The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-16

OyE PERSON KILLED axD Sir SRI.
i6ISLTlSJURED.


4f - $50 = - - y -tHt
A serious wreck occurred ON the
Norfolk and Western railroad at Mon
del's Switch, about ten miles south Of
Hagerstown, Saturday night. in which
Capt. VIM. Hays, conductor Of the
train, lost his life, and several others
were seriously if not fatally injured.
The train left HagerstowI for Roanoke
at 1910 in the morning, and was run
ming at its usual rate Of speed when il
reached Monders Switch. All Of the
train except one coach and sleeper
passed the switch in safety, when III
some way that cannot be explained,
but possibly BY the jarring Of the train,
the switch was opened and the rest Of
the train ran off on to the siding, and
the smoking car on the train was COM
pletely demolished. Its supposed that
when the wreck took place Captain
Hays was just passing from the passen-
ger coach 10 the smoker, and was
thrown against the rocks along the
road and killed instantly, for life was
extinct when his body was found soon
after, laying along the track. The
other persons injured are as follows:
John r. Hawke, of Lewistown, Pa,
who was on his way to Graham, w.
Va. His scull was fractured, one of
his legs was broken and he was injured
internally. He is still unconscious,
add it is doubtful whether he will re-
cover. Another young man, supposed
to be B. A. Rogers, Of Buchanan, Va,
had his scull fractured and was injur-
ed internally. He has been uncon-
scious since the occurrence. Others
injured were B. v. L. CLANCY, Nor
folk and Western conductor, who was
on his way to Roanoke,c ut and bruised
about the head; Charles w. Wenner,
freight agent on the Norfolk and
Western, head cut and legs bruised;
J. r. Hawke, of Lewistown, Pa, father
of the young man SO seriously injured,
severely wounded about head and face;
William Eslinger, of West Fairview,
Pa, slight injuries about head.
When the wreck took place many Of
the passengers in the sleeper were
thrown from their berths, and the por-
to. was pitched head-long through a
window.
Fortunately there was physician on
the train who looked after the wound
ed, and special train went up to-
Hagerstown and took Drs.. Mason,
Scott, Raglan and Derr to the scene of
the disaster. They cared for the
wounded and took them to Hagers1
town Sunday morning, and took them
to the Hotel Hamilton, where they are
being cared for.
Captain Hays death east gloom
over the entire town, where he was
well known and popular. His family
lives in Philadelphia, and his remains
were sent there for burial. He had
been railroading for over forty years,
and had been conductor ON the n.
and w. ever since the road was built.
Previously to that he was on the Penn-l
sylvania road. He was a prominent
Mason, being a life-member of Crescent
Lodge of Philadelphia. He was about
fifty-eight years of age.
A coroner's inquest was held Sunday
afternoon over his remains and num-
Der of witnesses were examined as to
the causes of the accident, but nothing
definite could be, ascertained. The
switch was closed when the train struck
it ana the white light in the switch Ian
tern indicated that the switch was
closed. After the wreck it was dis
covered that bolt at joint in the
switch rod was out and laying on the
track close by. How the bolt got out
is a mystery.