Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-03

he Rev. J. NJ. Skies, GAINESVILLE,
Tenn.
Mrs. Poole, Williamson, N. C.
julie Thefer, travelling salesman, Phil
adelphia.
Doc Wells, colored, Pullman porter.
John Davis, Statesville.
Mr.. Mccormick, Alexandria, Va
THE INJURED.
DIR. George w. Sanderlin, state aud.
itor was on the wrecked train. He was
painfully injured. Among others who
escaped with injuries more or less seri.
GUS were:
Colonel E. B. Cannon of the Cover.
nor's staff
Patrick E. Ransom, Northampton
county.
Otto Ransom Of Norfolk, Va.
Worth Elliott of Hickory.
George Bolew of Atlanta.
Colonel O. W. Lawson of Louisville
Miss Lewellan Poole, Williamson,
NC.
Mrs. R. G. and Miss ophelia Moore of
Helena, Ark.
A. 5. Link and wife, Lexington, Ky.
3. N. Estes, Memphis, Tenn.
John Gage, Asheville.
K. r. Johnston, Newberry, S. G.
Conductor Spaugh.
Sleeping-car Conductor H. C. Cleeper.
Flagman Shoaf.
Three ladies in the first-class car were
Killed. Every passenger in the sleeping
car met death, not soul escaped. The
casualties may reach forty, as it is not
believed that all the bodies have vet
been taken out The accident was
caused by the spreading of the rails.
The bridge is not materially injured and
the trains are now running on regular
schedule time.
THE STORY OF THE ACCIDENT.
The train which met with such sudden
and complete destruction was the fast
passenger and mail train which left
Salisbury for Asheville over the Western
North Carolina road this morning at
O'Clock. 1t was composed of baggage
car, express car, mail car, first and
second class cars and sleeper It met
It's fearful doom at the high bridge over
Third creek, two miles west of States
vile. Heavy clouds obscured the skies
as Engineer Billy West, in answer TO
the conductors whistle, pulled open the
throttle and moved slowly out Of Sails
bury on its fatal journey, the yellow
headlight showing the steal rails ahead
cleaning out, while the trees and shrub.
berry alongside the track glistened with
moisture.
Two miles west of Statesville is high
stone bridge over Third creek. The
bridge was built years ago of solid
masonry. 1t is 80 feet high, and is
arched for the passage of wagons ON the
roadway beneath as well as for the
waters of the creek. 1t Is as safe as
bridge could be; in fact, tract Of solid
ground could be made no safer. Trains.
therefore, do not sacken speed on an.
preaching 1t. The Inflated train was
running at the rate of 40 miles an
hour when the pilot of the engine threw
shadow over its approach.
In the centre of the bridge there was
q gap in the cleaning line of rails. The
engine struck the gap, gave a great
bound and fell down into space. Along
with 1t went every car in the train, one
after the other, with their human loads,
crashing upon the hard ground 90 feet
. below. The engine struck ground first
and then upon it came one car after an
other with horrible crashes. Every car
was smashed to pieces and the wreckage
was heaped in confused and disordered
pile, and down under and among it were
the torn and mangled bodies of the crew
and passengers.
Z THE BRIDGE INTACT.
The great high bridge apparently re-
manned intact, but the rails were torn
up and the edges of the stone were
knocked of where the falling cars had
come in contact with them. II was early
morning and a mist filled the valley.
News of the accident had scarcely got
abroad when already about 100 people
from the surrounding farms were help
ing 10 remove the wreckage and draw
out the bodies. 1t was a terrible scene.
The debris of the cars was piled up 10
or IL feet high In the utmost confusion.
In the fall the Pullman car had leaped
over all the others, whirlihg through the
ar and striking the ground in front of
the engine, and had been crushed as one
would crush an egg by throwing it
against a stone wall.
A witness of the disaster, speaking of
tne scene then presented, says; "The
sight sickened me, but | lent helping
hand IN pulling out the bodies. Wegot
out Engineer West in small pieces. He
was crushed beyond recognition. His
nreruan, Fry of Hickory. was also badly
mutilated from the debris of passenger
cars: People were brought out mangled
IN all sorts of ways, and only two or
Three bodies were brought out intact
The bodies were ranged in q row on
we hillside and there were 20 there
ready to be sent to Statesville when
EFT, and workmen were then delving in
she wreck for other bodies. The con-
ductor was badly hurt, but he hobbled
70 Statesville and gave news of the
wreck"