Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-04
SCENES OF TERROR.
r4s TERRIBLE WRECK ON THE NOR
FOLK AND WESTERN.
Experience of an Ashland Manufacturing
PassenEcrs-An Awful stiffness
Further Details.
Especial telegram 10 tho Dispatch.l

ASHLAND. Va. July 3.-The following ac-
count If the Norfolk and Western wreck
Was obtained from Mr.. Burton Marye, who
was M the Norfolk sleeper: He was in the
Lover berth. second from the front end
Uc was awakened by the jolting of the car
o. the tics. and felt rs though he was going
down. when suddenly the ear struck with
atcrrlhle crash the ladies' car immediately
1n front. Tie then tried 10 get out of the
berth into the isle, but found himself
hemmed ia by the upper berth. Being on
ms back and not able TO turn over he made
n. effort. and succeeded in breaking the
glass ont of the window with his left hand
mud showing himself ont with his feet. He
found that the water was up TO the car
window In this position he saw car i'm
mediatoIy IN front standing on end and in
an instant Il fell back, and striking the
front end of the sleeper broke the end of
ths berth IN which he WAS, thereby en-
shling him 90 gain his liberty.
A PERFECT wHEcK.
Drawing himself IN the top of the sleeper
through the window, he discovered that
thc forward part Of the train was q perfect
wreck. the ladies' car being entirely de
molshod by the fan of the sleeper His
car was occupied by three ladies from
Texas and seven gentlemen besides the
conductor and porter. Messrs. W. J.
Barksdale and T. b. Bott Of Richmond.
tore down one Of the lamps, used It as
battenng ram. and succeeded IN breaking
hole IN the car-rOof. They then assisted
three men through, who Immediately on
gaining the roof left for parts unknown.
leaving the resi- Of the passengers to take
care OF themselves.
Il An A yIRGNIAS."
Ono of the ladies turned 20 Mr.. Barks-
dale and asked him FOR Gods sake not 20
iaye them 10 perish. 20 which he replied,
Madame, am a Nirginlan." These two
gentlemen then got the ladies on the top
of the car and lowered them 10 Mr.. Marye,
ho being in the water, which WAS about
three feet deep. The ladies having been
carried 20 safe ground the three returned
auD released from the ear Mr.. Du Barry,
the conductor, and the porter. who were
heinmed IN the berth and had TO be cut out.
Ny opinion. said Nj Marye, is that the
wreck Was unavoidable. From the posi-
tlon of the cars. the bank must have been
intact ~ the time the engine went upon IL.
hut being thoroughly saturated with water
the jar # the fore part of the train passing
over II caused 10 t. give away IN an instant.
Having once gained break n could not
have takcu the immense body of water
piled fifteen or twenty feet deep long 20
sweep away every yestlgc of earth.
FORCE or TBE WATER.
Iu fact 80 great was the force of the water
That rocksa cubic foot or more in size were
carried hundred yards from the line Of
the railroad The engine did not make a
plunge, as was stated. bot the cars sank
rapidly rs the bank WAS melted beneath
them. There were no cries or groans heard
hy any of our party, and there can be no
doubt that all who lost their lives died in
stanty.
The FIRE. which broke outtweDty or thirty
minutes after al were free FROM the sleeper
certainly did not cause the death of any of
the injured We went over the wreck re-
pentedlY. loudly calling, so that we could
ascertain where the wounded were, but not
a reply WAS heard. Indeed, the silence was
simply terrible. The officials Of the road
were untiring IN their efforts 10 relieve the
suffering Of thciniurcd. and rendered every
assistance possible 70 all.