Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-29
A WILD PLUNGE.
A REMARKABLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT
IN PETERSBURG.
A Train Goes Into n Warehouse-EngiB
and Tender Wrecked-Escapeb by
Jumping-Notes.
fcor.sponacpco Of tho Richmond DIsD.tch.l
PrrEnsnuRa. November..2s. lSsg.


PETERSBURG. November.2S, 1889.
4 very remarkable accident. attended
with considerable loss. occurred here TINS
morning shortly after II O'Clock. On what
il known as the connecting track between
the upper and lower depots of the Atlantic
Coast lime railroad there is heavy grade,
the ascent being from tho AppomattoX de-
pot The heaviest portion OF tho grade IL
between the latter depot and the crossing
on BollingbroOk street. If tho trains are
heavy. either passenger or freight, 1t gene
rally requires two engines 10 run them up.
Usually the descending trains have to stop
on this grade 10 allow tho changing Of a
switch, which is put there as means Oh
safety.
This morning n hcavily-ladcn through
freight train. bound for Richmond, IN
charge Of Engineer II. Z. larbrOugh and
Fireman Julius Masscnburg, left the upper
or WashingtOn-Street depot. pulled by In
CINE No. 1J5 On reaching the usual place
Of stopping near the switch the engineer
found II impossible, by reason OF the
length and momentum of his tam 10 stop
and the consequence was that the tram III
stead Of keeping on the regular track was
turned off on a side track leading down 10
the warehouses of Messrs. Booth ~
Kidd aud SHARKS d Friend. near TIE
foot Of Third street. Messrs. Marks
a Friends warehouse is large, new
brick building. erected since the flood OF
last sprlng. bv which their old one was de-
strOved. and stands at right angle with
the side-track. In front of Mcssrs. Booth
a Kidd's warehouse a bOx-car was beng
unlOaded. This car was struck 10y the en-,
gino Of the freight train and was pushei5i.
forward and driven through the brick WAL
of Marks q Friends warehouse and entirely
...f lr,fl fIHaapr1na Ef0Dbffl
at the wall foundation. overturned, ana
wrecked. The tender was lifted OF tho
trucks and landed IN the street. The box
carnext the tender-One of the hanaw IA
Despatch" cars. laden with fruit for Rich
mond-was driven over the engine ana
partly into the building. 1t was shattered
almost 10 fragments and left standing at
an angle of about 45 degrees. The remain
ing cars of the train were unlnJured.
JUMPED.
Seeing his danger ~ soon as the train
had been switched of from the regular
track, Engineer Yarbrough sounded the
alarm, reversed his engine. and opened the
safcty-valyes Having done all that could
be done he jumped from his engine, fol-
lowed hv the fireman. If they had kept TO
their places they would have met certain
death. as in the wreck that followed no
one on the engine or tender could have es-
capped.
Ii is remarkable circumstance thGt the
car driven through the walls of Marks ~
Friends warehouse. while II tore up the
floor and sils of the building, was APP
parcntly but little injured. II stands
squarelv across the interior Of the building.
There were several gentlemen IN the
Office of the warehouse at the time. but no
6ne was hurt. They were dazcd for the
moment and knew not what the crash
meant. One thought il was % cyclone, au-
other that il was an earthquake which was
destroying the building.
The MOLE knocked in the wall extends
from root TO base. and is fully twenty feet
wide. II viii cost tour or five hundred
dollars 10 repair the damage. The loss to
the railroad company Will amount 10 some
thousands of dollars.
As soon as the accident occurred an
alarm of fire was turned IN IS % matter OF
precaution II was feared that the fire
from the engine might be communicated
10 the building. Fortunately there was no
need for the services of the department.
Ii is said that one or more persons who
were engaged in unloading the car in
front of Booth & kidd's warehouse mar
rowlv escaped being caught and crushed
in the wreck.
There was n pleasant little incident ut
heAppOmattoX depot this morning just be-
fore the departure of the University foot
lall team for Richmond. II was the pre-
seniation of a beautiful gold medal by the
team 20 Mr. William Widgirs. one of its
members, Tor his plucky PLAYING at the re-
cent game in this city The presentation
wa. made by Judge ID. 4. Hinton of the
supreme Court, III a graceful and happy
speech. ROBIN ADAIE.