The Portland daily press., 1889-07-03
MANS SERVANTS
Again Show That They Can Make
Cruel Masters.
Water Sweeps Away the Bed Of a
Southern Road,
And Fire Lends its Aid in The Wreck
Which Follows.
TWENTY-FIVE Or Thirty Killed and
More Injured
When a Norfolk and Western Train
Met Destruction.
Information Withheld by the Officers
Of the Line.
When a Norfolk and Western Train
Met Destruction.
Information Withheld by the Officers
Of the Line.

LYNcHBURG, Va, July IA fearful acci-
dent, by which many lives were lost and a
large number of people injured, occurred on
the Norfolk & Western Railroad at 2.30 this
morning, one mile above Saxton's switch,
and 81 miles above this city. Rain had been
falling almost continuously, and at times
very heavily, for "a hours, swelling the
mountain stream greatly beyond its normal
state. At the place of the accident, the wa
ter undermined the roadbed and caused a
washout about so feet long and 30 feet wide
The water at this point was from to 10 feet
deep. Into this watery gulch the engine
made leap while running 80 miles an hour,
carrying with it the tender and eight cars
AS the engine struck the bottom, the rushing
Of the water into the locomotive exploded
the boiler. and debris was thrown in every
direction, iDjuring some on the train and
scattering firebrands, which ignited the
woodwork of the coaches. The flames de-
stroyed large amount of mail and express
matter, besides spreading panic among the
already terror-stricken passengers. 1t is
supposed that some of the passengers were
unable to extricate themselves from the
1t is difficult to get accurate particulars.
Employees of the Norfolk & Western refuse
to give any information to the public, and it
is impossible to state the number of persons
killed. The most reliable estimate places it
between 25 and 80. The number wounded
is far in excess of the number killed. Thirty
OF the wounded were taken to Roanoke. for
ty-three to Buffordsville and five to Liberty.
The adopted daughter of Mrs. Judge
Thompson, Of Augusta county, was killed,
and Mrs. Thompson was very badly hurt.
Pat Donovan, engineer, with Fireman
Bruce, were scalded and burned to death.
Train Dispatcher Liprey was burned to
DEATH
Among others who lost their lives were:
j. j. RAsE. postal clerk, Abingdon, Va.
JOHN KIRKPATRICK, Lynchburg.
w. c. STEAD.
The husband and two children of lady
passenger on the train whose name cannot
be learned.
Major j. g. Cassell. Superintendent of the
Lynchburg division of the Norfolk and
Western, was seriously injured, as were
Baggage Master Ford and Capt. Rowland
johnson in charge of the train.
A relief train was made up at Lynchburg
late in the afternoon to go to the scene and
a number of physicians went down. Nor
folk and Western people absolutely refused
to allow any newspaper men aboard the
train.
A special despatch received about II from
the scene of the wreck by way of Liberty
says: ''Six dead bodies have been recovered.
The bodies of the engineer and postal clerk
were recognized. The others were not
known"
ROANOKE, July 2.--In the Norfolk and
Western accident at Saxton's twelve people
are now known to have been killed last nigh3
ane one seriously wounded. 1t is supposed
that 10 or - persons were consumed in the
burning wreck.