The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-03
WATER AND FIRE.
Terrible Accident on the Norfolk &
Western Railroad, Near Lynch
burg, Caused by Rains.
An Engine Running at High Speed
PIunges into a Big Washout, an
Explosion Following.
Twenty-Five Reported killed and Nearly
Hundred Injured--Refnsal OF ofaelais
TO Give Information.

LNNCHBURG, Va, July "A fearful &C
cident. by which several lives were lost and
q large number Of people injured, occurred
on the Norfolk & Western railroad this
morning, one mile above FlaxtOns switch
and thirty-One miles above this city. Rain
had been falling almost continuously for
twenty four hours, swelling the mountain
streams greatly beyond their normal state.
Several trains had passed over the road
during the night and IL was thought the
line was safe for traffic, notwithstanding
the rains, and that no danger need be ap-
pretended. AT the place OF the accident,
however, the water had undermined the
roadbed and caused a wAshOut about eighty
feet long and fifty feet wide. The water
al this point was ten feet deep. Into this
frightful leap while running az
rate OF thirty miles an hour, carrying
with il the tender and eight cars. AS the
engine struck the bottom the water rushing
into the locomotive exploded the boiler.
This fact augmented the catastrophe. The
debris was thrown ia every direction by
the force Of the explosion, injuring some
OF those on the train by flying fragments,
and scattering brands which ignited the
woodwork of the coaches. The flames
spread and destroyed q large amount OF
mail and express matter, besides spreading
panic among the already-terrOr stricken
sengers were unable % extricate them
selves FROM the wreck and were consumed
in the flames IL Is Impossible to give the
number OF persons killed, but the most
reliable estimates place 1t at between tWen-
ty-fve and thirty.
The number wounded is far in excess of
those killed Thirty OF the wounded have
been taken 10 Roanoke, thirteen TO Bu-
fordsyille and Fifty to Liberty. The adopted
daughter of Mrs Judge Thompson, OF
Augusta county, was killed and Mrs.
Thompson herself is known TO be badly
hurt Donovan, the engineer, with his
fireman, was scalded and burned 70 death
by escaping steam. Train Dispatcher Lip
ley was also burned to death. Among the
others who lost their lives were w. j. j.
Kirkpatrick, OF BynchburR; w. G. Stead
and two children. Stead was an English
man and agent Of the Idaho Hunting and
Fishing expedition. He was on his way %
England for supplies Maj. Cassill, super
lntendent OF the BynchbuTg division of the
Norfolk & Western, was on the train and
was seriously injured, as were also
BaggagemasJeT Ford and Capt Johnston,
who was IN charge Of the train, l.. b. SUM-
mers, postal clerk, was badly bruised, but
escaped with his returning
mate, Rose. There is no telegTaphic COM
munication nearer the wreck than Liberty,
and Il IL hard To get Information from there,
as the Norfolk and Western refused to al
low reporters to go on the train which
went there. A relief train was m ade up at
Lynchburg late in the afternoon to 20 20
the scene of the wreck. A number of
physicians went on IL TO do what they could
Tor the wounded. A dispatch received at
ii O'Clock from the scene OF the wreck By
way OF Liberty, says SIX dead bodies have
been found in the ruins. The railroad
clans 10 The scene OF the wreck from Roam
0ke, Liberty and other points.