Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-10-24
FATALITY ON THE RAIL.

Chicago express train No. on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which
left Chicago at 2:55 O'Clock Tuesday
afternoon, was thrown from the track
near Sir Johns Run Station, West
Virginia, by the breaking of the left
back driving wheel at 1:43 O'Clock
Wednesday afternoon, instantly kill.
ing the engineer and fireman, and in
juring three postal clerks, two passen.
gers and baggagemaster. The names
of the dead are James Nuckles and G.
r.. Richards, both belonging to Mar
tinsburg.
The names and injuries of the pos
tai clerks: Harrison Selby, serious in
jury TO the chest, and head cut. He
lives at South Fork. C. Fl. Craig.
Baltic. thigh broken and head bruis-
ed; w. Ii. Lippincott,o of Martinsburg,
thigh broken, cuts and bruises about
the head.
A. P. Freeman, of Sweedburg, Neb.,
and Mr.. Fenniman, grocer, Balto.,
were the only passengers hurt. Mr..
Freeman's is slight flesh wound on
the right temple. F. NJ. Mitchell,
baggagemaster, was cut above the
right eye, and his right arm was
sprained.
The accident was one of those that
is simply impossible to either foresee
or prevent, and was liable to happen
anywhere or on any road. The ex-
press left Chicago on time on Tues
day. The train consisted of engine
No. Sl3, postal car, baggage car, two
day coaches and sleeper. 1t was
running along on time and at the rate
of about Thirty eight miles an hour
when it reached the scene of the acct
dent, which was about two miles west
of Sir Johns Run. Here there is
long curve in track, aud as the engine
swept round it the left back driving
wheel broke, and the engine at once
leaped the track. The trains momen-
tum carried all The cars from the
track, and they rushed upon the en-
CINE, tender and postal car, which
had upset. AS soon as the trainmen
and male passengers had recovered
from the shock and surprise, they hur-
ried to the assistance of those under
the engine and postal car. Engineer
Nuckles and Fireman Richards were
found under the engine, and both
were dead. They had been killed in.
stantly.
A gang OF men and some doctors
were sent out from Martinsburg. The
former had the track cleared in a few
hours, and special train carried the
dead and injured postal clerks and IN
injured passengers to Martinsburg. In
about three hours the tracks were
cleared sufficiently to permit Of travel,
but all through trains from points
west of the scene ofthe accident were
a little later.
The engine, tender and postal car
were completely wrecked, the two
coaches and the baggage Car were
broken on the right side, but the
sleeper escaped serious injury. The
passengers were well cared for at Mar
tinsburg, and later were placed upon
another express train from Chicago.
Charles Craig and Mr.. Finneman and
some other passengers arrived in Bal
timore about midnight, much shaken
up, and were taken to their homes.
A despatch to The american early
this morning tells Of another passen-
ger injured, who is detained at Sir
Johns Station, w. Va. His name is
Mcdonald, of Baltimore, and he was
crushed and bruised. He will recov-
er.
The heads of the engineer and fire
man were crushed beyond recognition.
1t is not known whether the engine
jumped the track or whether the acct
dent was caused by the spreading of
the rails. The engine left the rails on
the right side Of the track and straight
against the rocks. The engineer and
fireman jumped to the right also and
we're buried beneath the postal car.
Had they jumped TO the left they
have had chance for their lives. 1t
is evident that before the engineer
leaped from the cab he applied the |
and thus averted an appall-
ing loss of life.
There were two women in the |
sleeper" said passenger who was
on the wrecked train, "who were
worth thou-and men," "They were |
the first to recover their composure |
and Immediately set to work to allie
viate the sufferings of the wounded"
The ladies were Miss Alice Harris and
Miss Hattie Delaro Barnes.
Mr.. Richard lived nearly opposite
9. V. engine house; Mr.. Nuckels on
Raleigh St. Both leave families of
i've or six children.
Postal clerk Selby was taken to
Cumberland aud sent to his home
he is dangerously hurt internally.
James Nuckle~ was aged 40 ears,
In the employ of the Il. s. O. nearly
20 Years regular Dei'r Alb. Mem
Der OF the B. l.. L. G. r. Richards
has been Oh :h- tOld II ,rar-, also
member of The Broi herhood and Il
native of the county. Both were
Industrious men. Mr., Richards was
buried at Tomahawk. yesterday the
family, friends and the Brot hrrhood