Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26
GOV. HILL In DANGER
Hl9 SPECIAL TRAIN RUN INTO az AN
EXPRESS.
A Considerable jam Of Trains the Result
but Nobody Kirled-Fobody Sc
riousiy Injured.
By telegraph % tho Dispstch.I


7. s. Riley, chairman OF the Democratic
State Committee, Governor Fleming, and
others. left Wheeling at 7:30 this morn
ing on q special train provided by the
Democratic State Committee over the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, consisting
Of draving-room car and Calvin D.
Brice's private car. The train was 10
have stopped at all stations between
Wheeling and Harper's Ferry Tor from
five TO twenty minutes to allow the GoS-
ernor to make short addresses.
AN ACCIDENT.
The programme, however, was abruptly
interfered with by a collision. Inc
Governor had addressed gathering OF
600 workmen at Benwood and seyerai
hundred at Moundsville and his tram
was about starting, when Engineer Lee
Wells, of Wheeling, heard warning
note from the Engineer Of Train No. Z,
known as the Chicago express, when
told him that the train was approaching
on the same track about fifty feet ahead
of where the Governors tram, which
was designated as No. ", was standing
A wide and low highway bridge spans
the railroad track here making 1t lmpos-
sible to zee approaching trains on the
other side OF the bridge. About twenty
five feet behind No. ~ an accommoda-
ton train which was running between
Wheeling and Cumberland came to
stand-stil.
CRASHING INTO THE GovERSoR's TRAIN
When Engineer Wells noticed the ap-
proach of the Chicago express he I'M
rnediately reversed his engine, backing
his train. but the Chicago express was
moving at 20 high O rate OF speed that II
soon caught up to the Governors tram
and crashed into it. The cow-catcnefs
OF both trains were demolished, but tho
engine Of the Chicago express was more
generally wrecked, as were the platforms
of three of the eight passenger-eoacn,,e,s
comprising the train. Governor biu
train was thrown back on the accommo-
dation train and the cow-catcher OF that
locomotive was smashed.
THREE TRAISs THROWN BACK on ONE.
Behind tho accommodation train was
heavily LOADED freight train, and the
three trains together were thrown back
on that with slight force, with no dam
AGE TO the last named except that the
cow-catcher Of the engine WIS torn away.
Had the Governors train consisted OF or
binary coaches instead of two strongly
built parlor-coaches, it would have been
crushed Ike an egg-shell between tic
two heavy trains As 1t was, both OF
these cars escaped without even a scratch.
How IT ALL OCCURRED.
The engineer on Y and the engineer
on the accommodation train behind him
had orders saying they would meet train
No. 7 81 Moundsville, and telling them
20 take the second siding east OF
Moundsville. The engineer on Z had
orders not to pass the second switch
until these two trains we're side-tracked.
Train 2 was IN the act OF taking the side
track when the collision occurred. En-
eineer Fleming, who has been IN the
employ OF the road for many years, said
he attempted to stop the train on the
other side Of the second switch, but
when he applied the air-Drakes he found
they could not control tho train. On
examination lie found that the air had
been shut off at the air-reservoirs on the
tender, which of course rendered the
brakes useless, and his train was carried
past tho second switch with the above re-
suit.
NOBODY SERIOUSLY HURT.
Engineer Fleming had his knee-cap
injured, but no one else suffered even a
scratch. The Governor was not at all
excited, and enjoyed the wild rush OF
the occupants from the first car in their
endeayor to escape.
TIE PATTY PROCEEDS.
After a delay of two hours at Mounds
vile the engine drawing the Governors
train, being too badly crippled to pro-
coed, the two psrlor-cars on that train
we're attached to the rear end of the ac-
commodation train, the engine OF which
was the only one of the three injured
in the collision which Was able to pro-
ceed.