In Aspinwall arrived among others the ship SS George Law that operated between the East Coast of the United States and Central America.

[11] After arriving of the SS George Law, three trains departed from Aspinwall (now called Colón) in the morning of 6 May, towards Panama.

After erecting a platform and trying for hours, the brakemen and engineers were not able to return the locomotive back on the track.

[1] Engineer Williams was in charge of the train whom the superintendent, Mr. Center, found to be incapable of reinstating his machine.

[2] During the return, the speed of the train was noticed by passengers, who commented that it was “dangerously fast” with the “short curves” along the track.

[2] Four people who were injured, died later of their injuries including the captain, Thos Nash from Buffalo.

[1] Many people were extremely thirsty and were even drinking from the muddy pond on either side of the track that had turned red with blood.

Many people stayed at the disaster scene overnight, also digging out bodies of the wreck in the darkness.