Connecticut western news., 1889-07-10
HURLED INTO A CHASM.
WRECK OF AN ENTIRE TRAIN
 ON THE N. w. R. n.
The Locomotive and Gasoline Lamp Explode -- Many Persons Killed Outright-Others Slowly Burned to Death.

Tho east bound Norfolk and Western pas senger train, which left Roanoke, Va., was wrecked and burned nt Thaxton's Switch, by plunging into 0 chasm created under the track by water-spout The engine, bag gage, express, two passenger coaches and two Pullman sleepcrs went down. The locumo- tive boiler and gasoline lamp exploded by the shock, and the entire train w.-~ ~~apt in flames in an instant. Not a voice or sound was heard for five minutes and then some one fobly called for help. Men with no clothing ( who had managed to crawl out of the wreck at once began to work heroically to save the less fortunate passengers, and it was not long before many of them were taken out.
 Among those rescued was: Bishop Alphers W. Wils2n, of Baltimore, who was slowly bleeding te death from the severance of a blood vessel in his wrist. The fire companies and several physicians Of this city were has, tily taken to the scene of horror, but the flames had deyoured everything but the iron frames when they arrived. The wounds of thoso who were dangerously hurt were dressed, and those who were but slightly in- jured were sent to the Roanoke, Liberty and Buffords, were their wants were supplied. The killed, so far as ascertainet, are: Charles Bruce, of Lynchburg, fireman, scalded to dcath;. Nathan Cohen, of Roanoke, who York; Patrick Donovan, of Lynchburg, engi. neer; E. s. Francis, of Marion, mail agent; A. M. James, of Roanoke, travelling en- gineer of the road; J. w. Livsay, of Roanoke, train dispatcher; Dennis Melon, janitor ot the railroad offices, ell route for New York to be married; W. c. Shead, of Cleveland, Tenn.; J. J. Rose, of Abingdon; stranger bound for Paris via New York; L. B. Summers. oi Abingdon, Va,, mail agent; a little girl sup Eosed to be the adopted daughter of Mrs Judge Thompson, of Stnunton, Va; J. W DHbarry, superintendent of the eastern divis ion; J. c. Cassell, of the western division; J J. Rose, postal clerk of Abingdon, Va; John Kirkpatrick, of Lynchburg; the husband and two children of q lady passenger on the train wiose name cannot be learned MT. Stead Vas an Englislman and was agent of an -Iaho hunting and fishing expedition He was on his way to England for supplies when ll, met his death.
 Conductor Johnson, Bishop Wilson, Ex press Messenger Ashmere, Mrs. Judge Thomp son. Major J. C. Casse superintendent of the road, and Baggage Muster Ford are among those most badly hurt. A number of others including several ladies from Texas, art | slightly injured. Only seven persons in al l nre said to have been saved .s. There were about seventy passengers or | the train, beside the employees, md as it is
 
 | aumber saved the number of those killed can aot be accurately ascert,lined. There is every l reason to fear, however, that the number | will reach thirty, if not more
 | The passengers acquit the railroad com | pany of blame. The embankment wal swept away by a sudden and heavy raiI storm, and the iron and ties remained sus pended over the ciasm, so that when th engineer glanced along the rails he did no l discover the danger.
 Rain has been falling almost continuously
 Ind at times very heavily, for twenty-fou
 ,ours, swelling the mountain streams great ly beyond their normal state. Several train | had passed over the road during the night and it was thought that the line was safe fo traffic notwithstanding the rains, ant I that no danger need be apprehended. At tn place of the accident, however, the water ha' undermined the roadbed and caused q wash out. about eighty feet long and fifty fee wide. The water at this point was eight t. ten feet deep. Into this watery gnlch tn ,ngine made n frigntful leap, while running n the rate of thirty miles an hour, curryini | with it the tender and eight cars.
 | large amount of mail and express mat Ger was destroyed. The number Of wounde will be far in excess of the number killed Thirty of the wounded have been taken t, 1 Roanoke, thirteen to Bufordsville 'd lift to Liberty,