The New York herald., 1876-03-08
AN APPALLING ACCIDENT.
Fifteen Persons Killed on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad.
The Train Drops One Hundred and
Eighteen Feet.
HARrIsosnuRo. va. Mnrch Z. ls7e.

HARRIsoSnURG, Va, Mnrch Z 1876.
An appalling railroad accident, involving heavy loss
Of life occurred at the narrow passage bridge in
Shenandoah county nearly midway between Edln
burg and Woodstock, last night between eleven
O'Clock, What is known the Valley division Of the
Baltimore and ohio Railroad the leased from
the Old Orange, Alexandra and Manassas Gap Railroad
The accident to the bound train known
rs the mixed train OF freight and passengers COM
bined which leaves this part OF the valley at half past
seven o'clock THIS train LETT Harrisonburg timo.
and was very long one, carrying cattle, hogs, sheep,
-four. clover seed &c, besides a number
OF passengers II went well until Il reached
the narrow passage bridge, the highest
bridge In the valley being us feet from the bottom OF
Narrow Creek from which II takes It's name AT this
point the accident, which makes one shuddcr 10 think
or occurred. Tho train was drawn by one of the Bal
tmoro and Ohio Company's engines and known as a
camel back, tho engine beng in charge OF Captain J.
Donovan, as brave and gallant engineer ever
stood in the post OF danger
Below is list OF names OF the killed and wounded.
William A. wightmnn, Edinburg, Va
Charles L. Noel, Shenandoah county, Virginia.
Reuben e. Harmon, Shenandoah county Virginia
X l. Wood, Alexandria, Va.
c. II. Hodgson, Berkeley Springs, W. Va, editor OF
Mercury and member OF the West Virginia Legislature
s. A. Baldwin, Baltimore, Nd
Mr.. Gwans, Winchester, Va
A. c. Bowers. commercial drummer, Baltimore, Nd.
j. Donnovan engineer, Sandy Hook, Md
j. Chapman, brakeman, Winchester, Va
7. Jefferson, brakeman, Winchester.
julius Sibert, Rockingham; right arm broken and
rruised.
Jacob Hahn Shenandoah, injured about the head
severely, but thought not mortally.
H. c. Baker, Baltimore, thigh fractured.
Bernard Hughes, Fox Lake. Dodge county, Wis,
fractured leg and cavicc.
James Russell, conductor, badly cut on the head
7. Canning fireman. both arms broken and badly
scalded; his injuries very serious
+. NJ S. Bird Mount Jackson, slightly wounded
about tho head.
Two men on the seat in the front and one on the
same seat with him killed
DESCRIPTION AN EYE WITNESS.
gentleman who lives the bridge describes the
accident as ono OF the most fearful sights no
held Hc saw by the moonlight the doomed train as IL
approached the bridge; the hugo engine went
down into tho abyss below and all the cars with their
frcighagc OF human life and dumb creatures take the
fearful plunge upon the rocks. More than hundred
feet below the train OF piled up for thirty or
forty feet The wonder is that anything the train
tnat nau lHe was not instantly crushed. or
the large number OF cattle and sheep and hogs
but n solitary steer showed sign OF life re-
naming. When daylight broke upon the the
were found broken into Fragments making the wrcck
complete The accident has created deep sensation
all through the valley and doubtless had much TO do
In determining suit for damages which was pending
In our Circuit Court when IL occurred The loss TO tho
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company cannot now bo
properly estimated, but will be very great especially
II the friends and kindred Of tho dead manod seek
for damages for desruct OF human ic This is the
first serious ACCIDENT that has happened the Valley
division OF tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and IL Is
earnestly hoped n mcrciful Providence may save us
from another.
CAUSE ACCIDENT
All unconscious Of the danger ahead this load Of
poor dumb animals and human beings went to q sud-
den and fearful death The bridge commenced gong
down as secn as the engine had fairly gotten the
aet span 1t was a wooden structure, old and was
known to be unsafe for very heavy trains. Indeed,
tho Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company had been
making. arrangements TO rebuild n, tho timbcrs and
materials for the work being upon the ground.
ATTENTION DYING
Tho Masons OF Edinburg promptly on the
ground aud gave attention TO the dead and
dying Mr.. wightman lived about ten min.
utes after being taken from tho wreck. He
and Mr.. Wood were carried to Ednburg Mr.. Ham
mon and Mr.. Noel carried 10 Mount jackson,
10 where they lived Somo OF tho dead and
wounded carried TO Woodstock, where the citizens
ovinccd warm interest in the melancholy accident