The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-07-10
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
Thrilling End of Fast Run on the
Virginia Midland
Railroad.
I'VE Sleeping Cars Fall Through q
Bridge Into Ten Feet
OF Water.
urnchburg (va.) Telsgram-I

urnchburg (va) TeisgramI
A railroad disaster Of a thrilling and re-
narkable character occurred on the Vir-
ginia Midland Railroad near this city. The
Washington and New York sleeping ears
were prsoipitated from bridge into the
James River, and yet not . single life was
lost The escape Of forty or more persons
from death was almost miraculeus, and the
scenes while their rescue was being ef2eoted
from The submerged cars were exciting be-
ysnd description. The train was the morn
ing express, to which the through sleepers
from Now York and Washington had been
attached, and both were well filed with
passengers = men, womsp, and children.
All went well until reaching a point about
two miles north Of Lynehburg, where there
is heavy down grade. The engineer found
that the speed Of the train was mpidly in
creasng, though he had shut of steam and
applied the nir-brakes. To his surprise
there was no peYceptible diminution Of the
trains motion, and it 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 b the river, .
distance Of nearly two miles, the train
swept along at the rate Of more than mile
q minute. Some Of the passengers were
alarmed, but mono were prepared for the
thrilling episode which was so soon 10 fol-
low.
Upon reaching the bridge the engine.
tender, and baggage car kept the track, but
the smoker swayed SO that it struck the
girders, throwing it from the track and
causing the cars following to do the same.
The trucks of the smoking cor tore the
sleepers away for distance OF more than q
hundred feet, and when tho heavy slsepers
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 were of
course imprisoned like dogs in pound.
Their stified screams for aid as the water
rose around them were pitiable in the ex-
treme, but there WAS apI arently little room
to hope for their rescue.
Conductor William King was thrown
from a platform and had two ribs broken,
but realizing tho 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 ut 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 experie need while rescuing the child OF
Mrs. j. s. Farden. The terrified woman
while in m upper berth which was fast be-
ing flooded with water. pushed her q
months-old baby through a window and
held it there until it 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 aisas-
tiers.