The New York herald., 1878-02-26
A RAILROAD CRASH.
ONE NAN KILLED, THREE DANG EousLY AND
SEVERAL OTHERS SLIGHTLY INJURED-A
WORKOUT COUPLING AID STUPID MANAGE
LEY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


MENT.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
MILFORD STATION. Va, Feb rs, 1873.
Another railroad--the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac has been the scene OF a heartrending
disaster. The accident occurred about iorty miles
from Richmond and two miles from this place. The
result was one passenger killed, three so
terribly muiIlated that they will probably die
and several others more less injured The simple
facts, as witnessed by your correspondent who hap
pencd TO be on the train ana IN the very Cal which
bore the brunt OF the slaughter, are as ollows-The
express for the north lett Richmond last even
ing and went its way at the rate OF about thirty
miles an hour Toward midnight the coupling con-
meeting two sleeping cars IN the with The OF
the train snapped asundcr. The engine with the
baggage and two passenger cars kept up It's rate Of
speed, followed at about miles distance by the Two
seepers, unaer the additional impetus Of down
grade
FATAL s1oPPAGg.
A brakeman assuming the chiel command, and
twce pulling tho cord IN tho baggage car ordered tho
engineer TO stop. At the second pull the locomotive
Came 10 stan ndsill. Several Of the passengers want
ing 10 know the OF this sudden stoppage in the
midst OF dismal Virginia swamp, in the darkness Of
starless night went TO the front platform OF the ILL
lated car The conductor OF tho train now saw the
TO the engineer, "For Gods sake, 60 on."
THE JAWS OF DKAru.
1t was too late. Down came tho two sleepers upon
tho passenger car, and terrific shock awoko tho
sleeping inmates anu lam med iour unfortunate mon
between the platforms VI tho Two passenger cars
Two had their legs crushed TO jelly ono had both feet
cut OF and the fourth his thigh broken. How 10 re-
lease these poor crushed, bleeding men, wedged ia u
terribly small compass was the aIl-absorblng ques.
ton. Tor the locomotv hud become detached had
continued on It's way, leaving the tram behind
The male passengers Tor over half an hour made
frantic but unavailng efforts to release tho four
victims whose pale aponized faces depicted the terri
Bile pain they bore. One OF them, heroic Old man.
bore this terrible ordeal with the fortudo Of Ro-
man, refusing y flask OF whisksy handed him by q
passenger to brace him up Al length the engine re-
turned and, being again attached pulled tho two cars
apart The sufferers, uttering heart piercing groans,
taken carried to Milford station tor medi.
cal help Ono Of them, MIR. Main warng. secretary to
the president OF the railroad company died on the
way, aud the other three according 10 the opinion Of
the doctors summoned, were dying
VICTIMS
The following are the dead, the fatally mutilated
and the lnjured:-
Mr. MAINwARING, OF Richmond; dead
Major DoNELLY. Charleston, W. Va boih feet cut
or aud Internally injured; will probably die.
MIR. ALDRIDGE, of tho Fredericksburg Ne,cs; thigh
crushed; cannot survive
FRANK FALKNER, OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad both legs already amputated; may live.
JOHN A. RUSS, NO. 20 Beaver street, New York
hands badly burned
G. $. WATERMAN, Baltimore; internally injured
and mouth badly cut
ANDREW 5. Drawer, New York; one hand badly
cut
WORKOUT COUPLING.
The primary cause Of the disaster, as your CORE
spondent found examination, was the parting oil
the coupling that connected the forward sleeper with
the passenger car Tho link. coupling, by tho rust
the inside OF tho brake. showed plainly that wal
unfit for use, having been previously cracked OF
broken, and by false economy made bear the strain
to which it yielded But this would not have bser
followed by such fatal consequences those IN charge
Of the train had displayed more vigilance and pres
snce of mind.
CARING THE INJURED.
Mr.. j. II. Robinson, president Of tho company wal
early this morning here making arrangements tor tho
dead and dying. The passengers detained about
nine hours at Milford station, until the arrival OF tho
relief train from Richmond. The Oates Opera Troupe
were also on the train, and several OF It's male mem
bcrs did good service IN caring for the victims.