The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-07-10
PERIL IN THE SLEEPER.
A Passenger Train Hurled Into
Stream While Running a
Mile q Minute.
Miraculous Escape Of the Passengers :
Thrilling Scenes and In.
cidents.
n,vnchburr fya.) Telerram.l

nynchburg va.) Telegram.l
A railroad disaster Of thrilling and re-
markable character occurred on the yir-
ginia Midland Railroad near this city. The
Washington and New York sleeping cars
were precipitated from Il bridge into the
James River, and yet not Il single life was
lost. The escape Of forty or more persons
from death was almost miraculous, and the
scenes while their rescue was being Effected
from the submerged ears were exciting be-
yond description. The train was the morn
ing express, to which the through sleepers
from New York aud Washington had been
attached, and both were we'll filled with
passengers - men, women, and children.
All went well until reaching point about
two miles north of Lynchburg, where there
is heavy down. grade. The engineer found
that the speed of the train was rapidly in
creasing, though he had shut of steam and
applied the air-brakes. To his surprise
there was no perceptible diminution Of the
trains motion, and il became apparent that,
through some defect in the brakes, they
were not operating. The speed Of the
train increased with each revolution Of the
wheels, and, during the run To the river, a
distance of nearly two miles, the train
swept along at the rate Of more than mile
minute. Some Of the passengers were
alarmed, but none were prepared for the
thrilling episode which was SO soon to fol
low.
Upon reaching the bridge the engine,
tender, and baggage car kept the track but
the smoker swayed 50 that it struck the
girders, throwing it from the track and
causing the cars following to do the same.
The trucks of the smoking-car tore the
sleepers away for distance Of more than q
hundred feet, and when the heavy sleepers
reached the place the strength was INSULT
cient for their support, and they Went
crashing through into the river. The water
into which the cars plunged was ten feet
deep, and the terrified passengers We're of
course imprisoned like dogs III pound.
Their stitied screams for aid as the water
rose around them were pitiable i'll the ex-
treme, but there was app arently little room
to hope for their rescue.
Conductor William King was thrown
from a platform aud had two ribs broken,
but realizing the peril Of the passengers he
went promptly and heroically to their aid.
Procuring an AK he, with one or two other
| persons, swan to the submerged cars and
smashed in the ventilators at the top Of the
cars. BY this time the water had reached
that point, and the struggling passengers
were clinging to upper berths and the bell-
rope to keep from drowning. The screams
!. of the women and children were heartrend-
ing. One by one the half drowned passen-
gers were dragged through the opening and
| helped ashore until all were got out safely.
| Among the many thrilling incidents was
that experis need while rescuing the child of
Mrs. J. s. Farden. The terrified woman
while in an upper berth which was fast be-
ing flooded with water. pushed her 3
months-old baby through n window and
held it there until i, was rescued. The he
roic woman was then saved herself
Old railroad men say this escape was one
of the most remarkable that have ever been
recorded in the history Of railroad disas-
| tiers.