Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-07-11
HURLED INTO A CHASM.
WRECK OF AN ENTIRE TRAIN
ON THE N. w. IL. Il.
The Locomotive and G asoline Lamp
Explode - Many Persons Killed
to Death.

The east bound Norfolk and Western pas.
senger train, which left Roanoke Va, was
wrecked and burned ut Thnxton's Switch, by
plunging into n chasm created under the
track by watcr spout. The engine, bag.
gage, express two passenger coaches and two
Pullman sccpcrs went down. The locomo-
tive boiler aud gasoline lamp exploded by
the shock, aud the entire train was wrnpt in
flames in an instant Not II voice or II sound
was heard for five minutes and then some one
fecbly called for help Men with 10 clothing
on who had managed to crawl out of the
wreck Mt once began To work hcroically to
save the less fortunate passengers, and it
was not long before many of them were taken
out.
Among those rescued was: Bishop Alphers
W. Wilson, of Baltimore. who was slowly
bleeding to death from the severance of n
blood vessel in his wrist. The lire companies
and several physicians OF this city were has.
lily taken To the scene of horror, but the
hamcs had devoured everything but the iron
frames when they arrived. The wounds of
those who were dangerously hurt were
dressed, and those who were but slightly in.
lured were sent to the Ronnoke, Liberty and
Bufford's, were their wants were supplied
me Killed, 80 far ns ascertaincd, are: Charles
Bruce, OF l.ynchburg, fireman, scalded to
death; Nathan Cohen, of Roanoke, who
was en- route for Germany via New
York; Patrick Donovan, of Lynchburp cnpi-
necr; +. S. Francis, of Marion, mail agent;
A. NJ. James, of Roanoke. travelling en-
gineer of the road; J. W. l.ivsny, of Roanoke,
train dispatcher; Dennis Melon, ianitor of
the railroad offices, ell route for New York to
be married. W. c. Shcnd, of Cleveland, Tenn :;
j. j. Rose, OF Abingdon; n stranger bound
for Paris vim New York; l.. b. Summers. of
Abingdon, w., mail agent; little girl sup
posed to he the adopted daughter of Mrs
Judge Thompson. of Stnuntou Va; j W
Dubarry, superintendent of the eastern divis
ion; j &. Cassell, OF the western division; J
j. Rose, postal clerk of Abingdon, Va; John
kirkpatrick, of l.ynchburg; the husband and
two children of a lady passenger ON the train
whose name cannot be learned. Mr. Stead
was an Englishmun aud was agent of an
Idaho hunting and fishing expedition. lie
was on his way to England for supplies when
he met his death
Conductor Johnson, Bishop Wilson, Ex.
press Messenger Ashrnere Mrs. Judge Thomp.
son, Major J. G. CHssel, superintendent of the
road, and Baggage Muster Ford are among
those most badly hurt. number of others,
intending several ladies' from TeXns, are
slightly injured Only seven persons in all
are said to have been saved
lhere were about seventy passengers on
the train beside the employees, and as it is
absolutely Impossible to ascertain the exact
number saved the number of those killed can.
not be accurately asccrtaincd. THERE'S every
reason to fear, however, that the number
will reach thirty, if not more.
The passengers acqut the railroad com
pnny of blame The embankment was
swept away by n sudden and heavy rain
storm, and the iron aud ties remained sus
pended over the chasm, SO that when tho
engineer glanced along the rails he did not
discover the danger.
Rain has been falling almost continuously,
and at times very heavily, for iwent y-four
hours, swelling the mountain streams great.
ly 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 danger need be apprehcndcd At tho
place of the accident, however, the water had
undermined the roadbcd and caused n wash
out, about eighty feet long and fifty feet
wide. The water ut this point was eight to
ten feet deep. Into this watery gulch the
engine made n frigntful leap, while running ut
the rate of thirty miles nm hour, cnrrying
with it the tender and eight cars.
A large amount of mail and express mat.
ter was destroyed. The number of wounded
will be far in excess Of the number killed
Thirty of the wounded have been taken to
Roanoke. thirteen to Burordsvilln and Gny
To Liberty