The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-12

Ar engineers carelcSSneSS caused
serious accident on the Maryland and
Washington division of tho Norfolk and
Western railroad near Cloycrdale yes
terday morning, which resulted in the
death of Fireman r. j. Topping, and the
injuring of Engineer Jake Hardy. For
tunately none of tho passengers were
hurt, although they got severe shak-
ing up.
About o'clock Sunday evening an
extra freight train pulled out from Roa-
noke and when about mile and half
north of Cloverdalc, enc Of the cars be-
came disabled. The train stopped at
point called Lemons siding and the
damaged car was pulled off on to side
track.
Another freight train left here at 7:35
o'clock and was tagged near the first
train. The engine of the special that
had taken the broken car on to tho sid
ing was then coupled to the first train
and started to pull out AS it did so the
drawheads between three cars in the
rear OF tho train parted and grade be-
| ing very steep the cars ran back and
struck the pilot of the second train,
slightly damaging it. One of the cabin
cars was knocked of the track. The
second train was very heavy one, con-
sisting of thirty cars.
In the meantime third freight train
had come up. The second train started
to back into Clovcrdale, but the train
was too heavy for the engine to hold it,
even with the brakes on. The result
was, it crashed into the third train,
which was standing behind it, badly
wrecking the engine, No. 552.
Capt. Il. III. Rransford, the superinten-
dent of the Roanoke division, immedi-
ately equipped his wrecking train and
started for the scene of disaster.
The work of clearing away the wreck
was commenced at once, and by o'clock
yesterday morning the road was cleared
sufficiently to allow passenger train No.
l, bound for Roanoke, to pass. Captain
Bransford had his hands full with three
long trains at Cloverdale siding, and he
was compelled to telegraph to Roanoke
for an extra engine.
A flagman was sent out with positive
instructions that if No. passenger
train, which is the early out of Roanoke,
was carrying signals, which run Il
sign that second section was following
it, to stop the second section.
Owing to the accident No. did not
iSdNc uclc tlll . u ClOCK yesterday morn
ing and it went in two ec.ions. The
first ction, which was carrying signals,
passed Cloverdale all right and as the
ilagman had such positive instructions
to stop the second section, the freight
trains commenced to shift and get
Strengthened out, using all the tracks.
The flagman met tho second section
OF the passenger train at II ollins, and
climbing into the cab of the engine
gave his instructions. Engineer Hardy
asked him how the first section had
passed and he replied that it had been
sand wiched by. Hardy thought he
could get by i'll the same way and
started his train. When he reached
Cloverdale freight train was pulling
oil the main track on the siding
The passenger train was running at
good speed and the engine crushed
into the rear of the freight. engine
5ls. which was pulling the passenger
train, was badly broken and Fireman
Topping was buried beneath the ruins.
| His left leg was broken his hip was
crushed and his flesh cooked with
steam and hot water. lie died an hour
later. Engineer Hardy was slightly
wounded about the head and the flag
man, who was on the engine, received a
few burises.
SaPI' WIN. " Drlen, OIL tnlS city was
passenger. lie was thrown violently to
the floor and was hurled about twenty
feet along the aisle, tearing up the mat.
ting, bruising his hands and left arm
considerably. He returned to the city
with MIR. Rogers. No other passengers
were hurt.
Captain Bransford personally superin-
tended the work of clearing away the
debris, and remained on tho ground
from o'clock Sunday night until
o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the
track was once more cleared.
Toppings remains were brought to the
city yesterday about noon and turned
over to Undertaken Woolwine. De-
ceased leaves wife and five children,
who are Frustrated over the unfortunate
occurrence.
Engines Nos. SIS and 55o had ONLY
been out of the shops a shot time, where
they had been thoroughly overhauled.
The other two engines were but slightly
damaged and one Of them was in service
yesterday afternoon. Three cabin cars
and one box car were broken and the
front part of the mail car on tho passcn
ser train was slightly damaged.
Fireman Topping had passed very
successful examination for promotion TO
engineer abous ten days ago. and it was
Captain Bransford's intention to give
him an engine as soon as q vacancy oc-
Cured. superintendent Bransford told
a TINES reporter last night that Engi-
nccr Hardy was to blame for running
his engine too fast Hardy admitted
that he made mistake and felt ter
ribly over the accident.