Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-27
A SAD AFFAIR.
4 LITTLE CHILD KILLED BY A PIECE
OF ICE.
Fatal Result Of Rough Sport on an Ex'
cursion Train-Mr. DOMAINS
Statement.
The following letter was received at
the Dispatch Office yesterday morning

the Dispatch Office yesterday morning
ELKo VA. June IS. 1885.
There are certain classes OF persons VINO.
when they go on excursions, seem TO think
thai they are ct liberty to do whatever they
nlease That such people are generally III
not always roughs and rowdles. We are
forced 10 believe, for we'll and orderly
raised persons seldom engage In anything
away from home In which they would De
ashamed to engage At home: A party OF
Thursday, June "a, In company Win tne
excursionists to Providence Forge on the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. These men
when returning threw pieces OF Ice weigh
ing from quarter ola pound 10 three or
four pounds at persons whom they passed on
The road. Two inoffensive negroes on the
farm OF Mr.. 4. ID. Turner were struck and
severely. though not seriously. Injured.
The child ola quiet and well-deserving ne
gro living near Elks. HeDrico county, was
struck and instantly killed. Several others
were struck. with moro or less injuries.
such lawlessness as this should be stopped
In some way. IL not right that these men
should come from the city In crowds ana
commit acts which they would not dare
commit singly. II these evils can be stop
ned i'm no other way the managers or excur-
sions should be compelled TO take along a
sufficient number OF police 10 preserve order
and to protect the lives and persons OF the
people. IL is with deep regret make this
comp.aint but Justice demands that the
facts should be given 10 the public.
IL is TO be hoped that for the future ex-
cursiOnists Will take proper steps 10 prevent
any such acts. Il. 81
The Disp0tch's representative in
whose hands the letter was placed in
order that the affair might be fully in
vestigated ascertained that the First
Presbyterian Sunday-school excursion,
was the only excursion that went to
Providence Forge on last Thursday.
lie therefore took the letter to a
gentleman who is prominent in that
Sunday school. lie found that that
gentleman, though he had accompanied
the excursion, had just been advised of
the matter, and was deeply distressed.
At his suggestion the Elko letter was
shown to Mr.. W. S. Donnan, Jr., which
last-named gentleman makes the follow
ing frank statement, embodying all he
knows concerning the unfortunate oc-
currence
MR.. DOMAINS STATEMENT.
The above article having been shown TO
me before publication, desire to make the
majority OF the excurslOnists referred to:
ON last Thursday the First Presbyterian
sunday school went upon It's annual pic nc
TO Providence Forge. There were about
$50 persons on the train, which consisted OF
five passenger and one baggage-car. The
bagG8ge-car conta ined the baskets OF
the party together with several freezers Of
cream and blocks OF ice to be used on the
grounds.
We returned late In the evening and
reached Richmond shortly after O'Clock. |
did not hear OF any disOrderly conduct on
the train at the time. This Saturday
morning received letter from General
WickhaIn the second vlce-presdent OF the
Chesapeake and ohio railroad, asking me
10 call at his office on matter OF Import
ance.
/ at once went to his Office: and then re-
ceived the first intimation OF the occurrence
referred TO.
IT'S not necessary tot say that was shock
ed and mortified beyond measure. General
Nickham only informed me OF the killing
of the child. His statement was that the
blocks or pieces OF Ice were thrown rom
the baggage-car, one piece OF which struck
the child, resulting In It's death. at once
~ id that the school as whole was IN no
way responsible for the action OF the few.
who, without our knowledge. were guilty OF
this conduct, and should not be held ac-
countable for 70. He gave his assent TO this,
ard further stated that he felt sure t1at
while the conduct on the part OF these few
malicious. told General Wickham that
should give him all the aid In my power,
and thateyery officer of the school would do
likewise 10 discover the offenders.
ascertained that In the baggage-car,
which should have contained only the lug
cage OF the passengers the empty freelers'
and the servants 10 care for them, there
we're six or seven young men, together wltn
one OF the brakemeu. Tue names or these
Young men and servants have been ascer.
s,f.s aA "a Won n
he can identity the brakeman.
The statement OF two OF those who were
in the baggage-car as TO what occurred is
as follows: Shortly after leaving Provi-
dence Forge six or seven young men-One
Of whom, II is stated by one OF the servants,
took no part In the disOrder-began to take
ice from around the freeZers and TO throw
ht obi ecis as the train passed.
IL Is further stated by one OF the young
men, and confirmed by one OF the servants
that the brakeman who YVES In the car
during the whole time dld not attempt 10
RESTRAIN them. This statement is maue
with perfect frankness. detailing as far as
possible all the information We possess,
we have no wish 10 cOndone the offence or
shield the perpetrators OF IL. General WICK
ham will substantiate all these facts. aud
ia addition has the names OF the occupants
OF the baRgage-car.
The excursion party was composed almost
entirely OF ladies and children. The foloW'
ing gentlemen, among others, were on the
flaln. y. II. N. 0ltlSht' d. toNOiNAos W
DOMAIN ST., Captain George W. Allen. +.
NJ. conner, John Boiling, George u. Cannon
John Ionupn, Rev. a. VI. Christie, George
4. Noting II. w. Wood. a. r. Christian. Jr.
They will all bear testimony as 10 the uni
yersel good oider Ia the pAsseEger-coaches.
ard their reputation In the community VIII
De "A sufficient assurance that ihey would
not permit knowingly or cOuE enauce such
az offence as occurred.
The Train was IN charge o. a. .esular con-
ductOr aud his assistants whose duty II was
To preserve order one OF the orakemen
know what was transporting Ia the baggage
car we do not know mat the others dliJ
but certsinl none OF them Informed any
OF the oniceTs or gentlemen OF the school ~
II. We feel sure that the public VIII Visit
the blame upon the perpetrators or the
wrong where II belongs. and not upon the
many who were Innocent
We feel deeply the great wrong that has
been done, ana are grieged that an excur-
sion given 10 the children Of the sunday
school should be the innocent cause OF
bringing sorrow and afilctiOn 10 any one.
W. =. DoNSAN, Jr.
fountain Resorts OF Southwest Sir'