The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30
CLEARING AWAY THE DEBRIS.
The Train Which Plunged Through Bis-
tan Bridge viii DO a Total Loss :
AN ICE FACTORY DESTOYED BY FIRE.
Condition OF Ex-Governor Scales Continues
Criticai-nIicit DistIiieries Destroyed
North State Notes.

A special from Statesyille tonight says the
entire train which went down in the Bas-
tan bridge wreck will be a total loss. and it
is now in contemplation to set fire to the
debris in order to get it out ofithc way as soon
as possible. The relations of tho dead and
wounded are still focking to the scene.
Last night Mr.. +. n. White. Of Memphis,
Tenn, whose beautiful and accomplished
wife was killed. arrived at Statesville. and
also Judge Estes. of Memphis. whose son
was badly, if not fatally hurt. The report
which was sent out by some orrespondont
last night TO the effect that A. l.. LINK, OF
Lexington, who was travelling with his wife,
is dead. is erroneous.
BOTH STILL ALIVE.
He and his wife arc both still alive. and
although Links injuries are serious. hopes
are entertained for his recovery. and also for
that of the young bride.
State Auditor Sanderlin has so far recover
ed to-day that il is expected he VIII be out
within twenty-four hours.
Charles G.. Webber. Of Tittsburg. Pa. one
Of the victims Of the wreck. will be Inferred
in Statesville, his remains being too badly
mutilated t. send him home. one hundred
and twenty Ave hands are still busy removing
the debris, but progress is slow. as much OF
the rubbish is submerged in the creek.
CAUSE OF THE WRECK.
The coroner's jury is still in session to-day
at Statosville making most searching ana
strenuous efforts 10 arrive at the true cause
of the wreck. This is the question which IL
now uprermost in all minds and which Is
involved in tho deepest mystery. The Jury
has made several tTips to the scene OF the
wreck.
TIC wrecked train is lying stretched across
the creek. with tho engine lying upon the
bank upon the further side Of the gorge. The
whole train seems as If 1t had inilen
when right upon the bridge. The cars are
not teiescoped or piled upon each other, but
are lying strung out in the positions they
occupied before they left the track.
The engine is on the other side OF tue
creek. The tender is behind it almost buried
in the mud: the baggage car. in which Is also
the smoker. is next. the hrst-class ear next,
then the sleeper, and Superintendent Bridgers'
car 10 lying partly on the oah5 oh
this side. The two first cars are smashed into
Il mass of kindling wood. Judging from tho
position of the engine and cars 1t evidently
ran all the WAY across TO the other side OF the
bridge before 1t left the track. II 1t had
Jumped on this side of the bridge 1t would
have gone down and carried all the cars with
1t, one piling on the top OF the other.
WAS THE TRACK TAMPEEED WITH!
But the trouble with the track. whatever it
was. was AT this end Of the bridge. Tins has
given rise 10 the theory, and 1t seems 70 be
a correct one, that the engine and the entire
train had crossed the impaired place in safety
till the rear car struck 1t and u
was derailod: dragging along attached to
II the other cars. it quickly wrenched them
from the track also, and the whole train
tOppled and fell TO the bottom Of the chasm:
The theory which is beginning to he accepted
is that the track was tampered with. IL was
testified this evening by Mr.. Haller, who was
one OF the first 20 reach the wreck, that the
screws appeared TO have been taken out of the
hsh-plates which held the rails together at
the ends. He stated that when
he reached the spot he saw some
of the screws lying around. They were
not broken or bent. nOr the threads bat
tered. They could not have come out IN any
other way than bya human hand. Mr.. Haller
produced one Of these bolts. AMI showed 1t 10
the Jury. 1t was not mashed or dented.
WAS THE CAUSE ROBBERY?
Further examination has shown that the
ties OF this point are sound and have spike
holes in them "a if they had been drawn.
What the object Of the miscreants could
have been who thus planned the wreck OF the
train. if they did do so, cannot be imagined.
Ii could scarcely have heen for robbery, for
that would have been almost impossible IN a
wreck down in such a canyon. There
have been rumors flying that mon
were seen fitting stealthily from one
car to another and robbing people
Just after the accident, but these rumors lack
confirmation. A rumor has also gained cur-
rency tonight that the conyictse at work clear
ing the wreck yesterday stole money and val
uables, but this Is hardly possible.
WHAT CAPTAIN GREEN SAYS.
CHARLOTTE. n. c.. August 29.-[Special. J.
CAPTAIN W. II. Green. Colonel A.. b. Andrews
and Captain John DOdsOn were here to-day
on their return from tie Western North Cur
dina wreck near Statesyillc. Captain Green
said that all the debris has not been explOred:
that the heavy rains have retarded the work,
and that Il may be a day or two yet before
the bottom is reached. Captain Green SAYS
that while he thinks all the bodies have been
recovered there is n possibility that others
are still in the ruins Captain Green IS quite
firmly convinced that tho accident was caused
by the rail being removed. The screws, pins
and nuts were found lying on the c~ross-tie
and the rail laid on the ground outside OF the
ties.
CoNWCTs MAXI BIC HAUL.
The convicts employed in clearing the
wreck lost no chance b steal valuables. They
were searched Yesterday after they quit work.
Cne of them had 900 III money. and others
had rings. diamonds and gold and silver. A..
l.. Link, the bridegroom who was reported
killed. is alive aud may live. His bride will
recover. Otto Ramsay. Of Norfolk. was
asleep in the Pullman car at the time of the
accident in a lower berth. He was showed up
next to the roof of the car and crawled out Of
a broken window. He made his way 10 town
IN his night clothes. All those rescued from
the sleeper reached here in a naked condition.