Pierce and his wife were in a train accident two months before Pierce's inauguration. They sustained slight physical injuries after their train-car derailed, toppled off the embankment, and rolled into a field below. In the same train accident, the Pierce's sole surviving child, their son Bennie, was practically decapitated in front of their eyes. He died. The Pierces were wracked with guilt. Mrs. Pierce decided that God had taken their son so her husband would have no family distractions while President. Pierce believed it was punishment for his sins. The Pierces never really recovered from the tragedy.

posted by Alison 8/15/2003 08:32:00 PM : (0) comments : splink

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