"The first train from Chester after the arrival of this morning's Irish Express has just reached here, and the last train to reach London tonight leaves here in half an hour. I have only, therefore, to say that, the account of the accident which reached town by telegram this morning fell short of conveying an idea of what today's examination has proved the occurrence to have been.

Certainly, anything like so awful a railway accident has never occurred in this country. Persons who witnessed the collision from the bank state that for a considerable time the line for some distance was as if covered with a sheet of flame. Until an immense quantity of water had been thrown on it the fire was not extinguished, and when put out at one spot it broke out in another. All this time the bodies of the passengers in the three first-class carriages next the engine and tender were burning literally to ashes. In some cases an inch or two of a dress are all that was found in a heap of charred remains to show that they are those of a lady. In several cases even cinders of the bones have not been left.

What were human forms had been gathered up like so much black dust. The body of the stoker, who lay under the engine, was almost the only one that presented the appearance of a dead man. The flesh was burnt off, but a calcined skeleton, with every rib visible, was left. The name, "Prince of Wales, 2" is still to be seen on the locomotive, which is now standing on its wheels close to the Abergele station; but the tender made a tremendous somersault and went right over the engine and its funnel; what were the bodies lie in thousands of pieces like small firewood that had been reduced to charcoal.

It is believed that 27 persons have been killed; but all is still confusion, and I cannot give this as the correct number. Neither has the real cause of the rolling back of the goods train been as yet ascertained. The ashes of the killed are about here in coffins awaiting identification; but, except from luggage or some portions of burnt wearing apparel, identification will be impossible."

©Mark Baker