The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-05-16

or ~ II rFESNNS W0USDEilaIWO DOC.
TGE> ANn ~, ,TF Ptsnf1TStHin az Ttin STfFERERs-TmE
Tnnp;,rv., HOME THIS hoRNlN&.
,,,,,1n O'Clock last night the alarming
'':.,"rr, A'1,, reached Richmond that the
'a'..'r rc,ytoining the excursion party OF
I'M" H.,.,,y G.. returning from Petersburg,
, ,"i''' ~m,, on the track between halfway
'''.' :,,, AMI Chester. and that large num-
."n.t ,,anlc were buried beneath the
%r q" y engine and coach containing
;",:.,' ,rd = lew men arrived here shortly
a"n ,%c ,clccraphic dispatch, which gave
49,, sr., Information. but the extent or the
~, ',.',;.y was hardly known to those pasSen-
'a.N'''' rhr excited crowd gathered at the
G.-;. ,,r,G learn very little from anybody,
%%!.,rn The anxiety was painful and deep.
.,'...,,-;rnuirrd for sisters, some Tor brothers,
'~",. for fathers, and not few were almost
,-,~.:, with grief. picturing the very worst
,,,rtunc> for their absent loved ones.
.o,n A. possible superintendent Shaw
..,:, -, a irain consisting OF an engine and
..rr coaches. and sent it forward with
.,..n +,n}> and machinery as could be readily
.'.r,r.d together and thought to be ncces-
,-.-. ,nr raising cars. Messengers were then
80. for surgeons. and after some delay
n-> Ross and Cunningham were obtained.
rls,. Gentlemen. prompt in response to the
',n oi duty; superintendent Shaw, the
n.,ro,,l reporter. and two or three others,
-. .,,a7I OF M engine and tender and lett
- .-ra, speed for the scene OF the &cident.
.i,r,,;r rn-riuccr was the one who was IN
.s.q~.,r ot the locomotive Of the wrecked
,-.:r and - they went along ne told our
.l,-.s.9lrgtjvc a we'll as he WAS able how
i, thing occurred.
Cor;9in Paritcr's company and their
,-,s.', had enjoyed themselves very much
p pr.rr,,i!rg. and. somewhat tired out but
~ ,>c,!lrn, spirits. and pleased with the
cvru.a,toa oi soon and safely reaching
nn.oc. they left Petersburg between I and
So'r,rrS. follwing the mail train. All went
we'll until after the excursion train
.,,.>,d Chester and when nearing Half
,ray .,arion. when, all OF a sudden there
v,s . Slight shock. and the engine and
,grd.r and the first coach passed safely
qo,0r obstruction. Feeling rather than
Knowing that something was the matter, the
.lrjnccr put down brakes, but not until the
,vn i6nlrr,uo>t coaches had been upset in a
rut and the air was rent with the screams OF
women and 1.-THE moaning and cries OF wound
I'd men. The engineer then told how they
came on 20 Richmond for help with the one
rcuzinin" coach upon which was packed
Al! the ladies that could get on.
,;,ragglrl> who had undertaken to walk
T. the city were seen by our reporter all
slonr the road. At one point there were
.boll; dozen people gathered, and As the
engine and tender bearing the surgeons
vent hy they gave shout OF encouragement.
All aboard expected very soon to witness
a-ickcning sight The doctors grasped their
Instrument cases and hugged tightly their
bundles Of lint and band.ges, and neryed
themselves 'cr their bloody work. When
aclrinr Halfway station, by direction or the
superintendent, q loud, long, and cheerful
whistle was given, intended to carry en-
Cour..rmcnt to the sufferers and strengthen
thr hearts OF those who hsd remained be-
hiud-;aore than half of the party-and to
;,y" notice that help was approaching.
A. the little party reached the station. and
when, shortly afterwards, the lights tlitting
about on the road told them that they had
reached the scene OF the catastrophe, there
were momcntary expectations OF hearing
groaGs and cries OF agony. No such un-
pleasant sounds greeted them. On the con.
irary. the gay soldier boys were standing
shout in groups humming popular airs
iroting about the delay. The train sen
out hy Nr. shaw was standing on the track
The ladies were aboard. and everybody WA
impatient 10 start for home.
The wounded were all in the cars. BY al
almost miraculous interposition OF Provl
dcncc there were no bones broken and no
one person seriously injured. Mr.. Orior
Waldron. one Of the cXcurSionists but not
,l...,. - h. hl1riDG nnIpl
4 coach. hut nothing like its full weigh
rested upon him. He was injured above the
knees and seemed 10 suffer internally also
Dallas Boss Kennedy, who was also dragged
from beneath the wreck, was bruised ant
cut about the legs. Lewis hoenlS hat
on" hand caught between the coach ant
The cmbankmcnt, and his wrist was mucf
hurt. Sergeant Stephen Chasey was Gu
about the face. Lieutenant Policeman) Tom
!jn>nn was badly bruised. The water-coole
ol the coach in which he was sitting 1el
over upon Postmaster Beattie, OF Manches
ter, somewhat damaging him. Dozens 0
others were more or less hurt, but those wh'
suffered most were men who were standing
an the platforms, and who were emptiet
out tunccrcmOniously upon the emDankInent
The accident was caused by broken rail
The mail train, going at twenty-five mile
sn hour, passed it safely, thought experl
cnccd jar. The excursion train wa
moving at twelve or thirteen miles an hour
On account OF the low rate OF speed man.
h'os were saved that would otherwis
have been lost. Two OF the thre'
Coaches were thrown over to th
right OF the track against an embankment
and topplcd over completely on their righ
SIDE, so that those occupying seats on TIT
left were let right down upon the people
across the aisle. Instead Of walking out O
the car down the aisle the right side OF thu
coaches served AZ q floor. 1t was q work o.
great difficulty for many to get out. Tt
be suddenly upset in the darkness and in
strange place, with broken window pane
rafting down upon your head, and light
all put out at once, and hundreds howlins
around you, is calculated to unsettlc tn
Yastest composure.
The ladies as general thing behaved
very well, though not few OF them Wer
frightened nearly to death, and bruised toe
4 jack-screw TO raise the coaches ana re
lease the men buried beneath them wa
found but there were no crow-bars at nam
I" work it, and the men had to use thel
fhcs Is levers.
No one can well understand, without Wis
ring the place and seeing the wreck, VIVA
great danger the party escaped, ana nov
Itue space between life and death was glvel
those who, standing on the platform Whel
the coaches jumped the track, were thrown
over on the embankment and plnloned doWl
by the timbcrs.
The doctors gave all help who needed 1t
and the broken-down, hungry, and discom
itted party set out for home, the train reach
ing Richmond shortly before O'Clock thi:
morning.