The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1885-07-25
THE REUENT AOCIDENT.

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Everybody deplorss the accident
which occurred to the Goldsboro Rides
by the oyerturning Of the coach when
nearing Asheville. Accidents are prob
able any and everywhere, and none the
less depl orable on account Of locality or
unexpectedness of circumstance. This
accident was specially deplorable, how
ever it may have been brought about.
whether by accident or care1essness. We
have endeayored to asesrtain as many Of
the facts as we could. SO as to blame
those who should either be negligent or
guilty of gross carelessness, or exculpate
those who may be uniustly accused An
unjust accusation cannot remove the
shock or the INJURIES uifefed by themem-
bers of the Goldsboro company orby the
public, and we are sure icy are neither
disposed to do iniustice s. are wanting
in She sympathy Of s. sse6y Iil4E4ez.
diately upon hearing Of the accident.
Superintendent McBee and General Pas
senger Agent Turk came up to investi-
gate. We have met them, and while
greatly mortified at the matter do not
wish to shield any guilty person, nor do
they desire the condemnation of an in
nocent person. We have also conversed.
with gentlemen, members Of the Guard,
who were on the4rain, and, are pleased
to say, these generally are actuated by a
like feeling with the railroad officers.
Very many, and some very wild iru-
moTs, have been in circulation since the
unfortunate event. One or two of these.
at the special request of Capt. McBee we
viii notice, by saying for him, in refer
ence to the card of Capt. Hallowell and
Sergeant Smith, that no railroad officiaT'
so far as be knows, certainly none author
lied to speak for the company, ever.
charged the Goldsboro Rifles or any
member of that company with tampering
with the danger signals. They did say,
and do say, after investigation, that the
danger cord, controlling the air-brakes
on the cars, was pulled, whereby the ac-i
cident occurred. In respect to the ru-.
NOR that Engineer Low had been put on
for the special occasion, that he had been
discharged for reckless running, and for
drunkenness, these officials declare most
emphatically is entirely without founda-
ton. Mr.. Low, beginning in the.
shops, has been raised on the
road, and is one of their most trust.
ed engineers. As for RECKLESS
running" or even drinking much less
getting drunk, the officers declare they
neither never heard of, nor do they be-
lieVe he has ever been guilty of any such
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occasion is concerned, we have heard
members of the Winston company de-
tailed to be with and protect engineer
Low Immediately after the accident on
account of some threats which were
made, declare that Mr.. low was absolu-
tely free from the use of liquor, and that
he was very cool throughout, and anx-
ious in his efforts to do all he could to
relieve the suffering. This much for that
side, and IN Justice to engineer Low. It
is admitted that the speed, coming down
grade for some distance, was about So
miles per hour, not an unusual speed in
this portion of the road. The track was
and has been in excellent order, and, is
now. Engineer Low reports that the
first apprehension he felt, Just few sec
onds before the accident, was upon the
discovery that he had lost control of his
train on account of the air-brakes having
been put on by some one pulling the
cord on some one of the cars, exhausting
the drum at the engine, and throwing
the entire forceof the brake on the rear
car, which, while the engine was in mo-
ton under full headway, necessarily
caused the rear car to be jerked apart
from the track. And the moment the
detachment took place, the pressure oc-
Cured on the brakes on all the other
coaches, which tended to throw them
from the track. He reversed his engine
as soon as he discovered this condition
of affairs, too late to prevent the detach-
ment and oyer-turning of the rear car
Had the coach been thrown from the
track on account of speed, its centrifugal
force would have thrown the caraon the
outside the curve, whereas it jumped the
track and fell on the inside, showing
clearly the effect of the sudden applica-
ton of the brakes. Very many, of the
soldiers insist that the speed was reck-
less, and created great anxiety among all
passengers. The pulling of the danger
signal-the cord which threw the whole
force of the air-brakes on, is admitted;
but there is a difference of opinion as to
the exact time at which this was done.
Other soldiers attribute the affair to one
of those accidents which sometimes will
occur in the face of all reasonable pro
caution. All deeply depore it, let the
cause be what it may, and all are to be
congratulated thatit was no worse; and
it is earnestly hoped all will soon be en-
tirely recovered without resultant diffic-
ulties