Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-01
A TERRIBLE CRASH.
HEADLONG INTO THE RIgER.
Details OF the Aceident ON the Virginia Mid
land Railroad Miraculous Escapes aud
needs of Hcrnism.

evening gives the following details Of the
accident which occurred on the Virginia
Midland railroad sunday morning:
At few minutes OF 5 O'clock Yesterday
Sunday morning the inhabitants along the
river on the Amherst side. which is crossed
hy the Virginia Midland trains on two
wooden bridges. were startled by the loud,
shrlll. and Tong whistle Of the morning
south-bound express-a whistle which,
when heard. is never mistaken for other
than distress. At the rate Of probably six
ty miles an hour the train came Numbering |
down the grade TO the bridge with nothing
to arrest its headlong career.
THE WESTINGHOUSE Am.B2AKEs.
which are always used to check the train
before reaching the sharp curve which up.
pToachcS The bridge. were out OF order and |
refused 10 work. The conductor and train
lands answered the signals by jumping TO
the hand-brakes and putting them hard |
down, but this was insufficient to check /
the impetus cf the train. and 10 reverse his |
engine on sharp curve the experienced |
engineer Moore knew was total destruc- |
tion. The train. including baggage. eX-
pross-car, smoker. passenger cOa 10, and |
The New York and Washington through |
Pullman Sleepers
AKOl Nd THE SHORT CURVE
safely. aud the engineer made mental |
thanksgiving. but the swing OF the ears |
was great, and the smoker launching ont |
beyond its usual boundary. the left for |
ward corner went crashing against the up |
right braces of the entrance OF the bridge, |
and although sustaining severe wrcckage,
was pulled on by the coupling and
kept the track until the first span
Of the bridge was crossed. Here the
trucks let tie track and fell to the
slecperS. witch rest with their ends
on the truss,s on either side and served to
support the entire weight Of truck and
trains, and while they were intended to
support, vertically any amount Of weight.
tn'y were not prepared for the lateral
strain put upon them. and for a distance Of
about one hundred and twenty-five feet
they were dragged out Of position 10y the
heavy trucks tSat went ploughiug into
them. The smoker reached the next span
and the passenger coach landed
INA CRUSHED CONDITION
Gthwart the stone pier, but the two heavy
Slccpers, containing twenty-five or thirty
passengers, including five ladies', one an in'
valid. and an infant. swept into the bottom
less span, and without hindrauce dropped
upright into about ten feet OF more OF
water.
HORROR STRUCK,
the engineer. with the locomotive. sped TO
the city for assistance, and in an incredible
short space Of time train with surgeons
and a willing force were At the scene. but
cool heads and strong arms had done much
before their arrival.
CAPTAIN CHARLES ". BLACKFOED
was a passenger in the forward sleeper.
and perhaps was the only person in the
cars who Qinowing the locllity) was fully
cognizant Of the situation, for as we were
told by several passengers, they did not
know the ears had left the track until the
water commenced to pour in, although tue
fal; 10 the water was sheer Twenty-Five feet.
CAPTAIN BlackfOrd. intending 10 leave the
train on its arrival here. was partly dressed,
and Immediately guessed what was the M
ture of the accident, and on inquiry from
Mr.. &. &. Holland, OF Danylle, told him
that they Were In James river In deep
water. Captain B!ackiord Immediately got
out through the only window then opened,
and was followed by Mr.. Holland, VINO,
hcing unable 10 swim, and encumbcrcd by
hls undcrgarmcntS around his feet, Was
ABOUT TO DRowN.
when Captain Bachford swan 70 his assist
unce, and he gratefully acknowledge the
debt Of present existence 10 the cool Iudg-
mont and help II his friend. Too great ere
dit cannot Dc given 10 Captain BiackfOrd for
hi, courage, judgment. aud hcr1sm on the
/ occaNion, and many freely acknowledge
that the possession OF lie Is due 10 his
prompt action and personal cilors.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM KIN0,
the conductor Of the train, and one Of the
most popular ~ well q, oldest officer. on
the road, also proved that he was composed
Of stuil that malc men III for an emergency.
with broken RIBS and brui.c, hc swan
around in the water. insisting everywhere.
ana welded an axe lil,c Hercules 10 libo-
rate the confined passengers through the
top of the cars. Other deeds " heroism
wtrr enacted that will never go into print.
Men riskcd their own live, In
SAVING SINKING PASSENGERS.
and We aic aulhortniiycy told that Mr.
Thomas Marks, who lives near by. swain out
ana saved q man almost twice his weight
who had sunk the second time aud was
nearly drowned. The scene may hc better
imagined than described when the wnlcr
commenced 10 rise In The ears, and they 10
settle d,crcr aud dcepp: In The river until
the ycutilatOr tops were tie only parts
In sight Mrs. Fardcu, regardless ~
sell. when " th head scarcely above
water. showed Ecr infant through a
small aperture in the roof. until at-
tCntion was attracted 10 II from the outside,
and brave hands rescued It. Then The he.
Toic mother Uas drawn through the same
space too small for human exit except in
such an emergency. Had the water been
one foot deeper. or the ears more open.
doubtless the majority Of persons would
have been drowned, but.
MIRACULOUS As IT MAY SEEN.
no one wa, seriously injured. Mr. Cole
man Cohen, a young man OF philadelphia,
had his shoulder dislocated. and DR.. owen
set IL before the sufferer let the scene OF
the accident. Except where the c1rs were
cut open 20 rescue the imprisoned passen-
gers, they were apparently but little dam
aged.
As soon rs ii was ascertalned that all
were saved, the passengers, some Of whom
had on but their dripping night-clothes,
were conveyed to the hotels and change
Of clothing furnished them. Captain King,
who became very SEX after a reaction set
in. was carefully tended at the Relay
House, and is doing well. There were q
small number OF passengers in the wreck
ed coaches on the bridge, but all escaped
with slight bruises.
THE SCENE
presented by the wreck was one Of mex
tricable co onfusion--the two cars on the
bridge resting on a mass OF broken and
shattered timbers, and the side trusses OF
the bridge standing almost intact without
a bottom, while the river below contained
the two sleepers, nothing but their broken
tin yentiator tops in sight, and sur
rounded by the debris from the structure
above.
A crowd OF hundreds soon arrived from
the city, and the negro owners OF small
boats, with an eye 10 business. ierried pas
sengers around the wreck at five cents a
head. And divers, stimulated by the
handsome rewards offered, were exploring
the submerged cars for yalises. clothes,
personal effects, and other vauables.
A more grateful set Of persons could not
be found than the rescued passengers, who
seemed perfectly satisfied that they had
saved nothing but their lives. As the con.
tents OF the cars were fished out they were
taken 10 the depot and spread out for in-
spectlon, and during the day most OF them
were Identified, and the passengers secured
most OF their belongings, although In q
damaged condition.