The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-14

| PRESS TRAINS THROWN .FhoAi TIE
TRACK. NEAR I,NDERsoS's. TURNOUT
ENGINEER HUNTLEY INJURED-NARRoW
ESCAPES FROM DEATH-THE ROAD ALL
CLEAR AGAIN, &c. ...-,r. ...l.....
The express train on the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad which left Richmond
at S:45 Monday night ran of the track
about 10 o'clock, near. Anderson's, three
miles west OF Hanover junction, and
thirtv miles west from Richmond. The
engine Jumped from the track and was
hurled over into little swamp, and turned
nearly bottom-upwards in . low, wet place.
All the cars but the, sleeping.car entirely
left the track, and were more or less ini iured
in the trucks but none OF them were turned
over or went quite down the low embank-
nent. The engineer, Mr.. Wesley Huntley,
who seems to be held in high esteem, was
caught under the engine in the mud.
His legs were confined by lever, upon
which rested the immense weight. For
more than an hour and half he lay in this
disagreeable position, resting on his hands,
his face wounded and bleeding, while those
who were trying to release him labored at
the greatest disadvantage In the debris OF
the general wreck and in the mud and water
anu DllSucS. n SlItAul Va hOl NatC1 i5SuStA
from the engine, with which Baggage Mas
ter Carter, while working ut the rescue,
badly scalded his legs and Feet. During all
the time Of Mr.. Huntley's painful and dis
tressing confinement, when everybody
thought his legs were broken and he was
fatally injured, his voice was strong and
his sef-poseession remarkable. In the
midst of the great confusion he gave di-
rections to those who were working for
his delivcrancc; and when at last, by con-
slant prizing at the lever, it was broken,
and he was drawn out Of the mire, he stood
upou his feet, and sat upon a scat placed at
a fire which had been kindled on the
ground He was soon warm, and COM
Daratively comfortable; and when his face
was washed and his hurts examined none
of them appeared to be serious. BE was
scalded on one OF his legs and hurt in his
fingers. He went to the house Of his friend.
Mr.. Cady, to which he walked. DR.. S. b.
Anderson was sent for by Mr.. Cady. No
body was seriously hurt, though there
were narrow escapes, particularly in the
baggage-car, where the conductor, baggage
master, and eXpresS-messengers were caught
between falling wall OF trunks and red
hot stove, which set the car on tire. The
prompt extinguishment OF this fire pre-
vented serious results. In the car in which
the writer sat the heavy water-cooler was
thrown on a seat where it would have killed
any one sitting. A lady on the next seat
received the contents, but happily escaped
any greater injury.
4 messenger came down to the Junction,
and soon the telegraph was sending mes
sagcs along the line, and large force was
at work. An engine from the Junction
brought the sleeping-car and passengers to
the Junction, and on that car the passengers
all lodged for the balance Of the night, al
irving at the Junction al hour or two after
midnight.
A collision took place between two freight
trains near Greenwood Monday night.
The accident near Anderson's was caused,
it appears, by the absence OF the bolt which
confined the bar ut the west switch to the
ral. The engineer says the target was right
Mt the switch; but the track, not being con-
fined, was removed by the weight OF the
train-at least this is the most probable
theory; but nobody can account for the re-
moyal OF the bolt. ~,
The engineer says he knew nothing from
the time the engine first began to jump till
he found himself surrounded by people in
the mud. The fireman says lie fell forward,
and this fall probably stunned him and
wounded his head and face.
The fireman was not hurt, and rendered
efficient service to extricate his comrade.
Conductor Smith seemed to be equal to
the emergency, and Captain Phillips, who
commanded the wrecking force, seemed to
know what to do. An engine carried up
several officers from Richmond after the
passengers reached the Junction.
The accident would probably have proved
h,,E +bo Yoot hat, xf RI
the tender was one OF the company's fast
freight cars, supplied, as the passenger,
baggage, and cXpreSs-cars are, with the
Westinghouse air-brake. This car was
loaded with perishablc freight, and being
next to the tender and very heavy served
to break the force and slacken the speed Of
the baggage, express. and passenger-cars
behind it. The fast-ireight car was con-
siderably damaged and broken, but none OF
the freight was injured. The track where
the accident occurred was somewhat torn
up, and the cars being in the way prevented
the roadway from being cleared for the
passage of trains until yesterday afternoon.
The express train due here at 7 O'Clock
yesterday morning did not reach the scene
OF the disaster until nearly O'Clock, hay-
ing been delayed at Crozet by the large
number OF freight trains that were wait
ing to pass over the new bridge, the old one
having been damaged by the recent heavy
rains. Upon reaching Anderson's. the ac-
commodation train from Gordonsyille, due
in Richmond at $40 A. NJ, was found wait
ing to pass the wreck.
These two trains remained until 1O:2O
O'Clock, when the westward-bound mall
train, which left this city at $40 Yesterday
morning, arrived at this end OF" the wreck.
Preparations were at once made TO send
back that train, as the accommodation and
express trains, and the passengers, baggage,
mail, and express matter was transferred,
and the train reached Richmond between 2
and 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The ac-
commodation train from Richmond left, as
usual, at 4 p. M. yesterday. The mail train
dne here at $50 O'Clock last evening was
behind time more than two hours, but the
road is now all clear and trains running on
their usual time. '..
tits the opinion OF some OF the officers OF
the road that the accident was caused by the
malicious act OF some unknown tiend, who
removed the bolt at the point where the
switch Joins the rails. Others believe tile
mishap was purely the result OF an accident; !;
that some portion of the machinery OF the
switch was broken by a passing train, and
before the track-walker could reach the place
the express train passed alons ana the accl-
dent happened. At all events, it was owing
to no fault OF any OF the company's officers
or employees, and, all things considered,
they are to be congratulated upon the TACT
that no one was killed, and that those who
were injured were but slightly hurt: The
chief loss to the company will be in the tine
engine, which was badly damaged. The
cars were only slightly injured. 49,.