The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-19

Messrs. ]. f. Van Doren, the eastern
agent OF The APPEAL, and Mr.. Fred It,
Anderson, of the Anderson Hat company,
who arrived over the Memphis q Charles
ton road at $50 O'Clock yesterday after
noon from the east, brought intelligence
OF fearful railraad accident which both
were in, but fortunately escaped without
injury.
The gentlemen left Washington via
the Virginia Midland road at $50
O'Clock Saturday afternoon. The train
comprised baggage car two day and
two Pullman coaches. The train only
runs from Washington to l.ynchburg Va,
but, as part Of the Richmond q Danville
system, pulled the through Memphis Pull
man coach, and makes fast time
When about twenty-five miles from
Washington, near Manassas station,
running NJ the rate OF thrty-hvc miles
an hour, MS il whrled AROUND u
sharp curve in the road, there was a sud
den jerk, a fearful breaking loose OF the
heavily linked cars, the engine went
tumbling down ton-foot embankment,
the baggage car was completely upset and
smashed TO pieces lay ut the foot OF the
steep embankmcnt, with trucks in the air,
both OF the day coaches were kecled over
on their sides and lay partially in Il shallow
stream OF water, while the first Pullman
was rudely jerked from the rails, but stood
erect and the second had its trucks
snatched from the rails. II was in this
coach that Messrs. NanDoren and Andcr-
son sat talking, when the crash came, and
sent them tumbling from their seats.
Both OF the day coaches had
full quota OF passengers, and
the widest CONSERVATION prevailed
among them as they fell in a crushing heap
TO the floor Of the car or were smashed be-
tween the seats. For the moment it
seemed to the few who were in the rear
Pullman and unhurt that they were forced
10 be the actors in one OF the many'm
road accidents, the horriiying details OF
which within the past year has chilled the
blood and made faint the heart OF the NJ
hottest public.
To the few victims whose lives were 30
suddenly snutled out the accident was u
parallel 10 any that have preceded IL.
Down the embankmcnt, buried beneath
the pOndgrous engine, Ice Makcly, the
ii'hlihs anu AlldItto NtNpt " lfltkIhlill
operator at one of the way stations, aud
who hud jumped on the engine 10 run
down to Manassas on some business, lay
crushed and torn TO pieces with their man
glcd corpjcs roasted almost beyond rccog.
milton.
II. r. Post, the baggage master, was
killed instantly, aud his body frightiully
crushed. Edward lloutzman. the en-
gincer, was horribly mangied, andsullcrc1
the most eXcruciating agony during the
twenty minutes that he lived.
The gentlemen giving the information
state that IL II almost miracle that every
ono oi tho passengers in the day coaches
were not killed outright. Some of them,
however, escaped without the slightest in.
jury save severe shaking DIP. The chief
sufferers are Thomas Hardy, express
agent, seriously; Mrs Judge Gainea, OF
WaucntOn, Va, bruised and sullcr-
ing from n nervous shock; Mrs Colds
burg, OF Baltimore, severely bruised and
cut; Jacob Hammell, ~ Crcamer, Pa,
slightly bruised, and Edward Taylor, 81
Waterloo, Va, slightly hurt about the
head; Mr.. Stockbridgc Of Alexandra, Va,
badly cut about the head and bruised
4 railroad employc WAS dispatched 10
the nearest telegraph station, and
thrce hours later the wrccking train
arrived aud commenced work ON the
dcrMlcd train. BY o'clock n. m. the
track was cleared andslhc Louisville OK.
press, which camo along soon aitcrward.
took the passengers and baggage on to
Lynchburg. The actual cause ~ the
accident il not known, unless IL
DO that the rapidiiy with which
the train was going around the
abrup, curve caused the engine TO jump
the track, thus prccpilniing the crash.
Mcssrs. Van Dorcn and Anderson have
reason to congratulate themselves on the
lucky escape they made from such immi.
ncnt peril.