New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-07-10
CAUSED BY A WASHOUT.
Frishtful Accident to Crowded Passenger Train
in Virginia.

Frishtful Accident to Crowded Passenger Train
in Virginia.
LYNCHBURG. Va. July PA fearful acct
dent, by which many lives were lost and q
large number of people injured, occurred Cd
| the Norfolk & Western railroad early this
morning, one mile west of Flaxton's switch
and thiIJy-one miles west of this city. Rain
had been falling almost continuously and
very heavily for rwenty-four hours, swelling
the mountain streams greatly beyond their
normal state Several trains had passed
over the road during the night. and it was
thought that the line was safe for traffic,
notwithstanding the rains, and that no dam
ger need be apprehended. At the place of
the accident. however, the water bad under
| mined the roadbed and caused a washout
about eighty feet long and fifty feet wide
The water at this poinJ was eight to ten feet
deep. Into this gulch the engine went, while
running at the rate of thirty 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 This fact greatly augmented
the horror of the catastrophe. Debris was
| thrown in every direction by the force of the
explosion, injuring some of those on the
train by the flying fragments and scattering
tirebrands which ignited the wood work of
the coaches The flames spread and de-
stroyed large amount of mail and express
matter, besides driving CONSERVATION to the
already terror stricken passengers. 1t is
supposed that some of the passengers were
unable to extricate themselves from the
wreck and were consumed in the flames but
it is difficult to get accurate information.
The most reliable estimate Of the number of
persons killed places it at between twenty
five and thirty The number Of wounded
will be far in excess of the number killed
Thirty OF the wounded have oeen taken to
Roanoke, thirty to Bufordsville and fifty to
Liberty.
VICTIMS OF THE DISASTER.
The adopted daughter of Mrs. Judge
Thompson of Augusta county was killed and
Mrs. Thompson herself is known to be very
badly hurt Pat Donovan, the engineer,
with his fireman, named Bruce. was scalded
Train Dispatcher Lipsey was also burned 10
death. Among the others who lost their
lives were j. j. Rose, postal clerk. of Abing,
don, Va. John Kirkpatrick of Lynchburg;
W. G. Stead, and the husband and two
children OF lady passenger on the
Mr. Stead was au Englishman and
was agent Of an Idaho hunting and fishing
expedition. He was on his way to England
for supplies when he met his death. Maj. j.
y. OoooOAi, oupCLlueSuuSuO VI Cue LyuCuUuIS
division of the Norfolk & Western, was on
tue train and was seriously injured, as were
also Baggagemaster Ford and Conductor
Johnston, who was in charge of the train. 1t
was thought that Johnston was fatally
wounded, but later report says that his
condition and that of Baggagemaster Ford
is somewhat improved. L. B. Summers, a
postal clerk OF Abingdon, Va, was badly
bruised.
NO INFORMATION.
There is no telegrephic communication
nearer the wreck than Liberty, and it is diff
hcult to get information from there, as tho
Norfolk q Western refuse to give any details
of che disaster. A relief train was made up
at Lynchburg to go to the scene of the wreck
and number of physicians went down to do
what they could to aid the wounded. The
Norfolk d Western officials absolutely re-
fused to allow any newspapermen
aboard the train, and several who
got on despite orders to the
contrary were put off. The railroad men
also refused to give ou5 any inform alton in
regard to the wrec OK. A special dispatch,
which has been received from the scene of
the wreck by way of Liberty, says: aSix
dead bodies have been recovered. The
bodies of P. Donovan, engineer. and Postal
Clerk Rose were recognized The others are
not known. Supt Cassel, although badly
hurt, is on the ground and doing everything
possible for The wounded. The railroad
company has taken large corps of physi-
clans to the scene of the wreck from
Roanoke, Liberty and other points It is
thought large number of bodies were
burned in the confagra tion"