The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-08
PORTLAND LETTER.
More Accidents on the B. g. o. R.R,
PORTLAND, W. Va, October 7.
~. A. T,IIL s,, :,


PORTLAND, W. Va, October 7.
To the Editors Ofthe IntellIgencer.
Ono Of the most shocking accidents
occurred last Saturday that we have
yet recorded. Engine No. 10, ten
wheel Perkins engine, which runs be.
tween this place and Newburg. as o
"helper," exploded her boiler near Frank
vile, on the Seventeen Mile grade, killing
instantly, Joseph Lackey, engineer, and
iDjurinG fatally, John Duckworth, ti5e.
man, and Hugh Lynch, brakeman. Thos.
Burke, watchman OF the cut, who was
standing near the engine at the time Of
the explosion, was very badly sCaldcd
about the head and body, but IRON which
il is thought he may recover, probably,
with the loss Of both his eyes. Mr. Lackey
was resident Of Newburg, where he
leaves wife and large family. lie has
been an engineer on this division fOrsomc.
thing over fifteen years, and has made
many friends who will deeply deplOre the
shocking tragedy OF his death.
Mr. DuCkwOrth was q resident Of West
ernport, Nd, and was also married man.
He lived for an hour after the accident in
the most horrible suffering. His skull was
broken so that his brains had GOzed out on
the back OF his head in a lump us large US
mans fist, besides horrible gashhG re-.
ceived the entire length oi his face, almost
severing one jaw from the rest OF the
head.
Mr.. Lynch was married MN, and q
resident OF Grafton. lie was struck on
the back OF the head by the furnace door,
breaking the skull in several places. lie
lived until Sunday at 1875 p. NJ.
The explosion was one OF the most ter.
rife. The entire engine, with the exCep-
ton OF the front truck, was carried TO u
point fully one hundred and fifty yards
from tho scene of the explosion.
Scarcely had We noted the particulars Of
the other accident, when VIC were shocked
by the announcement of the death Oi au.
other man. Two engines Colided with
each other near Bridgeport, on the Par.
kCrsburg branch, ut some hour on Satur
day. The fireman OF one Of them, whose
name VIC could not learn, was caught be.
tween the lOOt.bOard Of the tender and
the furnace Of the engine, and was so
firmly held in that position, that all efforts
to rescue him proved unavallng, and he
was left TO literally roast to death.
The GcGnC, We are told, was heartrend.
ing; u man suffering the most cxcrutia.
ting agony, begging OF his fellows to
rescue him even from the manner of his
death to sec one die for want Of help
when they could touch him with their
hands, is u scene, enough for the stoutcst
hearts.
After seeing that nothing could save
him from his terrible death, the untortu.
nate man took from his pockets book in
which he wrote n message TO his wife.
And still another: Saturday morning
Thomas Carr, foreman Of R"camp train,
engaged in laying double track near
Newburg, was instantly killed by the
premature explosion Of a blast We
were told that Ills head was blown tc
atoms.
/ In consequence ofthc occurrence Of the
accidents above narrated, some twenty
men resigned their positions at Piedmon,
yesterday, as well as some six or seven u,
Newburg The railroad company cannot
get men enough to run their trains.
Owens.