Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-19
THE LATE RAILROAD ACCIDENT

THE LATE RAILROAD ACClDENT
The following description of the late
accident on the Midland Railroad, is
taken from the Washington Republi-
can
"a railroad accident occurred yester-
day morning on the Virginia Midland,
formerly the Grange railroad, which,
although not attended by fatal results,
caused a number of ugly bruises and a
long and tiresome delay TO the passen-
gers. The train, consisting OF baggage,
two passenger cars and one Pullman
sleeper, left Richmond at ;he usual hour
the privious night, having on board,
among other passengers, the District
Knights Templar, who were returning
from their visit to New Orleans. After
being on the road for some time, tie
engineer, Dir. Charles Demaine, dis
covered that his force pump was out OF
order. He continued on, however, I'M
til abou, o'clock, at which time he
was within a mile of Rapidan station.
Here he stopped the train, and with the
fireman aligh,ed and attempted to re-
pain the damage. 49, 4~at,
This spot, one OF the worst on the
road, is known as the S5-foot grade
from the fact that within 4 short space
OF four or five miles the grade is very
heavy. Near by it, too, is an 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 Oh his en-
CINE and opened the throttle-valye tor
the purpose Of attempting to escape by
flight, but he was too late. Before he
cot undor way engine OF the other train
was half way through the Pullman
sleeper, and the other cars were so
mixed up that one could hardly have
known in which car they were. The
passengers who hai been sleeping
peacefully were awakened by the con
cussion and thrown from their berths 20
the floor, many Of them wounded and
bleeding. Taking in the situation at a
glance, most OF them attempted at once
to extricatc themselves, and soon all
were on the ground. Now comes 4
curious and thrilling portion Of the
story.
The concussion had entirely broken
the platform off the car next the sleep
er, and they were consequently detach-
ed. And it had also, so he alleges,
thrown the engineer from his position
down a steep cmbankment, not, how
ever, before the train was in motion,
with the throttle valve open and q ini'
head of steam, and on went the I'M
wrecked portion faster and faster. As
founded aud bewildercd at this, the
passengers at once began to pull the
bell rope, but their frantic efforts there
was response, and on went the runaway.
Luckily for al concerned among the
passengers was Mr.. James kanp. an
engineer Of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and he, diyining that the en-
cineer had been killed, left his seat,
crawled through and over cars until ht
had reached and stopped the runaway
engine after it had liayeled about five
miles, and with it returned to the sta
ton. Three Of the cars OF the freight
train wereupSet, and three bcevcs killed
The village was soon apprised Of the
and helping hands were soon about
Ininisterinr to the needs of the wound
ed. Among the more noticeable oi
these good Samaritans were DR.. {. C.
Conway. of Rapidan, who dressed al
the wounds without charge; and MIS-
Cobell. of the same village, who kindly
and generously furnished them with
meals.
Help was soon secured and tie work
of clearing the wreck entered upon, but
it was p. m. when the party, sore and
excited, reached this city, thankful,
however, it was no worse.
The casualties are reported as FOL
lows: c. NJ Payne, of Tennallytown,
three cats in the head and back; Mr.. }.
w. Bowers, OF Baltimore cut in the
forehead over left eye; II. ID. Bote!cr,
of this city, badly bruised in several
places; Thomas L. Situs, Of Phillips
burg, \. j., hurt inwardIy; Phil VIII
son, of Washington, bruised in the
neck and shoulders; James Howard, OF
Washington, badly hurt in the back;
J. Y. Potts, OF Washington, cut III the
forehead and beautiful black eye.
"NIr. Charles Shafer, of Richmond,
was the most severely injured Of the
party, heing seriously wounded about
the head aud face. This gentleman
was on his bridal tour, but luckily his
wife escaped withoutinjury.
"rhe engineer Of the stock train,
Mr.. George NJ. Keys, says that as soon
as he noticed the train ahead of his own
he reversed his engine. but it was too
late to do any good. lie, however,
stood to his post, and after the the ac-
cident did all lis power to aid the
others
TAKE TINE TO RRsr-Alost men and
women must keep in the traces, and
keep pulling the year around. All the
1000 ,bo,o4,oro =, i, tboir Iut, I'm fakp