Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-21

,Leth Epis. Church South.-Service at ii
. m. and 1880 .. IN. by Rev. MIR. Kern.
Meth. Prot. Nurck-Service at II a. N.
aud 100 p. m. by Rev. C. B. Middleton.
Primitive Baptist. No service.
Free Meth. Church-Service at II a. N.
by Rev. A. H. Lee
german. LmherGn Church. al
a. IN in German by Rev. j. A. Schwoy.
Tvpag Mems Christian Hss0ciati0n.-Pray.
ar meeting in liz F.rSi P.esoyterisc
Church AT 4 p. m. Jail at p. N. Aims
House at 2:30 p. m.
GOSPEL Temperance Meeting Of the Reform,
Club at 8 D. III. III their rooms, on sairiaS
street
The DISASTER At FoUR MILE RUN.-The
terrible catastrophe OF THURSDAY nIghL At
Four mile run continues TO be the leading
theme of con vsrsnt!on in this city, and many
parties have to day sisited the scene. There
have been reaiv no ne" facts learned cpu
c,r..inu the disaster though the number Of
accidents connected with it az related hy
passengers ard shose who were the first &c
Wit me wreck are legion. 1t was without
doubt the most terrible railroad accident
which ever occurred in this section OF the
State, and naturally exctes the liveliest H.
teres,. The charge which is being circulat-
rd ia some quarters that the catastrophe
WAS caused by blunder on the part OF the
Virginia Midland Railway officials is unjust,
"a. as was stated yesterday, all passenger
trains belonging to that road are piloted be-
tween this city and Washington by officers
of the Alexandria and Washington Railway,
thereby relieving the Midland Company OF
all responsibility. Engineer Bruce, OF the
passenger train, of the latter road, which
was in the late collision, says that when he
struck the switch Thursday night, the sig
nal was that the line was open. He says
that as his train passed on the single track
he saw the headlight ofthe freight, and that
train appeared to him to be at u stand still.
He naturally supposed the freight train was
waiting for his to pass, and did not discover
the terrible mistake until too late to check
10. He was thrown clear of the wreck
down the embark ment, and was picked up
in an insensible condition by the train hands
several feet away from the track. lie says
he don't know how he got out of the cab.
Mr.. John barley, his fireman, was instantly
killed, aud his body nearly consumed ere IL
could be extricated from the wreck. The
deceased about two years ago was III another
terrible collision on the Midland road near
Barboursville, in which Mr.. A. Hauey, OF
this city, WAS killed, and MIR. barley SO
seriously in urei that his life was for long
time despalred Off While Mr.. D. was the
only victim on the passenger train, but one
of the crew of the freight train. Dir. Gull
liyan) missed instant death. He escaped
with mashed zoe, but when taken to The
Braddock House, seemingly unapprecative
of the iuterposition of Providence which
had saved his life, protested vehemently
against the amputation Of that member. he
was finally held by assistants while the
surgeon severed the injured toe, and
Is now as joYial and conteuted as if nothing
had occurred. Mr.. @. upon approaching
the tunnel, had lain down fat upon the top
ofa car. and when the train struck was
thrown to the ground, when his toe, only, be
came Wedged in the wreck. Andrew }.
Anger, the conductor, who was on the en-
zine. Geo Frere, the engineer, Thomas
Malone the fireman, and Geo. E. Miller,
second brakeman, were killed outright
mr. Frere was on the engine of the train
on which was ex-President Hayes on the
occasion of tho accident on the Baltimore
and Potomac road, four years ago, when his
engineer was injured.) j. W. Jones, Z. I.
Stewart w. B. McNral, Geo. Gaylor, and
j. A. Franey, (colored), postal clerks, who
we're on the passenger train, were all more
or less Injured. and were brought to the
DTduuUCh DOuSC, IL WY "hSiS eiSJ
are now attended by DR.. Smith, assisted by
Drs. Snowden aud Brown. Mr.. Jones, the
first named, had 80 much improved this
,>veniug, that he left for his home in Wash.
IN, rton; but the condition OF Franey is
thou 'yht to be critical. Mr. Miles, the flag
man VI .he freight train, fortunately bad
left the cars at Fort Runyon but few mo-
mepts he, ore the collision. Some say that
the freirht trau was three minutes .ahead
oftime and = difference of one minute more
between the rains would have been ample
tn bsva nrevan ted the collision, as the sim
ole troct wher. it occurred is 800 feet long.
1 do,hle track ,Nxtend5 up to within two
hundred yards on ,ither side of the viaduct.
Trains leaye the double trace on either slds
by automatic switches, which work two
sets of signal Blackstone on eacn SIDE OF
the viaduct. The rule upon which trains
are run at this point is, that the train when
first strikes the signal block has the RI mt
DIVA When QUE train strikes the switch
h red light is shown to any train approacn-
ing from the opposite direction. as the
trains came together on the single TRACK,
just half way between the blocks, lt IS sup
posed that they must have Struck the Ter
mini of the switch At about the same mo-
meut. AT the Post Office Department IL ID
stated that the disaster caused the heaviest
loss of the United States mail that has ever
occurred at au accident of this kind. There
were thirteen through registered pouches
containing msil matter for the large cities
of the East from the South. There were
100 ordinary pouches and the usual heavy
miscellaneous matter destroyed. 1t is I'M
possible to ascertain the Value of the regis
tered pouches but they are known to have
contained a large amount of money and
Ealuabes. In addition there were 100 reg
isered letters taken up along the route
that had lot been placed in the pouches
The tracks were cleared and trains were
running ut 4:SO o'clock yesterday evening
The officers of the Virginia Midland Com.
pany in this city are much concerned about
tue published reports of the accident, and