Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-02
ial DISPATCH to The EVENING sr.n

Special Dispatch to The EVENING STAR
LYNcHBURa, Va, July About O'Clock
this morning an east-bound passenger train on
the Norfolk and Western railroad ran into a
land slide near Thaxton's, station about
twenty-five miles west of Lynchburg, with hor-
rible results. The entire train from engine to
sleeping car went into the excavation and the
wreck taking fire was completely consumed
1t is impossible at this hour to obtain full de-
tails of the terrible calamity, but seven are
known to be dead and fifteen are missing, and
it is thought they have been burned with the
wreck.
AMONG THE KILLED ARE
Express-Messenger Ashmore and Baggage
Master Ford Engineer Donovan, Conductor
johnson, Fireman Mays, and two postal clerks,
one of them named Sommers All of the above
except the postal clerks are from Lynchburg.
John kirkpatrick, prominent young citizen
of this city. killed. and several other Lynch
burgers severely injured. Excitement was
high here, and everybody is focking to the
depot to seek information, which the railroad
officials will not give.
By United Press
LIBERTY. Va, July "A fearful catastrophe
occurred about mile west of Thaxton this
morning. on the Norfolk and Western railroad,
by which about forty passengers were killed
The accident was caused by washout on a
high hill. An informer here says that there
were only about seven of the crew and
passengers saved. Some of the cars and
passengers were burned. Capt. Rowland john
son was in charge Of the train and is mortally
wounded.
Baggage-master Ford is said to be very badly
hnrt. Major j. @. Cassell, superintendent of
the Lynchburg division, was on the train, and
was seriously injured. Mr.. l.. b. Summers, of
Abingdon, postal clerk, was bruised up con-
siderably.
The other postal clerk. ]. J. Rose. of Abing-
don, was killed. All of the physicians and
many of the citizens of Liberty went to the
wreck as soon as information was received
here. Pat Donovan was the engineer and was
burned up, as was also the fireman.
A man named Bruce Lifsey, train dispatcher,
was also burned. Several of the wounded were
c. Stead, of Cleveland, Tenn, is among the
dead.
What President Kimball Says.
Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, July 2.-President Kimbaii,
Of the Norfolk and Western railroad, 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 a serious one and has resulted in the
loss of life, the report telegraphed from Lynch
burg that forty persons we're killed is greatly
exaggerated.
Mr. Kimball is in direct telegraphic commu-
nication with the general manager of the road
The information furnished him up to o'clock
this afternoon is that five persons were killed,
nearly all of whom were train hands, and quite
anumber of persons injured The train wrecked
was known as No. 2, which left Roanoke a few
minutes before midnight. A heavy rain-storm
had prevailed throughout Virginia for about
forty-eight hours and the train was moving
slowly and behind schedule time when il ran
into washout about l:30 this morning near
Thaxtons.
The locomotive and several cars were thrown
into the ditch, but the sleeper remained on the
track. The cars caught fire after falling into
the ditch, and quite number Of passengers
were severely burned. in addition to those in
jured by the wreck. kilograms were at once
sent to Roanoke for assistance. and in a short
time special train arrived from that city bear
ing fire company and number of physicians
Five persons are reported to Mr.. Kimball as
having been killed and number injured, but
no names have as yet been forwarded to him.