Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-01-06
THE PLUNGE TO DEATH
THE WRECK ON THE MURPHY
BRANCH YESTERDAY.
Full Particulars of the Terrible
Accident Near Balsam, by Which
Three Men Lose Their Lives
CaVe-in at SNannanOa Tunnel.


Three Men Lose Their Lives
Cave-in at SwannanOa Tunnel.
The special train, carrying Assistant
Trainmaster Newell. DR.. W. d. Hilliard
and wrecking crew to the scene of the
fearful accident on the Murphy branch
yesterday, returned to the city at 1910
this morning.
Fuller information given THE CITIZEN
than yesterday about the casualty is as
follows: Freight train No. sc, engine
No. 252, was on its way to Asheville.
The crew was composed OF Engineer
Sam Francis, Conductor Wakefield, Fire
man B. b. Arthur, and Haywood Aber-
nethy, Rufus Hemphill and Daniel Hun
sucker, colored train hands. On reach
ing Addie, station seven miles west of
Balsam, the train was stopped, and as is
necessary when there is a heavy train,
the engineer had to double" to Balsam,
the top OF the grade.
One-half of the train had been taken to
Balsam and sidetracked, aud the engine,
with the engineer. fireman and three
brakemen on board, started back for the
remaining portion OF the train, the en-
gine running backwards. Soon after
leaving Balsam Engineer Francis found
that the engine was running away. He
reversed the machinery and applied the
air bl axes. 1t was of no use, however,
the engine speeding on, gaining speed
with every second.
| The crew stuck to the engine, thinking
perhaps that the engine might make
the terrible run safely. When within
a few feet of a trestle just be-
yond the Dark Ridge trestle it
lett the rails and plunged off. The speed
must have been terrific, for the engine
landed at the opposite end of the trestle,
which is about 100 feet long and 70 feet
high. The tender WAS turned bottom
upwards.
There was but one man besides the
men on the engine who saw the catas-
trophe He lived in the mountains and
was near the track when the accident
o Cured.
|
found in the water of Scott's creek. En-
gneer Francis was lying near his engine,
under the water, and his position indi-
Gated that he was on the tootboard when
the leap was made. HIS back was bro
ken, hips and legs crushed badly and
there were several fearful wounds on his
face and head.
Fireman Arthur was lying under the
cab. His head was crushed and his body
otherwise bruised. He lived about five
hours, unconscious to the last.
Rufus lIemphilI, one Of the brakemen,
was killed instantly. Hunsucker and
Abernethy, the other brakcmen, were
hurt, but not seriously.
Several spans OF the trestle were bro.
ken down, and passengers had to be
transferred at that point.
The dead and wounded were brought
to this city last night. The dead were
taken to Blair & McDowell's undertak
ing establishment and prepared tor
burial.
Samuel Francis, the engineer, was at
Ashevile man, a son of W. {. Francis
who lives on Roberts street. He wa:
nearly "a years old, and unmarried. He
was member of the Brotherhood o
Locomotive Engineers, and had beer
running tor about two years He stooC
high with all the railroad men. He car
ried an accident policy of 81 900. Hi
remains will be taken to Waynesville, hi
old home, on the 7:40 train tomorrow
morning, accompanied by the following
members OF the Brotherhood: w. V
= Lowe, L. c. Aldrich, l.. s. Adrich |. M
Edwards, J. ]. Clarke, II. B. Taylor, W
l.. Black, X. l.. Francis, brother OF tn
dead man, and Ed. S. Bright. The fun
eral services will occur at II O'Clock il
the Methodist church at Waynesvlle.
b. b, Arthur the fireman, was a Wes
Virginian, and about 80 years old. H
was married but several months ago seE
arated from his wife, who is living here
He leaves one child. His remains will b
sent to Guyandotte, w. Va, for buria
Rufus Hemphll, the brakeman, lived i
Asheville. He will be buried tomorrow
The engine was badly torn up. Th
trestlc will be repaired today, and train
will run on time tomorrow,
whose Neglect
Daniel Hunsucker, one of the colore
=, brakemen who went down with tt
engine, was lying in the colored waitin
room at the passenger depot at s o'cloc
this morning. He had been there sine
a little after midnight. Lying stretche
/. on some car seats, with his face covere
Co with blood from wounds on the head, /
presented pitiable appearance. D
Hilliard had dressed his wounds, whie
it were not dangerous, but that was a
J. the attention that had been given hin
D. D. His clothing was badly torn, aud po
,e tions of his body were exposed.
1t CaVein at the Tunnel.
Early this morning cave-in occurre
at the eastern end of the SwannanC
re tunnel, on the main line of the Wester
s. s, North Carolina railroad. A large qua
titv of rock and dirt fell in, complete
blocking the track. Passengers on Il
west bound train were transferred, Il
ID train reaching here several hours lat
p The railroad authorities expect to ha
ii ii the track clear by tomorrow atternoo
/ Until that is done, passengers on ;
trains will have TO be transferred at TIL
point.
GRACEFUL. ACT.
l.