The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-29
A Turning "Sleepcr.'
EXPERIENCE OF PASSENGERS ON BALTIMORE
AND OHIO TRAIN.

EXPERIENCE OF PASSENGERS ON a BALTIhoNE
AND OHIO TRAIN.
GCincinnati Enqurer.l
Passengers from Washington and the
East who embarked on the Pullman sleeper
Baltimore, on the Baltimore and ONO tram
due in this city last evening at O'Clock,
met with thrilling experience saturday
morning about O'Clock, few miles east
of Cumberland, Maryland. Every berth
but two was filed. Among the passengers
was bibulous gentleman, whose potatlons
had rendered him extremely laxative and
noisy. After firing everybody else out, he
finally laid himself down, but not to sleep.
He still kept up his flow of language. much
to the disgust OF traveller who had the
misfortune to be assigned to the same sec
ton. Finally his patience could Withstand
| it no longer, and, to escape the annoyance,
| got I'D and went to the forward end OF the
coach. To his horror, he saw that lamp
had exploded and fired the sleeper. The
flames spread with terrible rapidity, and IN
few seconds the whole end OF the car was
abaze. His cries Of dismay and warning
aroused the other passengers, who tumbled
/ from their touches pell-mell in all sorts OF
costumes, many OF which were distin gulshed
principally by their scantiness. Ladies half
clad ran screaming up and down the aisle,
the two children aboard sent up walls OF
terror and distress, the men jumped about
and swore as il their stocking-feet were
momentarity besieged by red-hot pokers,
and panic such as was never witnessed
before reigned supreme. In the mean time
the train went humping over the ties at the
rate OF forty miles an hour. The frantic
s.yanks" on the bell-rope by the gentleman
who first discovered the fearful situation
had its effect, and the speed was lessened.
| The conductor, however, who was in the
coach in front of the sleeper. knowing full
well that be had not signaled q stop, pulled
the rope, telling the engineer to go ahead,
and away she flew again. Then despair
seized upon that frantic, bowling mob Of
unclad humanity, theireyes fixed in a stony
stare uponthe advancing flames, while their
ears were satated by the cracking OF the
dry wood that burned like paper. It was
thrilling moment and one not likely to be
forgotten. Above the din OF the rumbllng
wheels and the horrible sound OF the de-our-
inu tire-fend that stalked toward the crouch
inc crowd could be heard the prayer Of
mercy from some deyeut soul, mingled
with the curses OF few impious men. AT
length. when the bell-rope had been nearly
severed BY the combined energies OF dozen
peonle. who elutehed it as drowning man
arasps straw, the conductor caught a
glimpse OF light from the burning car as the
train sped through cut. His signal was
understood and the engine was reversed.
When the train was stopped the now almost
paralyzed passengers were transferred to
other coaches, all safe and sound, but minus
their small baggage and most Of their clothes.
The coach, still burning, was side-tracked
and totally destroyed. When the train
reached Parkersburg new supply OF hats
and other wearing apparel was procured
by the uniortunates. The train reached
this city last night about 10 o'clock-three
hours behind time.