The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-09-11
THE WRECK AT THE YADKIN.
Thirty-fve Cars Leave the Bridge and
Plunge Into the River 90 Feet Below.
TFrom the Greeas5oro Prtr;ot. I

From the Greensboro Patriot.]
On Saturday evening, as the north
bound freight trail, consisting of en-
CINE, tender, fifteen loaded and twenty
empty box cars and caboose car,
came dashing down The grade on the
south side of Yadkir river, and was
nearing the iron bri lge across the
river, the engineer, Ca, It. Jack Allen,
felt a sudden jar and q1iver of his
engine. A moment later the forward
or pony trucks" Of the engine flew
out to one side, letting til, fore part
Of the engine drop down ON the rails
and cross ties. Captain Allen told his
fireman, Mr.. John Hatley, to Jump,
as it was impossible to stop the train,
and that he knew no bridge could
stand the tremendous strain that the
one before him would be subjected to
in a few seconds. He reversed his
engine, blew for brakes and kept his
whistle sounding the alarm, but on
dashed the engine with its heavy train
of cars straight for the bridge, tearing
up the rails and cross ties as it went.
Captain Allen coolly stood to his post
until within few feet of the bridge,
when seeing that no human power
could stop the onward rush of the
train, he sprang to the step Of the cab,
leaped off and was sent whirling down
a high embankment. A second later
the ponderous engine struck the
bridge The shock was too great for
even that iron structure and it gave
way, precipitating the
ENGINE, TENDER AND 80 CARS
into the river fifty feet below.
The conductor, Capt. Scott, IT,
great presence of mind, when he -, =
that the train was doomed, spran@ %
the front platform of his caboose ;.nt;
uncoupling it from the train, a, .,iiei
the brakes and with the he'll p Of his
flagman succeeded in
STOPPING THE CAR
before it reached the river. The =
all escaped being precipitated int. .ne
river except the front brakeman, VIII .
was on the forward car at the time of
the accident. He started to run back
to the rear end Of the train, but the
car made the plunge before he had
gotten clear OF 1t, and he was
WHIRLED THROUGH THE AIR,
striking the water clear Of the debris
and falling cars. He shot downward
several feet, but soon arose and swan
to the bank, badly scared, but unhurt
The engineer and fireman were not so
fortunate. When they sprang off the
engine they were sent
SPINNING DOWN THE EMBANKMENT,
and were both very much bruised and
injured. Capt. Allen had both ankles
badly sprainei /, and was injured about
the breast, besides numerous cuts and
bruises about his face ard body. Mr..
Hatley, the fireman, had his right
wrist shattered, his right hip badly
sprained and was very much bruised
about the face and shoulders.
The wounded were at once taken
to Lexington on the engine of the
material train and had their wounds
dressed, and on yesterday Sunday
were sent through to their homes in
Danville. Both men will recover
Two spans of the bridge are down,
aud two abutments are completely
wrecked. The telegraph wires were
tangled in the falling timbers and
broken. The rails are twisted aud
doubled i'll every direction. The en-
CINE is lying near the middle of the
river with a portion of one cylinder
Just visable above the water. The
cars are piled up in an indiscriminate
and indescribable manner and are
mostly a total loss.
No blame can be attached to the
company or any Of the crew of the
train, as it was purely an accident
one which no human being could
toresee or prevent.
The cost to the company will hardly
fall far short of 100000.
The railroad authorities with their
usual promptness, have large force
of hands at work clearing away the
debris and traffic will only be inter
rupted for few days. The Rich
mond and Dauville Railroad Com
pany are sending their through trains
around the c. F. IL Y. V the Raleish
and Augusta, and the Carolina Cen
trail roads until arrangement can be
1