Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-03-09
Fatal Railroad Accident.

cars attached, in one of which were
members of the Oates Comic Opera
Company, bound for Baltimore. The
train was running rapidly at Milford
Station, when the coupling broke be-
tween the first of the two sleeping cars
and the rest of the train. This separat-
ed the two sleeping cars. The coupling,
it is said, was defective. There was
steep down grade at this point; and
when relieved OF the two sleepers(which
are heavier than the other cars), the
engine with three cars, one for baggage,
one for smoking and one for passengers,
shot ahead with increased speed, leaving
the two sleepers to keep moving after
on the down grade The engineer OF
the train, by the suddenly accelerated
motion of his engine, discovered that
something was wrong, and unfortunate
ly blew the signal for down breakes.
The brakemen jumped to their posts,
and in a few seconds the train was at a
standstill. The passengers, some OF
whom were asleep, rushed to .the plat
forms to see what was the matter. The
night was verv dark, and in the distance
could be seen the two sleeping cars
coming down the grade at terrible
rate OF speed. The passengers and
officers on the train were greatly frigh
tened, and i: seemed that the officers,
at least, must have been almost paralyz-
ed by their feelings, as it is alleged no
efforts were made to move The train
forward out of the way of the fast ap-
preaching cars. The passengers on the
rear platform of the passenger car, see
ing that a collision was certain, sought
safety, some by jumping to the ground,
and more by retiring into the car. In
moment there was violent shock
aud crash, making the collision Of the
sleepers with the rear end of the train.
They crushed in one side of the passen-
ger car and forced the other end Of 1t
into the smoking car. The passengers
on the forward platform of the passen-
ger car and the rear platform Of the
smoking Car were not aware OF the
approach of the detached cars until it
was too late. The crashing of timber
warned them that catastrophe had oc-
Cured. Several were caught in the
wreck and we're unable to extricate
themselves. The scene was distressing
The night was dark, and the shrieks
and groans of the wounded added hor-
ror to the situation. Soon lanterns
were obtained, and the passengers who
escaped went to work to release those
who were 10 the wreck. As the debris
was cleared away the wounded passcn-
gers were discovered.
w. c. Mainwaring, private secretary
to John NJ. Robinson, President of the
railroad, was injured internally and
died soon after he was taken out
John w. Aldridge, business manager
of the Fredericksburg News, had his
left thigh broken, and it is feared was
also injured internally.
L. Faulkner, OF Richmond, bad his
left foot severed at the ankle and the
right foot also badly injured.
Major Donally, of West Virginia, had
his left leg broken above the ankle and
his right foot severely injured.
Mr.. Reese, of New York, who was
in the passenger car, was thrown on
the stove, and his hands were badly
| burned.
Several other persons whose names
could not be learned were more or less
injured, but none of them seriously.
Assistance was sent from Richmond,
and the train being put to rights, went
on to Baltimore.
Mr. Mainwarings death was a sad
one. His moans and complaints of suf-
feriDg were pitiful. Shortly after the
collision he was found hanging on to
the stanchions of a platform, shouting
feebly for help. "For Gods sake" be
cried, "don't let me drop. My strength
is giving out, and / will fall if some one
does not come TO my assistance" Mr..
Howell Seymour, of the Oates troupe,
who heard his appeal, aud thought he
was held fast by the body or legs,
groped towards the spot, and, clutcbing
him under the arms, he said: "Never
fear, my man, I'll hold you up as long
as any strength is lett 10 my body"
Poor Mainwaring still grasped the plat
form, but all the strain was off his arms,
for the stalwart actor who came To his
assistance nobly kept his word and held
him until his own strength was well
nigh gone. He then called for aid, and
several men coming to the rescue, he
was relieved of the burden of Msinwar-
ing's body, the latter being placed on
the sward near by. Mainwaring did
not shown any signs of injury, and the
men who aided him turned aside in dis
gust, remarking, "Tbat fellow is shout
ing more than men who have been hurt,
and there does not seem TO he anything
the matter with him." They then turn
ed TO assist Aldridge and the others
Bnt they were mistaken as regards poor
Mainwaripg, as the sequel showed.
After the wounded had been removed
into the car MainwariDg called Mr. Sey-
mour, who had held him up at the plat
form, to bis side, and said earnestly:
"God bless you, old fellow; you did
your best for me. There will, however,
be dead man in this car before morn
ing, and / am the man. Prophetic
words! Ten minutes after the car
reached Milford he was corpse He
was wounded internally, but the exact
nature of bis injuries has not been as
certained. p" 7& 80
Mr.. Faulkner, of Richmond, and Ma
jor Donally, Of Charleston, who were
so seriously wounded, were caught IN