The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-15


FATAL RAILROAD ACC1DENT.-One OF
those terrible casualties, so many of which
we have been called upon to chronicle of
late years, occurred on the C. & o. r. W.
near Charlottesville, last Friday night. The
unfortunate victim was Capt. Jno. 7. Powell,
resident of this city, who enjoyed the re-
spect and esteem of all with whom he was
acquainted. So far as we have been able to
learH the circumstances of the sad occur
renee were as follows Capt. Powell was
conductor of one Of the freight trains, and
was just making up mixed train of freight
and passenger cars. 1t seems that the bum
pers of the passenger cars are higher than
those Of the freight, and in making the
coupling if great care is not used, the bum
pers overlap and permit the platforms to
strike one against the other. Generally the
erson who makes the coupling stands on
the passenger platform. The link, On the
occasion of which we write, having been
misplaced, Capt. Powell secured another,
and instead Of getting on the platform stood
on the track. When the engine backed aGd
the cars came together, by some means, be
missed the Coupling. and was completely
crushed between the platforms. A brakes
man who was near BY, but not in view OF
the conductor, called out to know il all was
right, and receiving no answer, ran to the
place where Capt. Powell was and found
him laying between the rails, dead, With
the pin and link by his side. Death must
have been instantaneous and painless, for ere
any one reached him, which was in less than
moment, life was entirely extinct. His
remains were brought to this place and bur
led in Thornrose Cemetery Sunday last. Out
of respect for his memory, the Baptist Sun
day School, Of which he YVES member, ad
journed in a body last Sabbath morning to
attend the funeral.
Capt. Powell was native OF Albemarle,
having been born and raised not many miles
from where he was killed. He was just in
the prime of life, strong. vigorous and heal
thy, with every promise of career, long
and useful. With those who knew him " ell,
he was great favorite, and his faithful dis
charge of duty made him popular with the
authorities OF the road. Last fall he was
married to'a young lady of Stauntt n, Miss
Miller). How terribly crushing the blow
was to his young wife can scarcely be mag
ined. The Honeymoon Was scarce over ere
the widowed bride was called upon to follow
to the grave him who, short while before,
had led her to the altar. In his sermon
Sunday morning, DR.. Manly alluded very
touchingly to the marriage and the funeral
both of which he had conducted under the
same roof within so short a time.
In connection with this notice there are
several incidents which might be related
Several weeks ago, whilst Capt. Powell and
his wife were walking in the Cemetery, he
selected a lot and told his wife he wished to
be buried there, and just two nights before
bis death, his wife dreamed he had been
killed at Charlottesville, and that telegram
announcing his death had been brought her
by negro boy. So vivid was the dream
that it made a deep impression on her and
she related it to several OF her acquaintance.
On the evening OF the sad occurrence, a
message bearing the fatal news was sent to
Mrs. Powell by a negro-boy, and as soon as
he entered the room, and before the con-
tents Of the telegram was read, she recog-
nized him as the messenger of her dream.
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Gentlemen's Gauze Undershirts at IS cts.
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