Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-30
pETERsBuRG's BUDGET.
A 1osr HORRIBLE DEATH.

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fccrrcsnopoepccofth the Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, May 20, 1885.
A colored man, whose name IS sup
posed to be Nick Mason, aged some
TWENTY-FIVE or twenty-three yosrs, met
with a very sudden death by accident
this morning in the yard OF the Norfolk
and Western railroad in this city. The
deceased lived in Chesterfield county,
and was a hod-carrier. His parents
live in this city. Last night he came
into town and sought shelter from the
| ;ncIement weather under the cer-shcd in
the railroad yard. There were some
coaches OF the track under the shed,
the east,cad Of which terminates at Sc
cond street. The track ends few feet
from the street within the yard enclo-
sure, and is protected by a heavy piece
of timber, or bulkhead, placed across
the rails and kept in place by posts
driven into the ground. 1t is supposed
that the deceased laid down and went to
sleep upon this piece Of timber. Be-
tween 9 and 3 o'clock this morning
train Of fifteen cars was backed
upon this track, which struck the
coaches under the she'd with such
force as to drive two wheels OF the
truck Of the rear coach over the bulk
head. The latter was forced from its
position and turned over, and the man
was caught beneath it and instantly
crushed to death. The body, with the
bulkhoad upon it, was found between
the wheels Of the truck. The head
was mashed almost fat, and the bones
of the breast crushed by the weight of
the car upon the timber, and it was not
for some hours that the body could be
identified. The parents Of the deceased,
though there were some Distinguishing
marks about the face, failed to positive
ly identify their son, and il was only
through acquaintance that the body
was eventually identified. 1t is said
that the engineer was using the usual
precautSon in backing the train, and
that the accident was caused more by
the weight of the train than by the
speed at which it was backing.
The Republicans of the city profess
not TO attach any Importance to the an
nouncement that Captain William E.
Hinton, Jr., the independent candidate
for treasurer in this city, will contest
the election of Mr.. James W. Couch,
on the ground of the ineligibility of the
latter. They say he has no ground on
which to substantiate the charge. There
are others who think, however, that
some very interesting and delicate
points are involved in the case. 1t is
reported to-day, however, that Captain
Hinton has decided not to make the
contest.
Tomorrow Federal memorial-day)
will be observed at the two national
cemeteries near this city, but the oere-
monies will be quiet and without any
ostentation. Many thousands Of Union
soldiers sleep in the cemeteries at Pop
lar Grove, in Dinwiddie, and at City
Point.
The Republicans of this city will to-
morrow elect delegates to convention
which will meet next week to appoint
delegates to the State Convention and
to nominate two candidates from this
city for the House of Delegates. 1t is
presumed the old plan will be adopted
Of nominating one white and one colOred
man for the Legislature.
Rain has been falling heavily here all
day. The streams everywhere in this
section are much swollen by the heavy
fall Of water during the past few days.
ROBIN ADAIR.