American Old Time Song Lyrics: 15 The Woodstock Bridge Disaster

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 15

The Woodstock Bridge Disaster.
Tune- "Milwaukee Fire."

In our country far and near, each day we read and hear
Of shocking accidents on land and sea;
Your attention now I'll call to the latest of them all,
The Vermont Central Railroad tragedy.
As the Montreal express was speeding at its beet,
Near Woodstock bridge it struck a broken rail,
And with a fearful crash down the dark abyss was dashed,
Now few survive to tell the awful tale.

Chorus.
Twas in the dead of night, no words can paint that sight.
The sleeping-cars were filled with living freight;
This ill-fated train was dashed to the river with a crash.
And a hundred souls went down to meet their fate.

Boon the wreck was in a blaze, horror met the victims' gaze,
Their frantic cries for help were sad to hear;
None responded to their call, they must perish one and ah,
Alas! kind friends, no help for them was near.
'Tis shocking to relate, and sad to contemplate,
No words can paint a picture of that sight;
Little thought they death so nigh when they bid their friends good-bye.
Ere leaving home upon that fatal night.- Chorus.

There's one who'll ne'er forget, that's little Joe Malgret,
He was with his father on the fatal train;
Although wounded by the fall, when he heard his father's call,
To free him from the wreck he tried in vain.
'Tis no use, my boy, said he, there is no help for met
Just then the burning flames around him curled;
Little Joe began to cry as his father said, good-bye.
We'll meet again up in the other world!-Chorus.