The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-28
ANOTHER ACCIDENT
This Tim- It 10 Near Charlotte. North
Carolina
The Danger OF RaBninE Trains In see
tIoas Demonstrated.

| NudIiOltt, ~ ~ lfeG. ia iAi6ub-
ful railroad disaster occurred on the
Air Linerailroad, 500 yards beyond the
Paw creek trestle, nine miles from this
city. Two freight trains left Char
lotte yesterday morning in sections, one
about - minutes behind the other. On
an up grade just below the Paw creek
trestle, IA cars OF the forward train
broke loose and stopped after running
a short distance. In the rear car were
the fiagman, Bob Griffith, of this city,
and six passengers, three Of whom were
eolored, when the detached ears stop
ped the flagman Immediately jumped
of and, having told the trainmen TO no.
tify the passengers that the train lad
broken loose, Immediately started back
10 signal the second section. He had
not gone far before he heard the ap-
preaching train, then he realized the
fact that he could proceed no farther
because Of the trestle, which is $50
yards wide and very heavy. lie waved
his flag as the engine in charge of En-
gineer Wasenberry came in sight, and
the engineer expressed his recognition
OF it by Immediately blowing on brakes.
but his train was heavy and he was
nearing the bottom Of one of the big
gest grades on the roads, hence it was
impossible to stop. As soon as he re-
allied this fact, before crossing the
trestle, lie reversed his engine and con-
tinued to blow for brakes. Realizing
the catastrophe he left his seat, and
standing in front Of the fire box with
his hand on the lever, awaited the
shock. II came, and he was partially
knocked down 10y stick Of wook from
the tender, but was otherwise unhurt,
though he was almost entirely shut in
by a mass OF debris which WAS thrown
against his engine. Ills life was saved
probably 10y the fact that the rear of
the tender was thrown to one side, thus
diyertlng the full momentum of the
train from the engine TO the side OF the
cut against which the shattered cars
were piled In an Inextricable mass.
What occurred in the cab Is obtained
from u statement made by Thomas III.
Gather, of this city, who was pas
senger, and who miraculously escaped
though seriously injured, having had
several of his ribs broken. There were
six passengers besides the fiagman. The
train which ran into them had caught
up to them at Wood station, about five
miles back, and hence when its coming
was announced, no one felt appehen-
sive. The ilagman had been sent back
rs an additional precaution, and hence
no attention was paid to the approach
ing train. 1t was upon them before
they knew it. Gather remembers that
he and Philip S. Whisnant started to
get out, but before he had passed the
middle of the car no was knocked
down. lie managed with the assist
ance of colored man to extricate him
self, by lifting the top Of the car OFF.
The other passengers, Philip $. Whis-
nant, of this city, Charley Sellers, whose
parents live in Pinhook, and n negro
named Ned Stroud, were all killed.
The cars telescoped each other and
were piled in the greatest confusion.
The mass caught fire and the remnants
of cars, including the one in which the
passengers were, were burned up. At
least one of the passengers, name not
known, was burned alive, his cries be-
ing heard. The charred remains were
recovered after several hours, but
could not be recognized, the head, feet
and hands were entirely burned off.