The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-08-24
PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK
On the Atlantic and Danville Road
August. fGth,

The remains of Francis Jenkins,
the colored nurse of Mrs. II. A.
Giersh, who was killed in the railroad
wreck, near Milton, n. c., were
brought here August 18th for inter
ment. The deceased lived on ''Happy
HILL" south of Salem, and leaves four
children.
The following additional particu-
lars Of the horrible accident have been
obtained:
After passing through Milton and
going over the trestle, the engineer
Peyton Tunstall. who says he was
running at the rate Of ten miles an
hour, felt the bridge giFing away He
threw open the throttle, and the en-
gine, tender and a box car got safely
over, but the passenger car was too
late, and the span went down under
its weight, the second passenger
coach and sleeper following. The
cars were shiyered into kindling wood
and the escape of any OF the pasSen-
gers was a miracle. The water in the
creek had risen to depth Of twelve
or more feet and it is the general be-
lief that the rise had undermined the
foundation Of the iron piers, causing
the trestle to settle. Or the train at
the time We're about sixteen persons,
including train hands, but only one of
them-C0nducto II. Morris, of Ports
mOuth-was killed, none of the others
receiving serious injuries. In the
sleeper were Mrs. Harvey Giersh, two
children and nurse: Conductor j. L.
SiZer. of Richmond, and j Il. TOWneS,
colored porter. The nurse was
drowned and the conductor and pOr
ter were slightly injured. The depot
agent at Milton heard the crash and
gave the alarm by tolling the bell.
The people turned out in full force
and went to work at once to rescue
the dead and injured from the debris.
Mr.. j. L. SiZer, the Pullman con-
ductor, in speaking Of the accident,
said: Il had just gotten through
with my collections and had reported
to Capt. Norris. who had passed for
ward on the train, and was preparing
to retire when the crash came. Fort
unately it was in the front end of my
car. Mrs. GierSh'S nurse was in the
rear end of the car when sac was
found, with her head and chest under
the water. and was probably drowned,
as there was no heavy timber or any
thing else on her body that might
have caused her death =" The little
three-year-old daughter of Mrs.
through which she had passed, said
to the rescuers: Don't mind me; l
am not hurt, but please take mama
out" The following is a list of the
killed and wOunded:
Killed-H Morris, conductor, Ports
mouth, Va: w. r. Eliason, Alton,
Va: ] G Davis. a farmer of Bakers
VILE, Va: " r Elam. of Durham, n.
G.: James s Lowe, {. railroad cOnduc-
tor from the West, who was passen-
ger: Thomas Lee, colored, of Win
stOn. n. O.: Francis jenkins, colOred,
of Salem. n. G.
Wounded-Mrs. Harvey Giersb,
slightly: ] L Sizer, of Richmond,
Pullman CONDUCTOR foot mashed and
hurt Slightly in side: j Il ToWnes,
c0lored porter on Pullman, slightly
bruised about the body; Davis, flag
man, hurt about the head and face
and foot spraincd. The injuries of
none of the wounded VIII likely prove
serious.
The dead were removed to the rail
road depot at Milton, where they
were kept until the arrival of the cor
oner from Halifax Court House, the
accident occurring on the Halifax
side of the creek.
Tile loss will be very heavy on the
railroad company, as the cars and
full span of bridge are total loss,
The passengers, mail, baggage,
freights, etc. are passing on through,
they being transferred at the creek.