The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-07-11
Rail 1nte q Wasbout.

Raii Int WAsbOut.
LyNcHBune, Va, July IA special
from Liberty to the Aduance says: A
| fearful catastrophe occurred about a
| mile West of Thacton's, about thirty
| miles above this city, at o'clock this
morning, on the Norfolk and Western
Railroad, by which forty passengers
| we're killed. The accident was caused
by q washout on high filing. 1t is
| said that there were only about seven of
| the crew and passengers saved. All OF
| the cars we're burned. Capt. Rowland
Johuston vas in charge of the train,
and is mortally wounded. Baggage
master Ford is said to be very badly hurt.
Major j. C. Casssll, superintendent Of
the Lynchburg division, uas on the
train and vas seriously injured. &. B.
Summers of Abingdon, postal clerk, was
bruised up considerably. The other
postal clerk, J.J. Rose, ofAbingdon, WAS
killed. al of the physicians and many
of the citizens of Liberty went to the
| wreck as soon as information reached
here and did all they conld for the
| wounded. Pat Donovan, the engineer,
WAS burned up, as was also fireman
named Bruce. The train dispatcher was
also burned. Several of the wounded
we're brought here and taken to a sani.
tariutn. W. O.. Head oil Cleveland,
Tenn, is among the dead. These. are
all the particulars obtainable as yet.
PHILADELPHIA, July 2.--President +.
]. Kimball, of tue Norfolk and Western
Railroad, who has headquarters in this
city, when seen this afternoon in relation
to the accident on his road this morn
| ing said that while the wreck is serious
one and has resulted in loss of life, the
report telegraphed from 1ynchburg that
40 persons were killed is exaggerated.
Mr.. Kimball is ir direct telegraphic com.
munication With the general manager
of the road. The information furnished
him up to one o'clock this afternoon is
that FIVE persons were killed, nearly all
of whom were train hands, and quite q
number of persons we're injured. The
train wrecked was known as No 2, which
left Roanoke few minutes before mid.
night. A heavy rainstorm had prevailed
throughout Virginia for about forty eight
hours, and the train was moving slowly
and behind schedule time when it ran
into a washout about l:3o this morning
near, Thacton's. The locomotive and
several cars we're thrown into the ditch,
but the sleeper remained on the track.
The cars caught fire afte. falling into
the ditch, and quite a number of passen-
gers were aeverely burned, in addition to
those injured by the wreck, kilograms
were at once sent to Roanoke for assist
ance, and in short time special train
arrived from that city, bearing a hre
company and q number Of physicians
LYNcHHURG, VA, July 3.-The scene
of the terrible disaster near Thacton's ON
the Norfolk and Western Railroad, ,is
beyond description. There is hardly
enough left of the train of eight 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. Portions of eight
bodies have been taken out, and it is be-
lieved that fully fifteen others we're
entirely consumed. A survivor Of the
wreck says cries for help couldbe heard
from all portions of the wreck, and those
unhurt were powerless to render assis-
tance. Women who managed to escape
lay about on the damp ground, suffering
from their injuries until day;break, and
many walked long distances to farm
houses. The few passengers left unin-
iured did all in their power for the un.
fortunstes.
The charred remains oil what are sup.
posed to be eight bodies were found in
very minute, particles. The body Of
| Engineer Pat Donovan mas dug out
badly mutiIated, and identified by his
watch.
Superintendent of Railway Mail Ser
vice has received information from Postal
Clerk Summers, who was on the train
wrecked on the Norfolk and Western
Railroad yesterday morning, that the
postal car was burned and all mail mat
ter, including three registered pouches.
destroyed. Mr.. Rose, WHO wan assisting
| Summers, was killed. He was not an
employee of the government. Summers
was severely injured.
ROANOKE, VA, July a.-The debris at
| the wreck on the Norfolk and Western
| Railroad has been removed and a mum.
Der of charred bodies have been found.
Seventeen persons were killed.
/ There were about thirty people who
escaped with only slight injuries, and ten
who are seriously injured. The list Of
| dead will be increased as friends of miss
ing people come forward in search Of
| them. There is no way at present tc
ascertain the exact number of dead, ow'
ing to the fact that the train was destroy
ed by FIRE.