Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-08
LOCAL NEWS.

THE LATE RAILROAD AcCIDENT.-Th fol-
lowing description of the late accident on the
Midland Railroad, correct account of which
was published 10 yesterdays Gazette, is taken
from the Washington Republican
"A railroad accident occurred yesterday morn
ing on the Virginia Midland, formerly the
Orange railroad, which, although not attended
by fatal results caused number Of ugly bruises
and long aud tiresome delay to the passen-
gers. The train, consisting of baggage two
passenger cars and one Pullman sleeper, left
Richmond at the usual hour the previous night,
having 90 board, among other passengers, the
District Knights Templar who were returning
FROM their visit TO New Orleans After being
on the road tor some time, the engineer, Mr..
pump was out OF order. He continued 90,
however, until about4 clock, at which time
he was within milcs OF Rapidau station. Here
be stopped the train, and with the fireman
aighted aud attempted to repair the DAMAGE
This spot, one OF the worst on the road, is
known as the S5-toot grade from the fact that
within short space OF four or five miles the
grade is very heavy. Near by it, too, is an
ugly curve through deep cut. The train had
not been standiug long when the engineer
heard the whistle of an approaching freight
train through the gap He states that he at
once spraug on his engine and opened the
throttle valve for the purpose OF attempting to
escape by flight, but he was too late Before
he got under woy the engine OF the other train
was half way through the Pullman sleeper and
the other ears were so mixed up that one could
hardly have known 10 which Car they were.
The passengers who had been sleeping peace
fully we're awakened by the coucusslon and
u, - l. ,L,t no ,pt
them wounded and bleeding. Taking In the
situation at glance, most of them attempted
at once to extricate themselves, aud 5000 all
were on the ground. Now comes curious
aud thrilling portion of the story.
The coDcusson had entirely broken the
platform off the car next the sleeper, and they
were consequently detached. And it bad also,
so he alleges thrown the engineer from bis pU-
sition down steep embaLkment, not, however,
before the train was 10 motion, with the throt-
tie valve open and full head OF steam, and on
went the unwrecked portion faster aud faster.
Astoupded and bewildcred at this, the passen-
gers at once began to pull the bell roap, but
to their trautc efforts there was 10 response,
and on went the runaway. Luckily tor all con-
cerned among the passengers was Mr.. james
kamp, az engineer of the Baltimore aud Ohio
Railroad, and he, divining that the engineer
had been killed, left his seat, crawled 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 station.
Three of the cars Of the freight train were up
set, and three beeves killed. The village was
soon apprised of the fact and helpiog hands
were soon about miuistering to the needs of
the wounded Among the more noticeable OF
these good Samartans were DR.. &C. Conway,
of Rapidan, who dressed all the wouude with
out charge; and Mrs. Cobell, Of the same vii
lage, who kindly and generously furnished
them with meals.
Help was soon secured and the work ofclear-
ing the wreck entered upon, but it was p. N.
when the party, sore and excited, reached this
city thankful, however, it was no worse.
The casualties are reported as follows: T..
NJ. Payue, of Tenuallytown, three cuts IN the
head and back; Mr. j. W. Bowers, of Baltimore
cut in the forehead over lett eye; Ii. ID. Bote-
of this city, badly bruised in several places;
pas l.. Titus, of Philiipsburg, n. j., hurt
iuwardly; Phil Wilson, Of Washington, bruised
in the neck and shoulders; James Howard OF
Washington, badly hurt in the back; ). (.
Potts of Washington, cut in the forehead aud
beautiful black eye.
'Mr. Charles Shaffer, of Richmond, was the
most severely injured OF the party, belng serl-
ously wounded about the head and face. This
was Ou DIludl tOui, UuI AoehiiJ
his wife escaped without injury.
''rhe engineer of the stock train, Mr. George
Nj Keys say that as soon as he noticed the train
ahead OF his own he reversed his engine, but 1t
was too late to do any good. He, however,
stood to his post, aud after the accident did all
in his power to aid the others.
The Was ington correspondent OF the Baltl-
more Sun writes: ''The passenger train bound
north under charge of Capt. John Fossett,
had been detained some time, near Gordons-
vile, on account OF au accident to the eccentric
of the cugiue. Running out OF time Orange
Court House was reached, when the machinery
again got out of Tx, and another stop was made
TO repair damages. just at tins time stock
train, which had been ordered 10 follow IN the
wake of the passenger train, made its appear
auce around a sharp curve 10 the road, and de-
spite the efforts Of the eng lneer his engine ran
into the sleeping coach Of the passenger train
with great force One passenger was knock
through the window OF the car aud landed on
terra tirma some ten feet off. The car was a
complete wreck. The occupants OF the car
were principally Knights Templar from Bos
ton, New York, Philadelphia and other North
ern cities, with several from Baltimore. After
the Sleeping coa:h had been detached the re-
mainder of the passenger tram started down
grade of seventy feet to the mile towards Rapl-
dan Station, aud the engineer, after having
put on steam, for some cause Jumped from the
speeding train, followed closely by the fireman;
AT this juncture two brave young men, named
Spears aud Kemp, crawled through the bag
gage car and over the tender to the engineer $
cab, and shut off the steam, by which means
the train was brought to halt, after runnIng
six miles 10 all some forty persons were more
or less Injured. The passengers unite IN exon,
Grating Capt. Fossett from any derllecllon OF
duty, but are Of opinion that there was want
OF proper precaut;on somewhere Nearly all
the male passengers wounded were knights
Tcmplar, returning from the TRIBUNAL conVen,,
tiou at New Orleans. Their injuries amounted
chiefly to scratches and bruises.
FOUND DEAD IN Bed Washington
Chronicle of this morning says:
800 Friday evening last man called at the
American House aud registered his name as