The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-08
PASSENGER DURHAM DEAD.
He Died at Haw River Yesterday
The Collision Being Investigated
The Particulars of the Accident.

The Particulars of the Accident.
At Haw River yesterday morning Mr..
W. E.. Durham, one of the passengers on
the caboose of the freight into which the
fireman's special from Greensboro dashed
on Tuesday morning, died of his inju-
ries. Both of the Inflated mans legs
were broken between the knee and the
ankle, his skull was fractured, and he
was internally injured.
The accounts of the collision were
mixed and rather vague on Tuesday.
Passengers, suffering from excitement,
gave different accounts of just how it
occurred. The NEWS AND OBSERVER &C
count yesterday was correct ID the main,
though this paper was in error in stating
that the special was not fitted with air
brakes. Southern railway officials here
declare that not car on the Southern Is
untitled with this necessary life saving
appliance.
The facts, as near as they can be as
certained, are these: At Haw River the
freight train stopped and the conductor,
knowing that the special was behind
him, sent back fiagman. Being ready
to leave. be blew for the latter to return.
When the Aagman had returned to the
train, tHYfreight started to pull out
from the station. Just then the tele
graph operator stepped from his office
and called to the conductor that he had
orders to await the special at Haw River.
Following this, the freight was being
pulled on a siding, when the special
dashed around the curve and the col
lision occurred.
Yesterday District Superintendent W.
J. O'Brien, of Danyille, Va, and Master
of Trains, w. T. West, of Richmond,
went to Haw River and then commenced
the taking of evidence in an investiga-
ton of the causes that led to the wreck,
but it will probably be several days be-
fore the result of the investigation will
be known.
From railroad men it was learned yes
terday that the investigation will proba-
bly, result in the discharge of the engin-
eer of the special, the conductor of the
freight and the brakeman sent back from
the latter train. The engineer of the
special, it is said, will lose his position
on account of running his train at too
high rate of speed for the part of the
track he was then on, the fagman, for
failing to perform his duty, even when
called in, in not leaving torpedoes on the
track, and the conductor of the freight
for negligence in blowing in the fagman
when he knew special was near by in
his rear.
News reached here yesterday that the
Mr.. Durham, of Chapel Hill, who was
not supposed on Tuesday to be seriously
hurt, sustained more injuries than was
thought and his condition is now serious,
If not critical. He could not be moved
from Haw River, and is receiving the
best care and treatment at that place.
Eight or ten of the fremen received
slight injuries, only one being injured
painfully. Mr.. Frank V. Smell, of
Greensboro, had his knee cap broken
and was unable to walk. When the spe-
cial reached Princeton, his injuries were
so painful that Mr.. Smell had to take the
train and return home.
Mr.. Alf W. Haywood, who was here
yesterday, said it was the only wreck he
ever saw. He was sitting at his desk
when Mr.. Pomeroy said: "Come here
quick" He rushed to the window just
in time to see the engine on the special
plunge into the rear of the caboose and
smash it into smithereens. The engine
knocked the rear of the car high in the
air, smashing the end furthest from the
engine into pieces. AS he looked at it,
Mr.. Haywood says the force was so great
that the caboose Was smashed as effectu-
ally as stone falling on match would
crush it. He did not know that there
were any passengers in the caboose, and
did not feel the horror that otherwise
would have filled him as he saw the
terrible crash. 1t was only after the
debris was cleared away that it became
known that the Messrs. Durham were
badly injured.
1t was only few days ego, in compli
ance with a petition from the drummers,
that the Southern Railway system agreed
to let travellers ride ON their freight
trains. But for the accommodation re
Gently extended, the fatal accident to
life would not have occurred.
1t is said that there were three passen-
gers in the caboose when it stopped al
Haw River. One of them got off, and
WHICH, oaH tAC SpCeAoA oO1iAhS AOWA
en- the freight, called to the Messrs.
Durham to get off, but either they did
not hear him, or did not have time to
comply with his words of warning.
1t was said here by passenger who
came in on the train that there would
have been no accident but for the delay
of Train Dispatcher Connolly, at Dur
ham. The story is that when the opera
tor got the message at .Haw River there
was only four minutes time for the
freight to get on the side track, and that
this time was not sufficient. After the
operator returned to his key, the Train
Dispatcher asked him If he had deliv-
cred the orders to the conductor without
delay. He was given an affirmative
answer. As soon as this news
came to the NEWS AND OBSERVER
office, a telegram was sent to its repre-
sentative to interview Mr.. Connolly, and
his statement appears in our Durham
department He disclaims any response
bility for the accident that resulted in
death.
AS is usual all the railroad officials