At around 1:00 p.m., three miles away from the Andover station (with one possible location being cited as "between Argyle and Arundel Street"[4]), one of the train axles became fractured after running into some rocks that had fallen onto the tracks.

In a personal letter, Franklin Pierce wrote that the accident had left him crushed, but he still felt an obligation to pursue his duties as the president.

[11]: 91  Franklin Pierce also believed that the accident was a form of punishment from God so he refused to use a Bible when giving his oath of office.

[6] When Jane Pierce finally moved into the White House, she spent a majority of her husband's presidency grieving and hiding upstairs.

She allegedly wore all black for the rest of her life, spent time sending letters to her deceased son, Benjamin, and even held séances in an effort to communicate with him.