ribs, and arm broken. Mr. Bend is also very severely wounded. Mr. Belknap, we are happy to learn, escaped without any serious injury.