The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-17
SHOCKING DEATH ON THE RAIL.
Two Girls Killed by Passen-
ger Train.
Near Coyner's Leila Gopperidgo Meets
Instant Death and Her Sister Lulu
Fatally Injured-Caught on the Trestle
Near Sharp Curve The Dead Body
and Injured Girl Brought to vinton
Where the Second Death Ensued.

AN ~ WV hiOoo onOthluk dCCluGngS
that has occurred in the vicinity of
Roanoke since the great Thaxton wreck
was the mangling of the bodies of Lulu
and Lelia Copperidge yesterday morning
by the Norfolk and Western west bound
train near Coyner's Springs.
AS the train dashed around the curve.
few hundred yards below the station,
just before reaching the bridge, at full
speed. Engineer John l.. Akers was hor-
rified to behold two girls, one grown
and the other about ~ gears of ago, on
the railroad bridge few yards in front
of his flying locomotive. He blew tho
whistle and reversed his engine. The
girls looked around. The elder in
stantly seized her sister and attempted
to jump from the bridge to the ground,
distance of fifteen feet. The
foot of the brave girl slipped
between the ties, and as the two came
near falling on the bridge the engine
struck them. Tho bodies Of both we're
Knocked across the track distance of
several feet, falling to one side of the
track. AS soon as tho train could be
stopped crowd of passengers went
back to the scene and beheld the awful
work of the iron monster.
The girls proved to be Lula c., aged
10, and Leila M. Copperidge, aged IL,
daughters of Joel Copperidge. carpen-
ter, formerly of this citv. The young
est was picked up dead, her head and
shoulders having been crushed in
frightful manner. Lula, the eldest, was
still living, but had received q fearful
blow on the head. Blood was oozing
md
The family were moving from about n
mile below Coyners Springs to Vinton.
A wagon driven by Tom Smith, white
boy, was loaded with furniture belong
Ing to the family and was in the turn
pike few yards from the scene. The
mother of the girls was in the wagon.
The father was driving COW Just bo-
hind. They both saw the frightful ac-
e1dent and were soon on the scene wiring
ing their hands in despair.
The father was excited beyond con-
troll, and 1t was with much effort of the
bystanders that he was controlled. He
was enraged at the engineer, and
threatened to do him bodily harm, so
crazed was he from the effects of the
terrible shock. He was finally Gained,
and gave way again to the most heart
rending grief.
The body Of Leila and the wounded
girl were placed on the train and
brought to Vinton.
Drs. Cartwright and Eubank wore i'm
dediately summoned and examined the
wounded girl. She was removed to the
house intended to be occupied by the
family, next to Smiths store.
Drs. Koiner, Simmons and Lurny, of
Roanoke, were summoned by telephone,
and were soon on hand. Everything
possible was done by the neighbors to
relieve the distressed family.
G. w. Caldwalder, who lives at Blue
Ridge Springs, was driving n wagon
load OF lumber near the scene at the
time and witnessed the accident. He
says the elder girl made frantic effort
to save her sister, but failed because
she slipped between the ties. Both
were lifted bodily from the track and
hurled clear across the bridge. He
never saw an engine coming at such
speed stopped so suddenly.
The physicians were with the wound
ed girl until nearly 6 o'clock yesterday
evening, when she died. She had re-
ceived fracture of the frontal bone of
tho head about two and half inches
long. 1t was decided not to perform an
operation, as the effects would surely
have been fatal.
Thus the brave girl, who made such
heroic effort to save her little sister,
fingered for more than seven hours in
intense agony.
Mr.. Copperidge was most excellent
man, and was beloved by all who knew
him. SO was his family. Four chill
dren remain to lament the terrible
calamity which fell so suddenly upon
the once happy household.
100000 TONS OF COAL.
President Mc0uail Makes an Estimate on