New-York tribune., 1891-08-28
A TRAINS AWFUL PLUNGE
DISASTER ON THE WESTERN NORTH CARO-
LIMA RAILROAD.

TWENTY PEOPLE KILLED AND THIRTY INJURED
PASSENGER CARS THROWN BY SPREADING
RAILS INTO CREEK s1xTY-HvE
FEET BELow-NAMEs OF THE
DEAD AND INJURED.
Charlotte, n. c.. Aug. 27.-One Of the most
disastrous railroad wrecks known in the annals
of this State occurred this morning about o'clock
at Bostons Bridge, two miles west of Statcsville,
on the Western North Carolina road Passenger
train No. Q, known as the fast mail, which is
made up at Salisbury pulled ont on tiinc Il a. m.)
loaded with passengers 1t composed of a
baggage and mail car, second and first class
coaches, Pullman sleeper, and Superintendent
Bridges private car, Daisy. The sleeper. which
was from Goldsboro usually contains good num-
Der of passengers from Northern points, and last
| night was no exception.
The run to Statesville was made on time, a
distance OF twenty-five miles, but just after eav
ing Statesville there is high stone bridge span
ming Third Greek, and down into this creek
| plunged the entire train, distance Of at least
sixty-fve feet, wrecling the whole train and car
rying death and destruction with it. Twenty
| passengers were killed outright, nine seriously
injured. and about twenty badly bruised and
shaken up.
The scene at the wreck was awful The night
was dismal and to add to the horror of the situa-
tion the water in the creek was up. 1t was only
through the heroic efforts OF those who had hurried
to the scene of the wreck that the injured were
not drowned. The following are among the dead:
| KILLED
| AUSTIN, ]. B., Hickory, N. c.
| BARNETT, PERRY, Ashevile N O.
BENNETT, CHARLES, Hendersonvile' n. G.
| BRODIE t. New-York, commercial traveller
| DAVIS JOHN, Statesville, n. c.
FISHER, w. j., Campobela, S. q.
| FgY WARREN Hickory, n. c.. fireman OF the train.
| GoRMAN, SAMUEL, Ashevie, n O.
HOUSTON, w. NJ, Greensboro, N. G.
LINSTER H. K Statesville, N c. baggagema'ter OF the
MCCORMICK, MR., Alexsndra, Va,
| MOORE, oPHELIA, Helena Ark.
| POOL, MRS, WILLIAMSON, n. c.
| SYKES J. NJ, Clarksvie, Tenn.
JULIE THEFER, travelling salesman.
| WELLS "DoC ." colored, Pullman porter
WEST. WILLIAM. Salisbury NJ e. engineer OF hs
wINsLow, w. E., Ashevllle, N. c.
| Dr George W. SanGerlin State Auditor, was on
the wrecked train. He was painfully injured.
Among others who escaped with injuries more or
less serious are Colonel f. B. Cameron, OF the
Governors staff; Patrick E. Ransom, Northamp-
ton Countv. n. c.; Otto Ransom, of Norfolk, Va;
Worth Elliott. of Hickory n. c.; George Bowles,
Of Atlanta: Colonel o. w. Lawson, of Lewisville,
Ky: Miss Lewellan Pool, Of Williamstown, N T.;
Mrs. r. c. Moore, Helena, Ark; y. >. LINK ana
wife, Lexington, KY; b. n Estes, jr., Memphis,
Tenn: John Gage, Ashevile; R. E. Johnston,
! 9wberry, 8. C.; Conductor Spaugh; II. Z.
Ileeper, sleeping-car conductor, and Shoaf,
| 6agman.
The accident was caused by the spreading of the
rails. The bridge was not injured and trains are
running on schedule time. Twenty dead bodies
are now lying in warehouse at Statesville The
injured are having the best of care at private
houses and hotels.
Mrs Pool was drowned before aid could reach
| her.
Three bodies have not been identified; one OF
these is an elderly womaI another is woman
with a ticket in her pocket which reads MIS-
| George Mccormick and mother, Glenwood, n. u,
70 Alexandria, N c." The third is also woman.
Upon her finger is a ring engraved; IT. H. W.
to NJ. r. r. 1t is thought that all BODIES
| have not been taken out Of the wreckage whlch
is piled up so high that it is impossible to make
| a thorough examination. Crowds nave HOckeu
to the scene all day, and the accident has cast
gloom over the entire community. Not soul
came out of the sleeper alive
Miss Ophelia Moore, Of Helena, Ark, died
after being taken out of the wreck.
| Nashville, Tenn, Aug, 27.-Among the people
killed in the accident on the Western North Caro-
lima Railroad yesterday was the Rev.
j. NJ. Sykes, graduate of the Southwestern
Presbyterian University, ClarkSviile, Tenn
DR.. Sykes had just been assigned TO missionary
work in China and was to have left here for that
| country on September 26 next. He was married.
Helena, Ark Aug pr. c. Moore, OF this
city. received telegram to-day stating that MISS
Ophelia Moore had been killed, and her mother.
| Mrs w. f. Moore seriously injured, in the Western
| North Carolina wreck, near Statesyille Inc
Moores are prominent in literary and social circles
and are we'll known throughout the South. They
| were returning from a summer trip to the Blue
| Mountains.