Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-12-17
SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE VIRGINIA
Midland RAIlRoAp.

"A iaHroaa accident occHFFcd Yestef'.
terday morning On the Virginia Mid
land. formerly the Orange railroad,
which, although not attended by fatal
results, caused a number 81 ugly
bruises aud a long and tifescine delay
TO the. passengers. The train, con
sisting Of a baggage. two passenger
cars and one fulimarf sleeper, left
Ls nchburg at the usual hoar the pre-
sious night, having on board, among
other passengers, the District Knights
renlplar, who were returning from
their visit to New Orleans. After
being on the road for some time, the
engineer, MIR. Chas Domaine, discoy-
cred that his force. pump Was out of
order He continued on. however,
until 4 o'clock, at which time he Was
within a mile Of Rapidan Station.
Here he stopped the train, and with
the fireman alightsd and alta aptAd to
repair the damage. aF hs ed +
The spot, one of the worst On the
road, is known as the IS foot grade
from the fact thas within short space
Of fom'.o Ave miles the grade is very
heavy Near by it,, too, is M ugly
curve through a deep cut, The train
had not been standing long when the
engineer heard the whistle Of an
approaching freight train through the
gap. He states that he at once sprang
on his engine and opened the throttle
valve fer the purpose Of attempting to
escape by flight, but he was too late.
Before he got under way the engine of
the other train WAS half way through
the Pulman sleeper, and the other cars
were SO mixed up that one could hardly
have known IN which car they were
The passengers who had been sleeping
peacefully were awakened by the con
cussion and thrown from their berths
to the floor, many OF them wounded
and bleeding Taking in the situation
at a glance, MOTT OF them attempted at
once 10 extlicale themselves. and soon
All were on the GROUND. Nov comes a
curious and @ .--
Thrilling PORTION OF TUE STORY.
The coacuss,on had entirely broken
the platform off the gar next to the
sleeper, and they were consequently de-
t.ched and ii had also, 80 he alleges,
thrown the engineer from his position
down a deep ep,bailkment, not, howev-
Ell, before the train was in motion, with
the Unbelievable open and full head
If steam, and on went the unwrecked
portion faster and faster. Astoundel
and hewildered at this, the passengers
at once began to pull the bell rope, but
to their franctic efforts there was no re.
Spouse, and on went the runaway.
Luckily tor all concerned, among the
passengers was Mr.. James kamp, an
engineer of the B;altimare and Ohio
Railroad, aud he, divinlng that the en-
gineer had been killed, left his seat, and
srawled Through and over cars until he
had reached and stopped The runaway
engine after it had travelled about FIVE
miles, and with it returned to the sta
| ton Three Of the cars Of the freie ht
train were upset. and three beeves kill
ed. The village was soon apprised OF
the fact, and helping bands were soon
about ministeriny to the needs of the
wounded Among the more noticeable
Of these good Samaritans We're DR.. c.
Q. Con gay, of Rapitlan, who dressed
all the wounds without charge, am
Mrs Cobbel of the same village, who
kindly and generously furnished them
with meals. 81
! Help was soon secured and the work
Of clearing the wreck entered upon, bu
it was SIP. m. whel, the party, sore
and excited, reached this city, thankful
however, it was no worse.
! The casualties are reported as follows
G. NJ. Payne, OF Tennall, town, tire,
cuts in the head and back; Mr.. j. w
Bowers, Of Baltimore, cut in fhe fore
head over the left eve; H D. Boetler
of this city, badly bruised in severa
places; Thomas L. Titus, Of Phillips
burg, N. j., hurt inwardly; Phil vii
son, of Washington bruised in the
neck and shoulders; James Howard, 0
Washington, badly hurt in the back
]. Y. Potts, of Washington. cut in tn
forehead and a beautiful black eye
Mr. Charles Shaffer, of Richmond
was the most severely injured of th
party, being, seriously wounded in tn
head and face. This gentleman wa
on bis bridal tour, but luckily bis wifi
escaped without injury So 9 e IL
! The engineer of the stock train, Mr.
Geo. Keys, says that as soon as he no
| ticed the train ahead Of his own he re-
versed his engiue, but it was too late t.
do any good He however stood to hi
post and after the. accident did all il
his power to aid the Others Washing
ton Chronicle 9Th. 49.its,l
! SSf