The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-02-16
FOR TEE LAST TIME
Poor Billy Allen Pulls the
Throttle.
Terrible Accident on the South
Atlantic and Ohio.

h0friDie ACCIDENT on the SOHts1
Atlantic and Ohio.
Z. M. PettIjohn. Fireman. and A. c.
Parker. Section Boss Ser.-
ousIy Injured.
Last Monday. about IL o'clock, terri
bile accident occurred on the South At
Iantic and Ohio railroad, at the deep side
slate Sill, about 900 yards east of the high
trestle near Horizons Summit, and 10
miles from Big Stone Gap.
Little did Billy Allen. fle popular engi-
neer, think, as he fondly kissed his wife
and told her goodbye, preparatory to
making his fatal run, that for the last
time he was turning away never again 10
gaze upon the face that for years had shed
q halo of sunshine around his life; hut SO
sthe fates had fixed it.
AS his engine, No. ., pulling Captain
Milt Rush's freight train, No. S, coming
toward Big Stone Gap, ran on to the deep
side-fl on the side of the mountain at
the point above stated, the wet, muddy
earth under the track gave way under the
weight Of the engine, allowing the track
to slip down the side OF the fill, carrying
the engine and two coal cars along with it,,
Almost as quick as lightning the en-
CINE dropped over on her side and tumbled
down the embnnkment, n distance OF about
forty feet from the road-bed, where its
ponderous weight partially imbedded it
in the soft earth and kept it from being
precipitatcd to the bottom of the fill, a
distance of fully $50 feet.
In the engine were: Engineer VIM.
Allen, Fireman /, N. Pcttijohn and Sec
ction=hoss A. G. Parker. The engineer
was on his scat as his engine went over
and no opportunity was given to jump.
He had his right leg caught under the
engine, and was held there for about two
hours before sufficient assistance could
be secured to get him out. His right leg
was crushed to pieces just above the
ankle joint, while he was badly cut and
bruised at many places on his body. he.
sides being badly burned and scalded from
the escaping steam.
Fireman Pcttiohn was thrown from the
cab rs the engine went over, and landed
at the bottom of the fill, about $50 feet
below. He Was right seriously, but not
fatally injured In his fall; the soft mud
protecting him very much as he went down
over the eml,ankment.
Section-boss Parker had one of his feet
caught under the engine, and was held
there for some time, thoroughly enve!oped
in hot steam. He had on pair Of gum
haots, and In his struggles to release him
self, he managed TO pull his pinioned foot
from the gum boot and made his escape
After the accident the wounded
brought to pufRcld. about four miles this
side Of the scene of the accident. Drs.
Kunkel and Kelly, of this place, were
summoned and arrived there about 3
o'clock p. m. DR.. Butler was also sent
out from Bristol.
After an examination. the physicians
found that If Engineer Aliens life was
saved, it was necessary that his right foot
be amputated Immediately. They Mt once
set to work to administer chloroform, but
finding their patient too weak 20 survive
1t, they were compelled to give up the
undertaking, and turned their attention
to rendering temporary relief so fur as
possible.
The patient never resained full con-
sciousness after the physicians arrived,
and at 2:2O o'clock Tuesday morning the
life of the popular and genial Billy Allen
was no more.
He had been trusty and reliable en-
ployce Of the S. q. s. o. road since some
time in 1887. He came on the road and
accepted a position as fireman, from which
position he was promoted 70 that Of en-
gineer. He Was Mason, Odd Fellow,
Knight Of Honor and was member Of The
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers.
He carried not less than $4,000 life in
surance. He leaves broken-hearted
widow to mourn his sad ending.
Mr.. Parker's injuries are considered Of
a very serious nature, but his phyalcians
have hopes Of his recovery. He is badly
|soalled from his waist down to his feet.
APosT man visited the scene Of the ac-
cident Tuesday morning. The damage to
fhe railroad company will amount to sew
eral thousand dollars. The heayey en-.
CINE lies partially on her back and side
about forty feet below the road-bed, with
the cab and many other parts smashed to
pieces.
After the accident the oaiciais did allin
their power to relieve the suferings ofthe
unfortunate victims. Work was also i'm
mediately commenced to repair the track
and by o'clock Tuesday morning it was
ready for trains to safely pass over.
~ --e-e.->----
a Small Fire.
Yesterday morning about: 3 o'ciock, the
Ere alarm vas sounded, aud the fire com.