Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-09-09
RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
A FEARFUL CATASTROPHE
A Passenger Train Thrown snso the
Canal


sational, but when the facts were
known it was found to be, although
bad, not as serious as at first report
ed. AT point between Sandy Hook
and Weaverton, freight train on
the north track, coming west, ran
into another freight train, which
knocked two or three coal hoppers
off the track and tumbled them over
on to the south track. Almost at the
very moment Of this accident the pas
senger train, going east on the south
track, hove in sight at q fast rate of
speed. There was no time to give
warning, and the train, filed with
its human freight, dashed into the
hoppers. At this point the track
runs close on the side Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal, and four Of
cars, together with the engine, were
thrown into the canal. The engi-
neer, Mr.. Joshua Shipley stuck to his
engine, and was killed in the fatal
leap into the canal. The distance
from the track to the water is near
ten feet over a stone wall The cars
which went over were the baggage,
postal and express. One passenger
car and a sleeper is hanging over the
wall. Our information at this writ
ing is, that no passengers were kill
ed, and no reported loss of life be-
yond that Of the brave engineer. If
these reports are sustained by later
news, it will prove miraculous es-
cape. 1t seems almost impossible
that such complete smash up of
train heavily laden with passen gers
could occur without great loss of life.
LATER.
The results of the smash up is not
near SO bad as at first reported, as
regards injury to passengers. The
wreck of.the train is complete, and
the escape Of the passengers simply
wonderful under the circumstances
There were three Pullman cars in
the train, and all thrown off the
track, but none of them went into
the canal, and the passengers escaped
with slight bruises.
But one man was killed, the engi-
neer; = Waite, postal agent, was
bruised on leg and hurt about the
body; Stephen Reynold, baggage
master, cut about head and arm; B.
G. Roby, cattle drover, eye injured
and may probably lose it. There
were number of others who receiv-
ed slight scratches and bruises. None
of the wounded are dangerously in
jured.
The Company had physicians and
surgeons on the ground as speedily
as possible after the accident, and
everything within their power was
done to relieve the badly wounded
and provide for the comfort of all
who were at all hurt.
We take the following additional
particulars of the railroad accident
on Sunday, from an account in the
Baltimore Sun:
The news of the accident was soon
telegraphed to Baltimore and Wash
ington, and assistance promptly sent
to the scene by the officers of the
railroad company. Nearly all the
passengers were able to walk away at
once, and all were sent back to Har-
per's Ferry, where the company or
dered breakfast for them. BY noon
the track was cleared, and at 81
o'clock train arrived at Camden
Station bringing most of the passen-
gers to Baltimore.
The following is list of the casu-
alties as far as could be ascertained
John o. Shipley, engineer of the
passenger train, aged 80, killed. His
body was brought to Baltimore at
6:35, and taken to his late home No.
=,
1872 Paca street.
Stephen p. Reynolds, firemen, No.
251 Lee street, Baltimore, injured Sc
verely iu the head and arm. Brought
to his home.
b E Peddicord, conductor, 236 N.
Howard street, Baltimore, cut in the
face and hands and bruised.
VIM Martin, baggage master, of
Baltimore, ankle sprained and badly
bruised.
Clinton Roby, Of Ohio, passenger,
eye cut out with piece of glass; re-
turned home.
G w Waite, postal clerk, slightly
cut and bruised. Brought to Balti-
more.
Geo. ID Evans, salesman, Balti-
more, hurt in the head; not serious.
Wesley Beale, fireman on the