South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-07-07
Railroad Accident.

SERIOUS accident on The baltimore and
OHIO Rdttrood-The Cincinnati Err
press train hrolcn of The Ira ck-Se0-
erdI Cars Smashed and Passengers IN
.jWred.
The Cincinnati express train east, due
10 TINS city at S:45 o'clock last night, met
with a serious accident on the Baltimore
ana Ohio railroad, when about four miles
this side of the Relay House. The traiE
was coming In on time, and was running at
rapid rate, when all of sudden the en-
CINE jumped the track and dashed ahead
Tor at least seventy-fve yards, the wheels
OF one side running on the sleepers, and
those OF the other side between the two
tracks, until that side became so embedded
In the earth that the engine was compelled
10 stop. Fortunately the engine did not
turn over, and the damage done to it is not
very considerable. The cars that immedi-
ately followed the engine, however, were
terribly smashed.
The tender was thrown on its side across
the two racks, the baggage car turned
completely over on its top, and tossed off
on the north side of the track In this
car was Conductor Taylor, who had charge
OF the train and was engaged at the time in
putting away his tickets. He was badly
bruised on his wrist leg and head, the con-
cussion stunning him at the time, but no
bones were broken, and his injuries are not
considered any way dangerous. The bag
gage master was not in the car at the time
The next was the smokers car, which
was dragged along the south side Of the
track, and enc end of it driven into an en-
bankment. Ia this car the most injury
was done to the passengers, one of whom
was found covered with debris, smashed
seats, &c and it was with difficulty that
he could be taken out lie was badly
bruised and cut about the head, and evil
deutly very seriously wounded. lie re-
NAMED IN an unconscious state, occasion
ally opening his eyes, but too much hurt to
speak lie bad the appearance of being
railroad laborer, and Conductor Tay Tor
says got on the train at the Relay House,
About six other passengers were consd-
craOly bruised in this car, none, however,
very seriously. The lights in the car were
all put out, and seemed as if it were about
TO turn completely over, when it struck the
bank and came back on its bottom The
trucks from under this car and the baggage
car were all torn away The second pas-
senger car ran off on the north side of the
track mp against the baggage car, and 10y
the side OF the smoking car In it were
only three or four passengers and Mr.. Jo-
seph Hummer, the agent of McCliutock's
baggage express, who was badly hurt in the
side, and 1t was thought perhaps one Of his
ribs might DO broken. He was taken to IA
house near by and properly cared for.
The third and fourth passenger cars
which completed the train, remained on
the track, and the passengers in them were
unlnJurcd. In these cars were few ladies
and children, the only ones on the train
all Of them were badly joltcd and of course
much frightened. but nothing more. From
the appearance of Gbe wreck of the cars,
hcapod together IN such incxtricahle cOnfu-
sion, smashed and torn, it is miraculous
that no lives were lost.
Being Sunday train, there were for:u-
natcly not many passengers. Conductor
French was in the smoking car, and was
bruised on the head by being thrown abou'
in the car. lie and Conductor Stewart
were returning from their homes to report
for duty this morning. 4 brakeman nam
ed LitchGeld, was hurt in the arm. A CO.
lorcd man complained Of his head being in
jurcd. Engineman Shipcy, Of the unior-
turatc train, remained at bis post until his
engine stopped.
Wreckiug trains wore Immediately dis
patched TO the scene Of the disaster, aud i,
was expected that by midnight the track
would be cleared up ready for travel, as
usual, to-day.
The engineers Of the trains which came
out from Baltimore, among them Engiue-
man Butler, who has run locomotive for
thirty years, AMI Conductor Taylor, went
back Io ascertain the cause Of tie disnster,
when they found that some one had taken
ont what are known as tho keys ola switch
at that point and bad placed one Of the
rails IN such position that the hnngc Of
the locomotive would strike right in the
centre Of the end Of thc rail, which tho
marks ON It show was the case. That any
ono could do 20 malicious an act could
hardly be believed, except FIR the evidence,
Of which, there is scarcely doubt
The switch kcy could not be found, and
IL is thought The vliIaruous decd must have
been douo by some ono who knows some
thing of railroad construction Anyhow hc
adopted lbe surcst rlrn Of throwing the
train OF the track, aud succeeded complete
ly.-Bahmore Sun, Juy 3.
n SiNorLAH Ar0InENT. One DAY last
week the clothing 90 Jackson FOltz, son Of
Noah Folfz, near Newport, Pogo county,
Virginia, worc so badly injured 10y lire, rs
to render them unfit for use, they were 10
a bureau drawer, and, by some means Cr
nlL-r r.m.LI fro .nI t.rr. I'm l,l1,r.L