Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-11
PETERSBURG AND VICINITY.
kerisxs ERiirssd AecideSt; Marrow Escape
or 7.nssasrs- Three Deaths.
fCnrresnnndanceo OF the Richmond Dlapaich

kerisxs Entirssd AecideSt; Marrow Escape
OF S.sssssp- Three Deaths.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, April 10, 1885.
An accident Of quite a serious cha
actcr, though fortunately resulting in
no injury to life or limb, occurred
about 10 O'Clock this morning on the
Richmond and Petersburg railroad at
this end Of the line.
The freight train which left Rich
mond early this morning, with some
twenty-five or more cars and with the
usual mail and psssengsr-cosch attach
ed, reached Pocahontas on schedule
time, shortly before 10 O'Clock. This
train usually stops some time in Poca-
hontss. where the company's freight
depot is situated, to change or drop
some cars, before the passengsr-coach
is brought over the river into the city.
The company's psy-car, with special
engine No. 1853, having on board Pay
master Clark and his clerks, LEFT Rich
mond this morning after the freight
train for the purpose of paying sf the
employees along the line from Richmond
to Weldon. When this car left Chester
it had twenty minutes in which to make
Petersburg. 1t was in charge Of one
Of the oldest and most careful engineers
on the read. When the pay-train
emerged from the sharp curve in the
road Just outside Of PocahontaS the en-
gineer discovered, when too late to stop,
that the freight train occupied the track
ahead Of him, and a collision, which was
inevitable, resulted. Engine No. l5S ran
into the passenger coach, breaking
the latter badly in both rear
and front, almost entirely destroying
two flats belonging to the Wilmington
and Weldon division in front Of the
coach-running one upon top Of the
other, breaking and throwing loaded
boI-car from the track, and more or less
iDjuriDg several other cars. The engine
itselfwas considerably damaged, though
not disabled. The pilot and headlight
were broken off and a portion of the
trent Of the engine stove in. The pay
car and its occupants were not injured.
There were a number Of passengers in
the coach attached to the freight train,
who fortunately escaped injuries, but
they were badly Jared and frightened.
The mail compartment Of the coach
was badly broken up, and was set on
fire from the stove, but the flames were
quickly extinguished and the mails
saved. A large force were set to work
at once to remove the broken ears and
dtbris from the track, and the road
was soon cleared.
For two hours this morning, COM
mencing about 8 o'clock, snow fell fast
and thick here, but the ground WAS so
warm that it melted a. fast as it fell.
1t is feared if freeze follows that the
fruit crop will be destroyed.
Samuel Cuykendall, aged about thr-
ty-five, for many years a printer here
and in Richmond, died last night, after
q short illness, of consumption.
A negro named Jack Smith, well
known about the city, who was seen
last night on the street in apparently
good health, was found dead in bed
this morning, dying evidently from
natural causes.
Miss Nancy Robinson, widow of the
late Charles c. Robinson, of Chester
field county, died last evening. She
was greatly respected, and was we'll
known in your city and Manchester.
A delegation Of our citizens went on
to Washington last evening to look .
after the appointments for this city.