Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-10
HORRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.

,he n Orfolk and Western Railroad, during
4 heavy rain and deep darkness, the train,
of engine, teuder, smoking car,
nail car, express and baggage car, two
irst-class passenger coaches, and three
Pullman cars, travelling at rapid rate, with
its precious freight of many human lives,
plunged suddenly into a chasm 30 feet deep
and 40 feet wide caused by wash-out, and
to the horrible crush of human limbs and
bodies was added that of fire which con-
sumed the cars and their contents. All the
cars went down to destruction except the
last Pullman car.
A despatch to the Baltimore Sun, under
date of July 3rd says
"There is hardly enough left of the train
of cars that took the leap to the bottom of
the awful pit to make one car. AS soon as
the boiler of the engine exploded the entire
mass of debris took fire, and those who
went down who were not killed outright
were burned to death. A survivor of the
wreck says the cries for help could be heard
from all portions of the wreck, and those
unhurt were powerless to render assistance.
about on the damp ground suffering from
their injuries until daybreak, and many
walked long distances to farm-houses. The
few passengers left uniniured did all in
their power for the unfortunates.
Bishop Wilson was sent to Charlestown,
w. Va, this afternoon, where he will spend
the night with sister, and go to Baltimore
tomorrow if he is able to travel. He is
doing nicely, but is still weak from the loss
of blood. Misses FItzhugh and Hardester
left at this morning for Baltimore. Their
heroic conduct at the scene of the wreck is
highly praised by the injured survivors.
There were many strangers here to-day,
seeking information of friends and relatives
supposed to have been on the Inflated train.
It will probably never be known exactly
who were killed, but it is reasonably GER
tain that the number is not less than thirty,
probably five or ten more. Not the slight
est trace of the bodies of Travelling Engin-
eer James, Fireman Bruce, Nathan Cohen
and Dennis Melone, of this city, has been
discovered. 1t is supposed that their bodies
with others were burned to ashes and wash
ed away. A number of the wounded were
sent to their homes to-day. A portion of a
small body, supposed to be that Hattie Car
rirgton, the little child, was found last
night and sent to the city for interment.
The debris at the wreck has been remov-
ed and number of charred bodies have
been found. The names of twenty persons
who were killed have been ascertained.
The list of killed, which is official and ac-
curate, is as follows: Pat Donovan, engin-
eer; J. E. Bruce, fireman; Alvin M. James,
road foreman of engines; j. J. Rose, clerk
in the postotfice at Abingdon, Va; M. s.
Bruce, mail agent; s. W. Lipsey, train dis
patcher, Roanoke, Va; Will Hopkins, ex-
press messenger. Passengers-Dennis Mel
lon, of Roanoke; VIM. D. Stevenson, of
Cleveland, Tenn; L. A. Moore, of Chat
tanooga, Tenn; G. W. Steeds, Will F.
Marshall and John NJ. Hardwick, of Cleve-
land, Tenn /; (the last-named three were
bound for the Paris exposition); Nathan
Cohen, of Roanoke, bound for Germany;
James J. Rose, of Abingdon, Va; Pattie
Darlington, of Texas, aged 8 years; John
Kirkpatrick, of Lynchburg, Va; G. L. Pey.
ton, wife aud little child, of Radford, Va.
Among the injured are the following:
Capt. W. H. Ford, baggage-master severely
cut on the back of the head, much bruised
and supposed to be injured internally; Pos
tai Clerk Somers, slightly cut about the
bead; Express Messenger Ashmsre, badly
hurt, and will probably not survive; Con-
ductor Roland p. johnson, of Roanoke,
badly cut in the face and around the head;
Brakeman, W. G. Glass, of Lynchburg, arm
broken, head cut and scalded; Passenger
Frank Tanner, Lynchburg, slightly cut
about the arm; Bishop A. W. Wilson, Balti-
more, cut on the head and wrist; Passenger
Temple, badly burned; Mrs. Judge L. P.
Thompson, Stauntop. Va, badly hurt; Mrs.
n Ill ant ~
wrist and badly bruised; Joseph Golbury,
New York, hurt on the leg and shoulder;
F. T. Dexter. Beverly, Mass, seriously in
shoulder aud back hurt; Mrs. Inez Spank.
man. Marshall, Texas, hurt internally; H.
W. Martin, Chattanooga, seriously hurt
M. D. Temple, Chicago, hurt seriously
about the back; J. A. Young, dispatcher.
Radford, Va, head badly hurt; Robert B.
Goodfellow, Roanoke, hand and foot ipjur-
ed.
The charred remains of what are sup
posed to be eight bodies were found in very
minute particles. The body of Engineer
Pat Donovan was dug out, badly mutilated,
and identified by his watch.
There we're about thirty people who es-
capped with only slight injuries, and ten who
are seriously injured. The postal Car was
burned, and all the mail matter, including
three registered pouches, was destroyed.
Mrs. Judge Lucas P. Thompson, with her
adopted child Hattie Darlington, aged 6
years, was 90 tie fatal train: Mrs. Thomp
son was injured and her little adopted
daughter, to whom she was 80 devotedly
attached, was killed, and Mrs. Thompson is
almost crazsd with grief at the fate of the
child
The Roanoke Times says
AIRS. Judge L. P. Thompson, of Staun-
tan, Va, who was ore Of the number on
the ill fated train, was found sitting near
the bank. She cannot explain in what way
she escapsd, aud is at loss to know how
she reached that point. but believes that
some one forcbiy carried her across.
A Roanoke correspondent of the Balti-
more american says
"While Miss Payne, eff Knoxville, was
wiping the blood and mud from the face of
Mrs. Judge Thompson, some one picked up
her hand-b bag and rifled it of $500 in jewelry
and diamonds, but did not take anything
ase.
Inc DUuy vi llIblc IldtGlO OdItiuS hOu3 Luc
adopted daughter of Mrs. Thompson, was
recovered late yesterday evening and sent
to this city for preparation for burial.
The same correspondent reports Bishop
A. W. Wilson as saying
st left DaltoDs where preached to the
North Georgia Ladies' Missionary Confer
ence Sunday at $50 A. M, Monday morn
ing. landing in Roanoke, much against my
will, about $3.50 Friday morning. l was en-
route for Baltimore, my home, and travelled
in the Washington sleeper. A slight jolt
awakened me, and presently felt that the
car was pluuging downward as If thrown
from a catapult. found myself driven in
to the mud to the depth of four feet, and
wrapped in impenetrabls darkness. For
full three minutes silence most profound
reigned. Not the slightest noise could be
heard. My impression was that of the
load of human freight knew the train car
ried, l alone had been preserved. realiz
ed tina. was hurt. My right hand was
helpless and I was bruised and in great
L. 81, 90 Il L.,