The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1889-07-11
CAUSED BY A
Frlghtful Acciden in to q Crowded Passenger Train
-, In Virginia.. .-

5N - E t.
FrIghtful Accident to a Crowded Passenger Train
In Virginia.
L~YNcHBURa. Va. July "A fearful acct
dent. by which many lives were lost and a
large number Of people injured. occurred on
the Norfolk & Western railroad early this
morning, one mile west of Flaxton's switch
and thirry-one miles west Of this city. Rain
had been falling almost continuously and
very heavily for twentY-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 hat no dan
ger need he apprehended. At the place of
the accident. however, the water had under
mined the roadbed and caused a washout
about eighty feet long and. fifty feet wide.
The water at this point 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 teader 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
firebrands which ignited the wood work Of
the coaches The flames spread, and de-
stroyed a large amount Of mail and express
matter, besides driving CONSERVATION to the
already terror stricken passengers. It 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 ut between twenty
five and thirty. The number Of wounded
will be far in excess of the number killed.
Thirty of the wounded have been 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
and burned to death by escaping steam.
Train Dispatcher Lipsey was also burned TO
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 a lady passenger, on the
oAA "hOoC AoA4O COAuoo NO 4SuAACOs
Mr.. Stead was an Englishman and
expedition. He was on his way to England
for supplies when he met his death. Maj. J.
@. Cassell, superintendent Of the Lynchburg
division of the Norfolk & Western, was on
the 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 o 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 telegraphic communication
nearer the wreck than Liberty, and it is diff
ticult to get Information from there, az tho
Norfolk & Western refuse to give any details
of the disaster. Arellef train wa made up
at Lynchburg to go to the scene Of the wreck,
and a number of physicians went down to do
what they could to aid the wounded. The
Norfolk & Western officials absolutely re-
fused to allow ii any n-ewspapermen
aboard the train, n 4< several who
got o Ii despite orders to the
contrary were put of. The railroad men
also refused to give ous any inform alton in
which has been received from the scene OF
the wreck by way of Liberty, says: six
dead bodies nave been recovered. The
bodies of T. Donovan, engineer, and Postal
Clerk Rose were recognized The others are
not known. Supt. Cassell, although badly
hurt, is on the ground and doing everything
possible for the wounded. The railroad
company has taken a large corps of physi-
clans to the seem of the wreck from
Roanoke, Liberty and other points. It is
Thought a large number. of bodies were
burned in the confiagra tion." - E.t% sos