The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-20
A WILD FREIGHT TRAIN
AND rwo MEN BADLr INJURED.
An Engine and Forty Cars Become Cnman-
ageable aud Rush Across the Big
Trestls south ofthe city.

Bernard Walton, OF SUI south zine, and
Charles \. Sweetman, of Is north Ninth
street. had a narrow escape from death last
night lust about $50 O'clock. They are
railroad employees of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Company. and each evening run
train Of cars across the big trestle south Of
the city 20 the draw-bridge at the foot Of
Twenty-eiehth street. Walton is An engi-
neer and Sweetman tho fireman. and last
evening they coupled their engine 20 the
train of forty cars at the foot Of Second
street.
These cars contained what is known as
through freight and are brought from the
West over the James-riyer division Of the
road. Grain, coal. lumber and miscellaneous
mercantile goods usually make up the car
goes ia the cars gong through 90 Newport
News, and are there uuloaded. Coming
from the West these cars arc side-tracked
az the companys shops az Second street
and as soon as a clear track can be given
them arc brought down the Richmond and
Allegheny track 90 Ninth street. At that
point they begin their descent on the high
and lengthy trestle that occupies
position between the river and dock,
and when they reach the foot of Twenty
eighth street they have progressed as far az
what - known as the transfer There
they again begin their journey. crossing the
Richmond and Danville drawbridge. aud
continue on their way over the Danville
tracks until Orleans street In Fulton Is
reached. They are again switched 70 the
Chesapeake and OHIO, and the journey 10
Newport News Is taken up.
TWO ENGINES REQU1RED.
To move this freight from Second 10 Or
IF
heavy engines. and all night long engines
are constantly carrying freight down the
tTestle or with pulling engines carrying u
UP the very steep grade
Walton and Sweetman, with a conductor,
r. Nhi0Ock. started on their journey last
evening about o clOck. Leaving tho Sc
cond-street yards, they proceeded safely
uutil IN the middle Of the trestle. Then for
some reason the train became unmanage-
able, and the engine. though a powerful
affair was unable 10 control the forty
loaded cars behind II. Every second
told. as the train, with engine in front ac-
CELEBRATED its speed, aud trainmen AZ the
transfer noted the fast gait No. 297 was
making coming down the grade Faster
the engine few. propelled by the ever-n-
creasing momentum of the cars behind. and
Il was hardly a moment before the collision
came.
Just second previously Walton
Jumped from the locomotive and landed
amidst a number Of bouiders which lay to
the right of the track. Sweetman jumped
from the left side. and landed on
the track and cndered yard Of the trans
fer. The engine collded with It's sister
locomotive which was standing in the
transfer yard. There was a tremor. says
on eyewitness, and the engine
fell over on its right SIDE carrying tender
and one OF two box cars with II. 1t IS
miraculous that Walton was not killed out
right by some pieces of falling steel or
wood but fortunately he was not struck.
and his most serious injuries were the
result Of falling on the sharp rocks.
The engineer was hunted for withlanterns
aud 10 was several moments before he was
able 10 answer the searchers. Tenderly his
fellow-workmen carried him over the draw
bridge and made him as comfortable as
possible on O grass plot near the sidewalk
of Dock street
Sweetman was also carried there and at
the nearest telephone calls were made Tor
the ambulance and Dr. Hugh n. Taylor.
The Doctor and myself arrived few
moments after the accident occurred. and ia
few moments the ambulance arrived: Or;
Taylor made an examination and found
Walton in q serious condition. He had evil
IDENTIFY sustained internal injuries.
Sweetmans knee was painfully hurt. but
otherwise he was well. He said his leg was
not broken. however.
IN Tux AMBULANCE.
Walton was in 4 few moments laid on the
stretcher and placed IN the ambulance.
Both were taken to their homes
The engine seemed 80 be h total wreck,
although but little could be told last
evening. the only light being the httul glare
OF the trainman's lantern, The force must
have been terrific, as the tender of the en-
CINE run into was broken to pieces, and the
tank demolished. The engine was not IN
iured. No. 2l7. however. lay on her side
Kissing out steam and If the cars had not
been coupled behind her, there Is but little
doubt out that she would have rolled IN the
river.
The switch used TO put q train on the
Danville tracks was closed and it's an open
Question whether the result would have
been more advantageous had It been open.
Tie train would. M the latter event have
gped over the draw-bridge and with the
speed il had attained would have evidently
torn the structure TO pieces.
Sir. II. NJ Alexander. the telegraph opera
tor 40 the transfer. escaped by only few
seconds he with conductor saw the train
coming and, rushing out, ran over the draw
bridge. a few moments later tue crash
came. aud the loaded freight cars were
thrown on the frame building occupied by
Alexander -...oo 49,,
course. does not include the delay the acci-
dent will occasion. Blame cannot be at
tached to any one as far as could be learned
last evening. IL was JUST one or those un-
fortunate accidents that sometimes occur
ON railroads