The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-03
A TRAININ A WASH0UT.
TWENTY-FIVE OR THIRTY LIVES
LOST IN THE CRASH.

I,OST ORA0hs
The Boiler OF the Engine Explodes as
II Strikes Bottom and Fires the
yE7rack-Only Two Of the Six Bodies
First Recovered Recognizable-The
Railroad Authorities Withholding
An Inform rnation-Names of Some of
the Victims
TvNcHBURG. VA, July "A fearful ac-
cident by which many lives were lost and
q large number Of people injured, occurred
on +ha Norfolk and Western railroad 1880
o'clock this morning one mile above Thax
TOMS switch and thirty-one miles above this
c,tv Rain had been falling almost con-
tinuouslY, and at times very heav-
uy 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, notwithstand-
ing the rains, and that no danger need be
aoprehend d. At the place of the accident,
however, water had undermined the road
bed and caused washouts about 80 feet
long and 50 feet wide. The water at this
point was to 10 feet deep.
THE ACCIDENT.
Into this watery gulch the engine made
frightful leap while running at the rate of
thirty miles, carrying with 1t the tender
and eight cars. AS the engine struck the
bottom the boiler exploded. This fact
greatly augmented the catastrophe. Debris
was thrown in every direction by the force
of the explosion, injuring some of those on
the train by flying fragments and scatter
ing fire brands which ignited the wood
work of the coaches. The flames spread
and destroyed a large amount of
mail and express matter, besides
spreading a panic among the already
terror-stricken passengers. 1t is supposed
that some of the passengers were unable to
extricate themselves from the wreck and
were consumed in the flames, but it is diff
cult to get accurate information, as the en-
ployes of the Norfolk and Western railway
refuse to give any information to the
public.
THOSE KILLED.
1t is impossible to state the number of
persons killed, but the most reliable esti-
mate places the number at 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, thirteen to Bufordsville, and fifty
to Liberty. The adopted daughter of Mrs
Judge Thompson of Augusta county was
killed, and Mrs. Thompson herself is known
to be very badly hurt.
sCALDED AND BURNED.
Patrick Donovan, the engineer, with his
fireman, man named Bruce, was scalded
and burned to death by escaping steam.
Train Dispatcher Lipsey was also burned
to death.
Among others who lost their lives were:
J. J. Rose, a postal clerk of Abingdon,
Va. John Kirkpatrick of Lynohburg; W
c. Stead, and husband and two children of
lady passenger on the train, whose name
cannot be learned. Stead was an English
man and was an agent of an Idaho hunting
and fishing expedition. He was on his way
to England for supplies when he met his
death.
MAI. CASSEL'S ESCAPE.
Maj. J. C.. Cassel, superintendent of the
Lynchburg division Of the Norfolk and
Western railroad was on the train, and was
seriously injured, as were also Baggage
master Ford and Capt. Rowland Johnston,
who was in charge of the train. 1t was
thought that Capt. Johnston was fatally
wounded, but 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, but fortunately escaped the fate of
his running mate, Mr.. Rose.
NO TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.
There is no telegraphic communication
nearer the wreck than Liberty, and it is
hard to get information from there, as the
Norfolk and Western refused to permit
reporters to go on the train which
went there. A relief train was
made = up at Lynchburg late in
the afternoon to go to the scene of the
wreck and a number of physicians went
uoWn on it to do what they could to aid the
wounded The Norfolk and Western people
absolutely refused to allow any newspaper
men aboard the train, aud several who got
On despite the orders TO the contrary were
put OIL. The railroad men also refused to
give out any information in regard to the
wreck.
SIX BODIES RECOVERED.
A special dispatch, which was received
ABOUT II O'Clock, from the scene of the
wreck by way of Liberty, says: six dead
ToIles u nave been recovered. The bodies of
& I 4 donovan, the engineer, and Postal Clerk
rose were recognized. The others are not
Anown. Supt Cassel, although badly hurt,
Is l3,I on the ground and doing everything DOS
slole Tor the wounded. The railroad com
H. u 'ONOA4 " 1ai 80 COEpo VI physicians
70 tne scene of the wreck from Roanoke
liberty and other points. 1t is thought
;naG large number of bodies were burned
IN The confagration.
LIST OF THE DEAD.
Mo Nhoc-A1lNoKE, VA, July 2, IL P. MIN the
-SorIolk and Western accident at Thaxton's
sSwlUc1 Sc1 the following are known to have
SSal, Pgen Killed: Pat Donovan, engineer. and
SSnarles S,les Bruce, fireman, of Lynchburg:
summers and j. j. Rose, postal clerks. of
rrnolnsdon, Va. Mr.. Hopkins, an express
pI51oesSehger; A. M. james, travelling agent.
% %as9engers-John Kirkpatrick. of Lynch
Tag TTurg; >; W, Beall, w. C. Stead, of Cleveland.
tIeinia', Nathan Cohen of Roanoke. a Ii tile
~ uaughter of Mrs. Judge THOMPSON
stanton, Va, Dennis Mellon of
~, as'anoKe' 1loKe' X. II. Ashmere of Bristol. Tenn
a. OK OK press messenger is seriously wounded
s1 sas ne Train of postal, express. bagyage
;At ;oAtokef, passenger car and two sIeepers ran
@ .Ivo .he washout aad burned. it is SIM
sumed. FS' "eie COIL
A WRECK IN TEXAS.
LITTLE Rock, ARK, July 2.-Passencers
living here yesterday inform a GnEefte
SSpoIUer SgHIer OF an accident which occurred last
e1uuuAy e,cl.ly evening near Terrell, Tex. to an
vr.r vnpi e ess Graln by which man, whose mama
las aS Io0 learned, was killed and several IN.
So.oI co.eI' 1he engine, baggage car and one
a sYSOu SN6 were reported to have gone throuoh
uelectlYe bridge. Officials of the rosd
80 80 IN thelr private car in the rear of the
GIL, "il, OUT were not injured. All the ac-