Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-07-11
FRIGHTFUL DISASTER.
10 Persons Killed and Many Injured
in a Railroad Crash.
The Engineer saw the Turning Bridge
Too Late Co stop--He Tried 60 Rush
Ills Train Across.

At least thirteen persons we're killed and a
large number seriously wounded several Of
them mortalls, in a railroad wreck, the worst
the State Of West Virginia ever saw, at {
o'clock iHthe morning, on the Kanawla and
Michigan Railroad, eight miles from Charles
ton, the capital 81 The State. Ii was train No.
|, which consisted Of an engine, combined
baggage, mail and express car and tive
coaches.
The coaches were illed with passengers,
most Of whom were loborins people out for
holiday in the country, The order Of United
American Mechanics was en- route to Poca tc
spend the day, many of them accompanied
by their wives. Many Of the passengers wer,
empleycs Of The railway company going &c
their homes along the line to spend the holi.
day. The train was passing over trestle
when there came crash. The coaches rocked
and shook, women screamed and stout men
turned pale with fear. A moment more and
Q fearful plunge was madc. The forward pas
senger car rolled down the approach 70 the
treStle, turned completely and rested right side
up ten feet below The track. Tie other ears
rolled over the edge, turned bottom up and
leu twenty feet below the track. IN the terri
PIE iail many persons were crushed and
bruised, hat, TO add to the horror, the rear
truck, which remained GA the track, fell over
On top OF the car, crushing everything under
II ana killing nearly every person who was in
that portion OF the car One dead BODY after
another was pulled out through the window
most OF thcm horribly mangled.
Nearly all the dead were cut OF bruised
about the head Immediately after The wreck
relief trains were sent ont with physicians
from St Albans and Charleston, who did al
"a their power to relieve The suilerings Of The
injured. \ dozen corpses lying in row,
many Of them az The time not Identified, was
ihe irsl sight the relief party saw A few
steps further hail dozen men were met
carrying another body 10 add 10 the list across
the creek, where the wreck occurred The ia.
jtred aud dyisg lay =. groups in the opSn
field. Tho iuoans - the wounded mingled
with the cries OF thnse who had lost friends
caused sioutesi hearts 70 quail
The four unHiured Engineer O Con.
nor, Fireman Wyatt, Fireman Armiiago and
Passenger N0ryei together With such of the
wounded as were able worked nohiy 10 aid
their unfortunate companions aud with the
help OF the country people who ilocked 10
Their asslstance, Hli were souh cEtrieaicd FROM
the car. II Was necessary 10 cut the cor away
to get al them
The burning of the ties which caused The
train 20 leave the track is supposed 10 have
been caused by the falling OF hot einders from
q freight train that crossed during the night
The track walker, whose duty il was TO IN.
spect ihe track daily, had started on his trip
from the other end at It's section, but bad not
reached Charleston rhe engineer saw slight
smoke, but though i an early tog rising from
the creek until loo hate 90 save the train. The
engine aud first car gut over safely. The
company has done everything IN its power for
those injured. Walter Welchcr and wife, with
the infant child were going for holiday with
friends. The parents were killed and the liz
tie child If two years was bruised and It's lit
tie fingers cut oh i never whimpered and
It's great blue eyes never shed tear as the
surgeons dressed the wounds