Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-16
A DASTARDLY DEED.
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO TRAIN DE-
RALLIED AT RAvEyswORTH.
The EVIDENT PURPOSE, ROBBERY.
Alexandria Police Searching for the
Miscrennts-Tbe switch Lamp Re-
moved-BnggsEe-M Slightly
Hurf-A Brakeman Shot At.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, August 15.-(Spe-
cial 1.-THE police OF this city are now
trying to ferret out who II was that
made the dastardly attempt to wreck at
Ravensworth the Chesapeake and Ohio
train No. 3, which left Washington Fri
day night at Il 81 Z. M. over the Southern
railway. 1t was about 1215 when the
train reached the scene Of the accident,
going at the rate of forty miles an hour.
There is siding at this point. on which
q freight-car was standing, and into this
siding the IF. f. "" dashed.
THE ENGINE DERAILED.
The engine was derailed, and the
freight-car completely demolished. The
baggage-car was considerably damaged,
and the rest Of the coaches, in which
were over $50 people, were in zigzag
position on the track. The train was in
charge of Conductor Pettus. Engineer
Fowler. and Fireman Lester. Baggage
Master Coffman, Of Clifton Forge, who
was busily engaged at his desk, was the
only person injured, he being struck In
the back by trunk, which was hurleo
across the car by the sudden stoppage OF
the train.
KNEW THE COUNTRY.
The derailng Of the train was evidently
the work Of people who knew the country,
and who also knew something about the
ouantity of money which is conveyed TO
the West on this train. 1t was not, II Is
thought. the work Of tramps. but of
parties who live within or near this
city The switch-lamp had been removed,
and the switch turned into the siding.
The lamp was afterward found in clump
of woods, a short distance from the scene
of the wreck.
FIRED AT.
After the accident occurred the rear
brakeman, Fred Muscoe, was sent back
to Ditchley, a short distance, TO tele-
graph to this city, and while en- route was
shot at from ambush, the bullet passing
close TO his ear.
AS soon as the news Of the wreck was
received IN this city, a wrecking train
was sent out in charge of Train-Master
+. d. Mccarthy, and Master-Mechanic
Thomas who were accompanied by DIS.
Mat. O'Brien and Arthur Snowden, OF
this city; but when the train arrived on
the scene the professional gentlemen
found that they would only have 70 apply
jured baggage-master.
If the train had gone of on the oppo-
site side of the track IL would have
plunged into a ravine sixty feet deep,
which is known as the Raven" Fortu-
nately, however, the switch was turned
in the other direction. After delay OF
several hours the train was sent away
In charge Of a Southern railway engine.
Official Statement.
The following statement regarding the
accident was given out at the Chesapeake
and Ohio offices. in this city, yesterday:
"At 1913 last night the Chesapeake
and Ohio train No. 3 ran into an open
switch at Ravensworth, which Is seven
teen miles south of Washington. The
engine struck a box-car on the siding.
The engine was partially turned over.
The express-car and the postal-car were
deraiIed. Baggageman f. c. Coffman
had his back slightly injured by being
thrown from a chair, but the injury was
not sufficiently serious to prevent his
continuing the trip. The train was de-
layed three hours. The Richmond No.
was run through on time.