The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-30
THERE WAS NO LIGHT.
BECAUSE or DARKNESS A TRAIN
WAS SAVED FROM DISASTER.
ATTEMPT Made to Wreck the &. 4 o. Fast
Flying virginisn Few Miles South
of Alexandria.

The discovery OF the absence OF a switch
light saved Chesapeake and OHIO train
from being wrecked Tuesday night.
Ii w9s the r. r. ", from Washington
| to Cincinnati. The train leIt the former
| city at ll.lC 4. NJ.
| Had not the men who was in charge
| OF engine No. rs been watchful many
| lives would undoubtedly have been lost.
| The spot selected by those who
| would have wrecked the tram Tor the
purpose Of robbery, no doubt was on
Ravensworth farm. the former home Of
the late Gen. w. II. +. Lee. some eight
| or ten miles south of Alexandra.
| There is at Ravensworth a spur track
which will accommodate eight or ten
cars This track ends abruptly upon the
edge of an embankment thirty feet high.
| IL was here that a similar attempt on the
| Chesapeake and Ohio train was made a
| year ago.
This is not the Chesapeake and Ohios
track but IL belongs 10 the Southern
railway
THE LIGHT WAS GONE.
Ever since the attempt referred 10 oc-
CURED engineers have been cautioned TO
keep a sharp lookout for danger at this
place. Just before the spur track Is
reached train coming south passes over
q sbarp curve and then the switch-llght
neer missed this Hight and he applied me
air stops. The speed was greatly Tcanc'd.
When the train reached the switch II ran
off upon this spur track and was stopped
within n few feet Of the bluff. over which
had Il gene. cars would have been piled
upon the engine and many lives would
/ have been lost.
An examination was made and the
switch was found to have been broken
and the rails placed for the train TO run
off upon the siding.
But few, messengers knew Of the occur
renee. The train was run back upon the
main track and went on its way after the
rails had neen securely nailed down TO
prevent disaster.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
Had the engineer not discovered that
the light was missing in time TO check
the speed OF the train the wreck would
have been one OF the most fearful I'm it's
results that has ever occurred in Vir-
-,inia.
Capt 8. c. Buster was In charge OF the
train.
General Manager Stevens was not I'm
tho CITY Yesterday but his chief clerk Mr..
Wall. had received information Of Tues
day nights occurrence. He was inclined TO
think there had been no attempt t.
! wreck the train but that the switch was
accidentally broken by the southern
railways express which had just passed
over IT, rhis was merely theory on
his part.
Two experienced railroad inspectors
were sent early yesterday from Rich
mond TO RayenswOTth To make careful
investigation OF the whole matter.
Another Account Of II.
special to The Times from Alexan-
dria last night gave the following par
ticuars OF the attempt made 10 wreck
The train.
The south-bound Chesapeake and Ohio
passenger train leaving here about mid
night was derai!ed above RaVensworih
but nobody was hurt.
The engineer says that on reaching
that danCerOus point. where once or
twice before a misplaced switch came
near resultiis disastrOusly. he noticed
the switch lantern near RaNensworth
wax absent and got his train In full con
troll as II took the siding. He then SHUT
on steam and applied the air brakes IN
time to reach the end of the siding slow
ly The passengers were badly shaken
mn and those In the Pullmans were awak-
cned. The engine and cars were gotten
back on the rails before day break ana
proceeded south
This work is believed to be that OF train
wreckcrs Two tramps were arrested
nearby hut the Fairfax people DO not
believe they are the guilty parties