Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-07-04
SLAUGHTERED IN a wAsHoUr.

Forty People Killed i'm n Train
Many More Seriously Injured
Accident ON the Norfolk d Western
HknIlroRd.
LIBERTY, Va, July 2 "A fearful wreck
occurred on the Norfolk u Western rail-
road this morning near Thaxtons about
80 mileB above this city. II is reported
that 40 persons were killed. "".
THE FIGURES MAY BE EXCESSIVE.
PHILADELPHIA, July 2.--President FL.
Kimbail OF the Norfolk d Western rail-
road, who has his headquarters in this
city, when seen this afternoon In relation
to the accident on his road this morning,
said that while the wreck is serious one
and has resulted in the loss of life the re-
port telegraphed from the South that 40
persons were killed is greatly exag.
gerated. MIR. Kimball is in direct tele-
graphic communication with the general
manager of the railroad. The informa-
ton furnished him up to ] O'Clock this
afternoon is that Eve persons were killed.
nearly all of whom were train hands, and
quite number OF persons injured.
The train wrecked was known as No. 2
whic left Roanoke few minutes before
midnight. A heavy rain storm had pre-
vailed throughout Virginia for about 4s
hours and the train was moving slowly
and behind schedule time when it ran
into washout about 1.30 q. m, near
Thaxtons. The locomotive and several
cars were thrown into the ditch but the
sleeper remained on the track.
THE PASSENGERS ROASTED.
The cars caught fire after falling into
the ditch and quite number Of passen-
gers were severely burned, in addition to
those injured by the wreck. kilograms
VIZ re- at once sent 10 Roanoke Tor assistat ce
and in short time special train arrived
from that city bearing fire company
and number OF physicians. Five per-
sons are reported to Mr.. Kimball as h6v-
ing been killed and number injured,
but no names have yet been forwarded to
him.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
PETERSBURG, Va, July 3.-A fearful
catastrophe occurred about mile west of
Thaxton at 90 o'cloek yesterday morn.
ing, by which about 40 persons were
| killed. and many others were injured.
| Thaxton is on the Western Division OF
the Norfolk & Western railroad, about 80
miles west OF Lynchburg. Rain had
been falling almost continuously,
and at times heavily, for "a
hours, swelling the mountain streams
greatly beyond their normal state. Sew
eral trains had passed over the road dur
ing the night and it was thought that the
line was safe for traffic, Notwithstanding
the rains, and that no danger need be
apprehended. At the place OF the acci-
dent, however, the water had under
mined tho rosdbed and had caused a
washout about 80 feet long and SO feet
wide. The water at this point was eight
to 10 feet deep. Into this watery gulch
tho engine made frightful leap, while
running at the rate of 80 miles an hour,
carrying with II the tender and train.
As the engine struck bottom, the rush
ing of the water into the locomotive e1
ploded the boiler. 1his fact greatly
augmented the catastrophe. Dsbris wai
thrown in every direction by the force o
the explosion, some OF those on the traiI
being injured by the flying fragments
and tirebrands being scattered, which ig
nited the woodwork of the coaches.
The train was composed of a locomo
tive, tender, mail car, express car, twt
Pullman coaches and three sleepers. AL
of the train, with the exception OF tn
last sleeper, which did not leave tn
track, was burned up. As soon as tn
news OF the accident became known a
Lynchburg, o wrecking car with full
complement of men was sent to tn
acene OF the wreck. The work OF gettin,
out the dead bodies was begun and oar
ried on as rapidly as possible, but tn
task is necessarily slow. Many OF tn
bodies were burned and others are uude
the water, SO that it is impossible to tel
who all the dead are.
Among those known to have been kille
are;
, j. f, Lifeseay, train dispatcher Of th
, Norfolk & Western road; Alvin Jones Q
Petersburg, road foreman OF engines 70
the LynUhburg Division; Pat Donovan
! the engineer, and John Bruce, his fire
man; Express Messenger Ashmore Q
! Messy Greek, Tenn; and Conducto
! Rowland Johnston of Glade SPRING.
/. Va. Captain Scott of Norfolk, is mil
sing. L. b. Summers OF Abingdon, Va
I a postal clerk, was badly Bruised til
other postal clerk, j. j, hose of Abins
don, was killed. Major j. o. Cassel
J superintendent OF the Lynchburg ID
vision, WAS on the i'll. fated train, and WI
|
' The adopted daughter OF Mrs. TnomI
1 son OF Augusta county, was killed, an
8 Mrs. Thompson herself is known to /
badly hurt. Among the others who 10
9 their lives were W. q. Stead and the hu
/ band and two children of a woman pa
!. senger on the train, whose name Cam
be learned. Mr.. stead was an Englishma
Q and was agent OF an Idaho hunting III
L fishing expedition. He was on his wi
o to England for supplies when he met b
O death.
II Thirty of the wounded have been take
!; to Roanoke, Is to Butordsville, and SO
o Liberty.
10 There is no telegraphic communicate
d nearer the wreck than Liberty, and 1t
]. hard to get information from there,
i; the Norfolk IL Western refuses to perm
It reporters to go on the relief train whi,
i, went to the scene of the accident, al
!, several who got on, despite orders to u
?. contrary were put of.