The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-20
PETERSBURGS BUDGET.

4 Malicious Act-A Train of Cars Partially
| Observation-Disclosures Caused by Fire.
| (Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
| MARCH 19, 1884.
The engine, tender, and several cars Of a
long freight train, which left the depot OF
the Petersburg Railroad Company for Wei
don a few minutes before 10 O'Clock last
night, were thrown from the track by q
misplaced switch near the Perry-Street
crossing, a few hundred yards distant.
The same engine had but short while be-
! fore been brought down from the Mount
Airy shops to take the train Of twenty
/ three cars out, when the switch was all
right. The switch is always kept locked,
and its displacement was the act Of
some malicious person, who seems to have
possession of skeleton-key. 1t was found
| securely locked after the accident. On ap-
preaching the spot the engineer discovered
that the switch was wrong, and he shut off
steam and reversed his engine at once, but
it was too late to prevent the accident.
| The engine was carried some thirty or
| forty yards, the engineer sticking to his
post, and was stopped on the verge of the
embankment A few feet more and it
would have turned over. The tender and
several cars were rolled over down the
embankment and considerably damaged.
Brakeman Carl Gary (cOlOred), who was
| on the front car, was thrown some dis
tance, and much bruised. The road was
completely blocked by the accident. The
| through night passenger train from the
North had to stop over here during
the night, and until II O'Clock to-
day. On the other side, a material
and two passenger trains from the South,
which arrived this morning, were also kept
i'm waiting for some hours. A large force
was put to work Immediately after the ac-
cident to clear the track. This morning,
il being impossible to move the engine at
once. il was found necessary to build a
temporary track around it TO allow the
passage Of trains. This was finished by II
O'Clock, and the moving Of trains has been
resumed. The passengers who were kept
here by the accident were kindly cared for
by the company. This is not the first time
that attempts have been made to wreck
trains on this road.
Information was received this morning
Of the death in Washington yesterday OF
Mrs. Elizabeth Parsons, the venerable
mother of Mr.. George W. Brooks, we'll
known merchant OF our city.
There were two alarms OF fire last eve
ming. The first was caused by the burning
of tar in some boilers at Watson Nc
CLIPS tobacco factory, and the second,
about s. O'Clock, by the burning OF a foul
chimney. This latter alarm nearly caused
a panic in the Academy OF Music, where
Blind Tom was giving performance.
The fire-bell near by rang vigorous
alarm, and some indiscreet persons in the
building hastily arose and rushed from
the house. Many in the house became
alarmed for fear the fire was in the Acade-
nv. and il was only by the racifying infiu-
ences Of the more cool-headed that stam-
pede was prevented. $50.
Judge II. C.. Shell. of Dinwiddie county,
is renorted seriously ill. His health has
been very delicate for some time, and 1t
was owing 10 this fact that the charges
against him before the Legislature were
not investigated. ~
The movements among the Coalltloh
party here indicate that they are actively
oroanizing for the spring campaign. AS
usual, they are moving IN advance oi Cne
Democratic party. Their executive cohl-
mittees are holding frequent sessions;
1t is reported that an elegant HSht-
draught passenger and freight sIeaniei,
costing between $4,000 and S2O,OOO, Is
shortly to be put upon the line between tnis
city and Smithfeld. The steamer IS regis
tered 10 carry AS passengers. III Is also
understood that application has been MADE
10 the authorities at Washington for con-
tract 10 carry the mail TO all points on tne
James between Petersburg and smlthlield'
ROBIN ADAIR.