The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-28
APPALLING ARRAY
OF nURDERous ASSAULTS AND PA.
rl tai CAsUALTIEs.
Death In the Nine and ON the RaiI-HataI
Expiosiou-By His own Hand-Intox.
ieated Man Gets Too Much Cold
Water-Murderer Lynehed, and
Another Sentenced TO Death.
RR1aHrRuL EATE.

Fearful CoIIIaion Near Charlotte, y. C.
several Passengers Killed and one
Slowly Roasted TO Death, the Bystand'
ers Hearing his shrieks Of Agony bat
Unable TO Oner Aid.
CHARLOTTE, N. O., December IA
irightful railroad disaster occurred this
morning on the Air Line Railroad FIVE
hundred yards beyond the Paw Creek
trestle, nine miles from this city. Two
freight trains left Charlotte yesterday
morning In sections, one about fifteen
minutes behind the other. On an up
grade, just beyond the Paw Greek trestle,
fourteen cars Of the forward train broke
loose and stopped after running short
distance. In the rear car were the flag.
man, Bob Griffith, OF this city, and six
passengers, three Of whom were colored.
When the detached cars stopped fagmsn
Griffith at once jumped of, and having
told the train men to notify the passengers
that they had broken loose from the re-
mainder Of the train, Immediately started
back TO signal the second section.
He had not gone far before he
heard the approaching train, and
then realized the fact that he uldproceed
no farther because OF the trestle, which Ia
$50 yards wide aud very heavy. He
waved flag rs the engine in charge Of
Engineer Wisenberry came in sight, and
the engineer expressed his recognition Of
It by Immediately blowing down brakes,
but his train was heavy and he was near
ing the bottom OF one Of the biggest grades
on the road, hence It was impossible TO
STOP, As soon as he realized this fact.
and before crossing the tressel, he reversed
his engine and continued to blow on
the breaks. Realizing the catastrophe, he
left his seat, and standing in front OF the
fire-box, with his hand on the lever, await
ed the shock. Il came, and he was par
tally knocked down by q stick OF wood
from the tender, but was otherwise unhurt,
though almost entirely shut In by the
the engine. His life was probably saved
by the fact that the rear OF the tender was
thrown 10 one side, thus deviating the
full momentum OF the train from the en-
CINE, 10 the side of cut, against which
the shattered cars were piled In IN mex
tricable macs. What occurred in the cut
Is obtained from the statement made by
Thee. II. Gather, OF this city, who was
passenger and who miraculouslv escaped
death, though seriously injured, having
had several OF his ribs broken. There were
six passengers, beside the fagman. Tho
train which ran into them had caught up
with them at. Wood Station, few miles
back, and, hence, when its coming was
announced no one felt spprehensive. A
fiagman had been sent back as an adddi-
tional precautiop, and hence no atten.
ton was paid to the approaching train. 1t
was upon them before they knew It.
Gather remembers that he and Phillip s.
Whisnant started to get out, but before he
had passed the middle OF the car he was
knocked down; he managed, with the
assistance OF a colored man, to extricate
himself by lifting the whole top oil
the car of Of the other passengers. Phillip
Is. Whisnaut, OF this city; Charles Sellers,
whose parents live in Plnhook, and me-
gro named Ned Stroad were all killed.
The, cars teiescoped each other and were
piled In the greatest confusion. The mass
caught fire, and the remnants Of the cars,
including that in which were the passen:
gers, were destroyed. At least one Of
them was burned alive. The charred
remains were recovered after several
hours, but could not be recognized. The
head, feet and hands were entirely burned
nH