Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-09
Il DISASTROUS TRIP.
TIE Three Accidents wissch Occurred on On,
Train.
Omaha (Neb.) Bee.l


The passengers on the Atlantic ex-
press on the Union Pacific, which ar
rived here Wednesday morning, tell of a
series OF fatal accidents which occurred
IN the passage from the West.
The first one was Of singular weird
ness occurring at Green River. Among
the passengers on this train was a fine
looking well-dressed Frenehman, whose
baggage indicated that he was a man Of
means. While the train lay at Green
River he walked about and took in the
grand scenery, which at length seems
to have turned his brain. He sud-
denly entered the car, left his hat,
valise, &c, on the seat he had occu-
pied, and leaving the train bareheaded
struck off on dead run for the lofty
bills which rise almost perpendicularly
from the city, crowned by SUBMITS of
peculiar rocks. He was pursued some
distance by the railway employees, but
was seen to reach the summit Of the
highest ridges, throw his arms above
his head wildly, and leaping from the
crag disappeared.
At Point Of Rocks the second sensa-
tional occurrence took place. A man
by the name Of Pat. Hopkins, who came
from County Galway, Ireland, and had
been in this country about four years.
was on the train with his sister, both
bound for the old country, intending to
sail from New York July 4th. Pat.
was about thirty-two years of age,
and his sister-a handsome young
lady-was apparently a few years
younger. The lady said that her
brother had always been in good
health, and was sound in mind, but
that in making the trip across the
mountains he seemed uneasy, and ex-
pressed his fears that some calamity
was pending over him. The train
reached Point Of Rocks about dusk,
and just before it arrived there Monday
night Hopkins told his sister that he
was going to see friend in the rear of
the train. He passed out on the plat
form. and that is the last the sister ever
saw of him. When the train had run
about thirty miles search was made for
him, and he was not to be found on the
train. The conductor is reported
to have seen man creeping up one of
the steep decliyites which line the road
here, and it is supposed that the man
jumped or fell off, and has wandered
away into the desert, where he must
soon die Of thirst and hunger unless
rescued. a large amount Of telegraph
ing was done the next morning to learn
news Of the unfortunate fellow, but
without success. His sister continued
on her journey alone, not seeming to
realize the gravity Of the situation.
As if to round up the horrors of the
trip, Frank Thomas, of Thomaston,
Me-, breathcd his last about daylight
Tuesday morning, the disease carrying
him of being consumption. An in
quest was deemed unnecessary, and the
body was turned over to the railway
company to be shipped on to the desti-
nation called for on the ticket. The
deceased had letters on his person, from
which it was learned that he had
brother, BARLEY j. Thomas, living in
Thomaston, who was telegraphed the
sad news.
Old-timers say that a trio of similar
sensational occurrences have rarOly OF
never boon nvted before in any other
run Of equal length in the far West.