Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-02-26
Fatal Railroad Accident.

rallrOau aIClucot, GU aoeeoo' W "'''~'' 49, $500
lishel 10 yesterday Gaz etc, arc gathered from
this mornlag's papers:
Tie Baltimore American says the accident
occurred at halt past eleven O'Clock on Sunday
night. The train left Richmond about moe
O'Clock, an hour behind time, with Two sleeping
cars attached, 10 one of which were members of
the Oates Comic Opera Company, bound for
Baltimore The train was -unDlDg rapidly at
Milford Station, when the coupling broke be
tween the first Of the two sleeping cars and the
rest of the train. This separated the two sleep.
ing oars. The coupling. it is said, was deiec
tive. There was steep down grade at this
point; aud when relieved OF the two slecpers
(which are heavier than the other carSl, The
engine With three cars, one iOr baggage, one
for smoking and one Tor passengers. shot ahead
with increased speed. leaving the two slcepers
to keep moving after on the dow0 grade. The
engineer Of the train, by the suddenly acc2e.
rated motion OF his engine, discovered that
something was WroDg, and unfortunately blew
the signal for down brakes. The brakcmcn
Jumped to their posts, and 10 lew seconds the
train was at standstlll. The passengers, samc
Of whom were asleep, rushed Ia the platforms
to see what was the matter The might was
very dark, and in the dlstarce could be seen
the two sleeping cars conlUg down the grade
at terrible rato OF speed. The passengers
and officers Oh lhesraln were greatly trlghtea'
ed, and it seems that the officers, at least must
have been almost paraSzad by their feelings,
as it is alleged no efforts were made to move
the train forward out It the way Of the last APP
proachug CATS. The passengers on the rear
platform Of the passenger car, seeing that col
lsion was certaa, sought safety, some by Jump
ing to the ground, and more by retiring into
the car. In moment there was violent shock
and crash, marking tho collision OF the SleeperS
with the rear end Of the train. They crushed
10 one side of the passenger car and forced the
other end Of it into the smoking car. The pas
sengers on the forward platform of the passcn.
ger car and the rear platform ot the smoking
car were not aware cf the approach OF the de-
tached cars until it was too la!c. The crashing
of timber warned them that 4 catastrophe had
occurred. Several were caught in the wreck
and were unable to cxtricate themselves. The
scene was distressing. The night was dark,
and the shrieks and groans OF the wounded al
ded horror to the situation. Soon lanterns were
obtained, and the passengers who escaped went
TO work to release those who were IN the wreck.
As the debris was cleared away the wounded
passengers were discovered
w. &. Mainwaring, private secretary TO joha
NJ. Robinson, President Of the railroad, was in:
iured internally and died soon alter he vas
taken OUT.
John w. Aldridge, business manager Of the
Frederick sburg News, had his left thigh
broken, and it is feared was also 10 urad incr-
nally.
i. Faulkner, of Richmond, had his left foot
severed at the ankle and the right foot also
badly Injured.
Major DonalIy, Of West Virginia, had his
left leg broken above tho ankle and his right
foot severely Injured.
Mr. Reese, of New York, who was il tho
passenger car, was thrown on The stove, and his
hands were badly burned.
Several other persons whose names could not
be learned we're more or less Injured, but none
Of them seriously. Assistance was sent from
Richmond, aud the train being put to rights,
went on to Baltimore.
Mr.. Mainwaring's death was a sad one.
His means and complaints Of sufar!og were
pitiful. Shortly after the collision he was fou1d
hanging on to the stauchions Of platform.
shouting feeby for help. For Gods sake"
he cried, don't let me drop. My strength is
giving out ADD | will fall if some one does not
come to ny assistance" Mr.. Howell Seymour,
of the Oates troupe, who heard his appeal
and thought he was held fast by the body or
legs, CROPPED towards the spot, add, clutchng
him uuder the arms, he said: Never fear my
man, I'll hold you UP as long as auy strength
is left in my BODY" Poor hanwarng still
grasped the platform, but all the strain was
off his arms, for the saWart actor who came
to his assistance nobIy kept bis word aud held
him until his own strength was we'll nigh gore.
He then called for aid, and several men coming
to the rescue, be was relieved OF the burden OF
Mainwaring's body, the latter being placed on
the sward near by. Maiuwaring did not show
any signs Of injury, and the men who aided
him turned aside 10 disgust, renarklng, That
fellow is shouting more than men who have been
hurt, and that does not appear to be anything
the matter with him." They then turned to
assist Aldridge and the others. But they we're
mistaken az regards poor Manwarine, % the
sequel showed. After the wounded had been
removed toto the car ManwariDg called Mr..
Seymour, who had held him up at the plat.
form to his side, and said earnestly: "God
bless you old fellow; you did your best tor me.
There will, however, be dead man In this car
before morning, aud | am the man. Pro-
phetic words Ten minutes after the CIR
reached Milford he Was corpse. lie was
wounded internally, but the exact nature 81 his
Injuries has not been asccrtalncd.
MIR. Faulkner, of Richmond. aud Mai
DouaIly, Of Charleston, who were 50 scrious y
wounded, wera caught in the debris, and It
was nearly twenty minutes before they were
released They begged pitoously to be taken
out. Mr.. Faulkner, whose foot was entirely
severed, held up the bleeding stump of his leS
and sad: look at that and for Gods sake
give me chance for my life II With Spartan
forti,ude he calmly awaited his release. Major
Doual!y, who was held fast in the debris acted
in an equally heroic manuer.
The occupants OF the sleeping cara, Including
the Oates company, were not hurt at all.
There was much excitement, however, among
the women passengers, who jumped from their
bcrths iu alright whcu the collision ocourrcd.
An old man 10 one Of the sleeping cars was
also much alarmed, and tried to get out OF Que
of the windows.
Mr.. Malnwariug was about 90 years OF age.
He was born 10 Wicklow, Ireland, where he
had many wealthy relatives his father owning
one Of the finest estates 10 Wicklow county.
h. NJ opI