Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-21
A RAILROAD WRECK.
TWO FREIGHT TRAINS COLLIDE HEAD
TO HEAD ON A CURVE.
Terrific Crash 3M Miles from Petersburg
on tho n. & w. X. R.--One Man Killed.
One Missing, and Four Injured.

Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatch.l
PErERsBUno, Va. February M.-IOne OF
the most serious wrecks in the history Of
the Norfolk and Western railroad oc-
Cured in the ncighborhood of the iron
bridge, three and one half miles
from the city, in Dinwiddie county. be-
tween and 5 o'clock this morning. The
FIRST section Of east-bound through freight.
No. ". heavy train consisting of gon-
dolas laden with coal bound for Lambert
Point collidad with tho west-bound local
freight which runs between this city and
Crewe.
HEAD TO HEAD.
There is q very considerable curve of tho
point where the accident occurred. and
tho two trains were upon each other be-
fore they could be stopped by the apph-
cation Of the brakes. In addition to this
there was heavy foe at tue time. Tie
crash of the collision a. tho locomotives
rushed into each other was terrific, and,
as is generally the case IN head to mead
collisions, the engines were almost en-
tirely wrecked. being driven into and
through each other for several feet IN each
direction, and finally falling into con-
fused macs.
JUMPED AND WIRE SAVED.
When the trains came in sight OF each
other as they turned the curve Engineer
Joseph Hack. Of the local freight, and his
fireman jumped from their engine, and thus
escaped instant death. Engineer Hack
landed in the canal and swan to the oppo-
site bank TO a place of safety. Engineer
Fowlkes and Fireman Paulett, OF The
through freight. stuck TO their posts, ana
Mr.. Fowlkes was seriously injured IN both
legs and about the body, while Fireman
Paulett was severely bruised about the
head and face. Irayers Miller, colored
brakeman, was badly hurt In the spine,
while another oolored brakeman. whose
name could not be ascertained, IS missing,
and it is feared that he Is under the wreck
KILLED OUTRIGHT.
One person was killed outright. He was
white youth named James Gee, II years
Old, and resident of this city; he was
stealing o ride on the west-bound freight,
abandoning his home in this city. where
he is employed in one of the trunk tac-
tories here. His body. when founc. as
almost unrecoenizsble. He had evidently
secreted himself on flat-car attached 10
the tender Of the local freight, and must
have been killed instantly, although when
his remains were discovered they we're
found on the fiat beneath a mass OF dbbrts,
in pile OF wreckage thirty feet high.
wREcKISG TRAINS BUSY.
The track was completely blockaded,
and such a confused mass of ruins has
rarely been seen along the line OF the rail-
road in this division. Eighteen coai-gon-
dolas were thrown from the track, piled IN
n sbapeless tumble and their cargo OF coal
scattered about the sides Of the embark
rnent. Six cars of the local freight were
derailed and mingled In the common
wreck. Ia consequence OF this both the
east and west bound passenger trains were
DELAYED. but transfer was finally made
at z T.. NJ. at either end Of the place
of the collision, and the mails and passen-
gers were duly taken TO their destinations.
Two wrecking forces, one from Norfolk
and the other from Crewe, have been busy
all the afternoon IN clearing the obstruc-
ti0Ds from the track, and it Is expected
that the road Will be open by midnight,
or certainly Nv tomorrow morning. Su-
perlntendent Du Barry, of the Eastern d.
vision. went TO the scene of the wreck as
soon as possible.
ON FIRE.
About noon telegram was received
here stating that the wIeckage had taken
fire and asking for the use OF one OF the
steamers of the city's fire department.
Steamer No. 2 was Immediately sent 70 the
depot with hose-cart. but IL was not
found necessary TO send it TO the scene OF
the accident, as the fire had, III the meah-
time. been extinguished.
The remains of young Gee were brought
to the city this afternoon, but are held on
account Of the illness OF his mother,
there being fears of her recovery from tho
shock of an announcement that she does