Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-21
A FRIGHTFUL WRECK
THE NORFOLK AND WESTERN DIS
AsTER WEAR sHAwsvILLE.
THE DEAD AID INJURED.
The Cause.-The Scene OF the Aeci-
dent-The Records Of the Killed
MED nj HIS post of Duty-Bodies
Sent Home for Lnterment.

ROANOKE, VA. June 9.-(Speclal.)-
! One and a half miles west Of Shawsyille
yesterday at I2:45 O'Clock. Passenger
Train No T. on the Norfolk and West
| ern, was wrecked.
The killed were:
Engineer Alfred 3. Homer.
Fireman Edward A. Sadler. OF bristoi'
Postal-Clerk A. s. Francis
The wreck was terrible enough, but the
reports put into circulation were even
worse, one putting the number OF dead al
eight. Naturally, such reports created
| great excitement. and more than one
family here spent hours of fearful sus-
pense, thinking, perhaps, that loved
one was lying dead way up in the Ale
games.
The Norfolk and Western officials were
at first at sea themselves as TO the
fatalities, but lost no time in doing all
that could be done to relieve the fears
of the living and care for the dead and
injured. Wrecking trains were promptly
sent from here and also from Radtord,
and the companys surgeons at all near
by localities were notified. An extra
train was sent east, and while special
was being prepared Drs. Gale. Fry. and
Lewis were notified and soon appeared
at the depot. equipped for any emergency.
SCENE OF THE DISASTER
Superintendent Johnson was on hand,
also General-Passenger-A Bevill.
Claim-Agcnt Barger. Express-Agent
Buckner, and Detective Baldwin, and
several other officials. The wreck &C.
CURED at the entrance OF a cut and just
on G. curve, and was caused by the fiange
OF the outside rail giving way. At the
end OF the deep cut the engine was a
mass OF wreckage, turned clean across
the track and upon its side, while on top
OF this, and partially telescoped, was the
Norfolk and Bristol express-car. join
ing this, and making a triangle, with
one end In the air and the other on the
track, was the Roanoke and Columbus
eXpress-car. Down the embankment was
the mail-car, in which poor Francis met
his death, while under the engine, with
feet and head only in sight, was Engi-
neer Horner. Ready, sturdy hands and
sharp axes were at work to extricate the
body OF the dead engineer in as great
haste as II he were alive. Fireman Sad
Ter was fearfully scalded and died two
lours afterward. Mail-Clerk Francis was
caught In the throat by the big mall
nook ana his neck was broken He must
nave died Instantly. Postal-Clerk j. V.
CHS, or Lynchburg, was chatting with
FRANCIS when the wreck occurred. He
does not know how he escaped alive.
Horner died like all those brave fellows
dle-at his post Of duty-and death must
nave been almost instantaneous.
RECORDS OF THE DEAD.
Engineer Horner's home was i'm Bristol
Where ne leaves wife and five children.
he was one Of the most popular men on
the road, and fine engineer. He was
ABOUT 90 years OF age. Fireman Sadler
was also married and had several chill
dlen. lie was not only a good fireman.
Dut also an expert engineer and a man |
OF me habits. Postal-Clerk Francis was |
81 years old and was unmarried He was |
one OF the most efficient and popular |
CLERKS on the road. Everybody had |
good word TO say about AL Francis. and !
hls oeath has cast a gloom over the |
pretty httle mountain town OF Marion. |
ana sadness along the line
NOT one OF the passengers was ca
lously injured. r. =. Watts. Of Pearls
burg, Clerk of Giles county. had his loo
ut ana was so badly shocked that he
vas speechless for awhile. The injured
'ostal clerk was brought to Hotel Roa-
loke' where ne is being treated. and the
emains OF the three dead men were
'rousht here and prepared for burial
utter which they were sent to their re-
pective homes for burial