Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-07-12
THE HORRORS OF THE
WRECK.

- ~
DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE AT THAX-
TON 's-ALNIOsT A MIRACULOUS RESCUE
A MODEL WoMAN-BURIED IN TWO
COFFINS.
&C., &C., sc.
Since our last issue the following inter.
esting particulars and incidents Of the
Norfolk & Western railroad horror have
been made public
AN EYE WITNESS.
Mr.. II. II. Martin, of New Orleans, who
was in the last car on the Inflated train
that was wrecked at ThaXton S, last week
gives the following description of the
scene, in an interview with Il reporter OF
the United Press:
The unusually heavy rain caused the
water to back up against the emblnllment
to the depth of eight OF ten feet, and in its
endeavor to find an outlet it undermined
| the great mass of EARTH Before we had
| time to take in the situation an explosion
occurred, and this was followed u few MN
utes later by little tongues of fire mounting
here and there amid the great mass of ruins
which lay ut our feet, and soon the entire
mass was in flames. | suppose there was
Il tank of gasoline somewhere in the front
car. and this will account for the eXplo-
sion. In spite of the heavy rain the wreck
burned with tierceness that could not
have been equalled if every stick of timber
had been soaked in oil. The air was filled
with the cries of the wounded 1t was
almost impossible to do anything to help
them. We had no appliances at hand and
most of the unfortunates We're under the
| timberS. Our car was uninjured, and
wrapping the ladies in heavy blankets | es.
corted them to the station, Il mile back
When | returned to the wreck a number OF
the wounded had been taken out and ranged
on either side of the track ON mattresses
taken from the sleeper. The rain was still
falling in torrents and there was no cover
ing for the wounded.
Although the accident occurred at half
past one it was six O'Clock before a relief
train arrived from Roanoke, with physi
clans and fire engines. During all of this
time the wounded were without medica
assistance. We could do nothing but
watch the wreck burn. By the time the
fire engines arrived even the car which
stood on the edge Of the precipice had beer
consumed. We were taken back to Roa
noke and well cared for there. The ladies
lost everything they possessed. One young
lady, Miss Pauline Payne, of Knoxville
Tenn, had her satchel stolen while she was
ministering to the wants OF the wounded
1t contained her money and jewelry. l dc
not think that the estimate which places
the number of lost at thirty OF forty is at al
exaggerated. All of the conductor S tickets
We're burned and it will never be known
how many people were on the train.
Some of the escapes were miraculous.
Mr.. Goodfellow, of New Orleans, craWled
out through the broken roof of his car, an6
Mrs. Judge Thompson, of StauntOn, Va
also escaped, although she could not tel
how she got out. Her adopted daughter. q
beautiful little girl of nine, was lost. l dc
not think any passenger in the day cars
escaped.
BISHOP WILSON'S RESCUE FROM THE
WRECK ALMOST A MIRACLE.
A reporter of the Baltimore Herald, who
had an interview with the Bishop, on his
arrival in Baltimore, says Bishop Alpine
us Wilson, who was injured in the accident
at ThaXton station, on the Norfolk and
Western road, arrived at his residence
| 1919 Bolton street, late on Wednesday night
He was very much bruised and for the next
| ten DAYS OF SO will move about with one
arm in splints. His nervous system also
received severe shock, and, as his health
has not been very good lately, it is thought
that several months may pass before he is
quite himself again.
When seen by Herald reporter he said
| that he was positive that at least 5OperSOns
lost their lives in the wreck. The bishop
had retired to his berth in the sleeping car.
He was suddenly awakened by feeling the
car sinking into the water andmud. Jump
ing up, he glanced around him and saw
that the top of the car had been torn off and
the berths all around him were smashed to
atoms. The mattress in his berth was torn
! into ShredS. While endeaVOring to free
! himself he tore his garments almost off his
back He clambered out INTO the muddy
water and sank to his hips, but managed
to reach the solid part of the embankment,
and, drawing himself up on the grass, re-
manned there i'll the pouring rain with moth
ing on but his Undertaking for over eight
| hours. The first attention he received was
from Miss Payne, of Knoxville, who being
in the last car, which was the only one that
remained on the track, escaped uninjuIed.
When man came rushing into that car to
warn the passengers of their danger, he was
told by Miss Payne, who was still in hel
| berth. that if he did not Immediately leave
the car she would faint. AS soon, howev-
Ell, as she could put on some clothing she
was brave enough, working among the
wounded on the tracks and rendering valu-
able aid to the men.
When found by Miss Payne, Bishop Will.
son had tainted from loss of blood, but was
soon made as comfortable as possible by
being provided with pillow and mattress
| A Mr. Cassell, who was Oh the train, and
who was terribly scalded and burned, walk
ed six miles down the track to warn the
next train which was following the one
which was wrecked. The bishop stated
that this was one of the most heroic acts
he had ever witnessed. The escape of the
bishop was almost a miracle, as out of the
whole carload of people but three escaped
being killed. Eight hours after the acct
dent special train was sent from Roanoke
to bring back the few survivors. While
there every attention was paid them, the
company bearing all expense.
STIFFNESS AMONG THE DOOMED
PEOPLE.
Mr.. Il. J. Niche, son Of the editor OF
the Charlottesville Chronicle, was IL passen
ger, and fortunately for him, on the Cal
terrible wreck Il was in the last sleeper
there being two others i'll front OF ours
The first thing | heard was the noise OF
the cars falling over the precipice. | sup
pose | must have been awakened by the
explosion of the engine. All the cars went
over but the one / was in. The Richmond
sleeper went over behind the day coach
which seemed to rise up on end, turn oveI
and fall upon the Richmond sleeper, break.
ing it to pieces. All the persons killed OF
wounded nearly were in the day coach and
smokingcar. 1t was perhaps thirty min
utes before the mass took fire. The dark.
sible to do anything to aid the helpless
people in the wreck. The bank had shelved
off from the west end of the break as if it
had been cut with a knife, and the dirt had
become Il loblolly, making it exceedingly
difficult to eXtrlcate those who escaped M
mediate death. There was al unusual
stiffness among the doomed people. They