The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-28
DETECTIVES At WORK OH HlS TRAIL.
1 Statement From an Eye Witness, Ono Of
The Injured Passengers
1 LIST OF THE DEAD AND INJURED.
ktste-Auditor sanderlin Among the In
iured-A Heroic Act by Conductor
j. +. spaugh-ThOugh Badly
Hurt lie Walks Two Miles
and Gives the First
News-Detaiis.

SALISBURY. \. c.. August 27.-lSpecial. j.
The citizens Of Salisbury awoke this morning
10 hear ruInors Of n horrible catastrophe. No
happenine for years has caused such wide
snread excitement. and sympathetic express
sious were heard Oh every hand. The news Of
the terrible accident could be heard IN every
house and on every street corner and many
were the rumors afoat as 10 the casualty II
vas extremely heartrending to witness
those who had dear friends aboard seeking
official information, but it was not till noon
today that the meagre accounts gave any de-
gree II satisfaction.
TIE NEWS HARD 10 OBTAIN.
Application to railroad officials gave but
little comfort. and it was with untold anguish
that wives. sisters and mothers awaited
the incoming Of the special which would
bring from the scene OF the wreck those pas
sengers Of the Inflated train which were able
70 bear the Journey.
Bv4 O'Clock the facts grow more definite
and families frequently hoped against hope
that their dear ones had escaped III the fearful
accident About o'clock tho spociai arrived,
bringing with it passengers who had tortu-
nately escaped without serious injury. The
train consisted Of one passenger coach and
though raining hard fully five hundred peo-
pie me, the train.
The sight then Witnessed was an appalling
one. and many a tear was shed IN sympathy
as tho unf0rtunates were taken from the tram
RrMoyNG THE INJURED.
J. +. Spaugh. the conductor OF the III iated
train. was the first one 30 be brought ont and
il wan pitiable to see the railroad hands lift
ing the conductor on the mattresses TO the
Mount Vernon hotel nea- by. Captain Spaugh
performed a feat Of horoism when the train
was ditched Though seriously injured on the
head and elsewhere he walked backto States
villa two miles distant. and told what had
occurred. The message he sent was the first
iutimation that Salisbury people had Of the
wreck
G. A. Blasely. of Danville. was next taken
ont of the coach. He sustained injuries about
the head and arms. but was talked 10 by your
oorrespondent after being taken to the hotel
AN EYr-w1rNEss' STATEMENT.
He said: II was asleep at the time OF the
accident in the hrst-class coach and knew
nothing until to-day. when ! became con-
seious Of fearful pain in my head, >apd power
less 10 use my right arm managed, how
ever 10 crawl from the wreck, and with
another man we're the hrst wounded persons
from the train.
The sight of removing the dead from tho
train has been an awful one. All day the rail-
road men worked heroically, and think all
have been taken out"
CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT
The wreck occurred two miles beyond
Statewide and was caused by some nelh0us
Individual tearing up the track last night be-
tIyeen the passing Of the trains. The engine.
tender. cars and all fell III the creek below. a
distance Of eighty five feet and 1t IS a miracle
that all were not killed outright.
Amonr those killed were Engineer W. A.
West Of Salisbury; Fireman Warren fIyi
Shoaf "A fagman, and William Houston oi
Spikes were drawn from the ties on the
trestle the track spread and caused the accl-
dent.
HUNTING FOR THE FIEND
There is no clue as 10 who committed the
heinous crime. but with promptness surIris-
a., tbe railroad officials have employed Dc
tectives 20 hunt out the criminal Every one
in Salisbury is making every effort 10 relleVe
the suffering of the wounded ana u IS OK
pected that many will DO brought here early
tomorrow morning.
THE RKPOKTs CONFIRMED
CHAR1orTK, n. c.. August N-lSpecial.i,-
The latest news from the scene OF the wreck
ON the Western North Carolina railroad cor
roborAtes this mornings report that thirty
persons we're killed outright and at least NJ
Teen seriously injured. Bostran's high stone
bridge over Third creek, two miles west OF
Statewide was the scene Of the awful acci-
dent the most disastrous ever occurring III
the State The bridge was ninety feet hl@h.
The fated train was running forty niles an
hour when il ran Oh the bridge: Inc traln
iumped the track in the centre OF the Drluge
The entire train, including pullman sleeper
and Superintendent Bridgers private car
was hurled with It's human freight INTO the
abyss below. The Pullman car was crushed ah
an egg would be by being thrown INTO Tho ah'
TveTv car was completely wrecked
rwgs1Y-THREE BODIES RECOVERED.
,r,vor.v- three dead bodies have been recoy-
cred and the work OF rescuiDg the "ounuo"
is still going on. -, 80. - small
pieces. also Fireman Fry OF Hickory. Inc
sight was appalling and sickenng;
Prom the debris people were brought out
mangled ia every way. only two bodies TO
t Is Thought by some that rotten TIC at
the approach 20 the bridge caused the Iaiis M 10
spread. hurting thirty souls TO dea'h. me
dnmming up Of the creek by the tram caused
the drowning OF many who eouid oshef"lso
have been rescued.
THE KILLED
Following is a list Of the dead who havo
been recovered from the wreck
William West, engineer, Salisbury.
Warren Fry, fireman.