Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-06-16
DISASTER TO AN EXCURSION
TRAIN.
COLLISION NEAR THE PolN "a
OF ROCKS.
FIVE PERSONS KILLED-ElGH'
TEEN WOUNDED.

ts,ecial Dispatch to the Baltimore SUM-
THE EXCURSION TRAIN-A JOYOUS START.
E,,,rRrcK. June 12.-Forty- five min
utes past six o'clock this morning was
the time fixed for the great excursion
train to start from this city for Wash
ington and Mount Vernon. Much in
terest had been manifested in the event
by our people, and over six hundred ex-
cursion tickets were sold. The day
dawned auspiciously. The recent rains
had cooled the air aud the weather was
delightful. Early in the morning throngs
of joyous people, representing nearly all
the families of this city, and many from
the adjacent country, were seen on their
way to the depot of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, most of them in happy
anticipation of pleasant trip to the
national capital, and thence by steam
boat over the bright waters OF the 70
temae TO the sacred precincts OF Mount
Vernon. Others accompanied their
friends to the station to see them OH
and give them parting cheer.
The train was composed OF thirteen
coaches, and was in charge OF Capt X.
Cooper, with Frank Bond, an old en-
ployee, in charge Of the passengers.
The Frederick Silver Cornet Band &C
companied the excursionists. For some
unknown reason the departure OF the
train was delayed some minutes beyond
the hour of Gas, but soon however got
under way and sped along smoothly to
Monoeacy Junction, and thence toward
the Point of Rocks, stopping at the va
rious stations along the route to receive
accessions to the party, who were on
each occasion greeted with music by the
band.
The road from Frederick to the Point
of Rocks passes through one OF the fair
est portions of our county, and the
country at this season of the year, in its
full dress of fresh and luxurant verdure,
was charming to behold. The waving
grain and The blooming clover added
beauty TO the landscape, which excited
the admiration of our entire party.
THE WRECK.
Amid such scenes of rural quiet and
felicity the train moved smoothly along,
all Joy Gus and happy en- board, when
suddenly, at about 7.45 a. NJ, within
halt mile of the Junction Of the main
stem with the Metropolitan Branch road,
and without word OF warning or
sound OF a whistle, there was jar, a
crash. a wreck. The excursion train
had collided with the Winchester train
bound east to Baltimore. The transi-
ton from Joy to sorrow, from mirth to
grief, from rapture to phrenzy, was pit
liable The passengers i'll the rear cars,
which fortunately were not involved in
the wreck, were seized with constcrna-
ton. Some jumped out OF the rear
windows and from the platforms, bu. SO
sudden was the accident and so soon
the cessation Of the jar that compare
lively few Of the passengers became
panic stricken. But more appalling
scene iranspired in the forward cars.
Your correspondent, who was sitting in
the car adjoining those which were
wrecked, never witnessed a more heart
rendinp scene. The coaches attached
TO the locomotive of the eastward bound
train were unoccup;ed. When the en-
pipes collided the copcus.ioR drove them
back about a hundred yards from the
wreck, The engines were both com
plete wrecks, and looked as though the
iron monsters had grappled each other
Had in tho
conflict. The baggage car attached to
the excursion, marvellous as it may
seem, was upinjured, but the two ad-
Joining cars of this train, coaches Nos.
sc and 81, containing about one hun
dred excursionists, including the band,
were completely telescoped and present
ed q scene that battles description
MANY Of their inmates succeeded in max
ing their escape, and some OF these es-
capes were miraculous. Others were
crushed to death and many manned and
injured.
THE KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Those killed outright were Charles
III. Keefer, the head OF the firm OF
Keefer & Knauff, editors of the Freder-
lex Examiner, and gentleman widely
known and highly esteemed; X. 7. L.
Dutrow, one of the most prominent
farmers in the lower section of our coun-
ty, and at one time a member OF the
Maryland House of Delegates, who had
Joined the excursionists at Adamstown,
and had not probably been on the train
more than five minutes-his neck was
broken; Howard Z. Dixon, of Mount
Carmel, near Frederick, aud Dorsey
Walker, Of this city Some of these,
especially Messrs. Dixon and Dutrow,
were horribly crushed and mangled.
Louis Schley, a son of DR.. Fairfax
Schley, a most popular and promising
young man, had his legs broken, crush
ed and fearfully lacerated, and also re-
c,ived internal injuries, which have
since resulted in his death. Col. Chas.
Z. Trail, one of our most prominent Cit
liens, also received serious injuries,
which it is feared will prove mortal
Among others injured were Leonard
Mullinix, leg broken; VIM. Bartgis, leg
broken; Henry Brashears, leg broken;
Enoch Green, leg broken and serious
internal injuries, supposed to be fatal
Engineer Buckley, arm badly hurt; fire
man of engine No. IA, head badly cut
son OF Col. George K. Dennis, arm bro.
ken; Col. Dennis, who is a director OF
the road, was in the baggage car when