The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-31
SORROW IN RICHMOND.

SORROW IN RICHMOND.
Grief Takes Possession of -Four Families.
Sketch of the Killed.
The awful news that greeted Richmond
Yesterday morning, in which was told
the Death of four of Richmond's we'll
known citizens in a landslide a short
distance west Of Lynchburg the evening
before, came as a message of horror and
sadness. The news Of the fearful acct
dent spread over the city almost like
flash. and early in the day the news
paper Offices the Chesapeake and Ohio
offices and the telegraph offices were
crowded with friends of those who were
on the train, anxious and impatient to
hear the worst.
1t was nearly noon before the official
report could De given out from the Ches-
apeake and Ohio office, because of the
fact that the wires We're. down along the
James kiver Division. BY that hour,
however, the worst was known by the
citizens and by the relatives of the killed,
and only the details were awaited with
feverish anxiety. At that time il was not
known whether any of the passengers
We're killed or injured, and some appre-
hension was felt. 1t was reported that
a Richmond man was on the train as
passenger, and that he had been injured,
but this rumor did not turn out to be
true.
A SAD SCENE.
The fact remained. however, that four
Richmond men were killed-Engineer
George Fisher, Conductor e.. A. Whitaker,
Express Messenger Harris Shannon and
Ba ggagemaster W., II. Thompson. When
the news was conveyed to the families OF
these men, great distress was displayed.
and the various scenes We're, inoeed, sad
ones. Wives We're bereft of husbands,
children of fathers, and in their grief
they could not be comforted.
The official statement, as given out By
General Manager c. e. Doyle, was as
follows
mo. 9, composed of engine, me bag
gage car, and one coach, struck slide two
miles west of Reusen's about I! o'clock
last evening, derailing the engine. but
doing no further damage Conductor
Whitaker, Engineman Fisher, Baggage
man Thompson and Express Messenger
shannon, with others. pushed II e coach
back out of the way of possible danger,
and were engaged n pushing me baggage
car back when another slide came,
striking the baggage car ard throwing
it into the river Win the foar nj 81 :ner-
sargers injur ed
The face of every man in the Chcsa-
peake and Ohio offices wore an expression
of painful concern, and each one Of them
did all he could to give out what infor-
nation that was at hand, in orucr to
allay the I1npatience Of those interested.
LONGING FOR NEWS.
Many people went to the Main-Street
depot in quest of information, but little
could be obtained, save that no train
could be run over the James River lranch
because of the frcshet, and those wEo
wished to proceed % the scene of the
horror had to so by way Of the Chesa-
pcalle and Ohio to Charlottesville, thence
by way of tho oouthern to Lynchburg.
The latter company courteously agreed
to transfer such passengers.
Among those who went to the scene
by this route was DR.. l.. c. Fisher, son
of Engineer Fisher, who was killed In
the slide. lie left e>.rly in the cay
Mr. George Fisher, the engineer, was
one of the most popular and best-known
railroad men III TIE city, ana was the son
of the late Dr. E. c. Fisher. lie had
been constantly employed as an engineer
for about thirty years, and took out the
first engine over the James River branch
when it was known as the Richmond
and Allegheny Railroad, in 1850
Mr.. Fisher was sixty-eight years old.
He was a native of Iowhatan county,
where he married Miss Agnes Woodtin.
daughter of Mr.. ]. n. Woodfn. &c
fought in the war as member OF the
old Powhatan Troop, and was wounded
at the battle of the Wilderness. He was
a member of ST. . ames Episcopal Church,
and was a, member of the brotherhood.
Resides his wife, he leaves the following
children: Mrs. Lawrence COBB, Misses
asles. Vina. Rowena. John W. ard DR..
T. c Fisher.
Al, of Mr.. Fishers children were in
the city. except John W., who is travel
ing. and was at Wilkesbarre yesterday.
He was telegrapheo for, and Will reach
here to-day.
brother of Mr.. Fisher was killed at
Spotsylvania Courthouse during the war.
A SEVERE BLOW.
Mrs. w. H. Thompson, wife of the
killed bagga geman, was happy at home
with her handsome little ten-Vear-old
bow. : Henry Cabell, when the news
reached her. At first she could not real
ize that her. husband had been taken
from Eer. hut when the full truth was
understood she almost collapsed. ana her
cries were heard by Borrowing neigh
bors. who went to her to console and
help her bear her burden.
Mr.. Thompson was forty-three years
old. He was born in Raleigh. n. G., and
had been employed as baggagemaster on
the Chesapeake and Ohio for eighteen
wears ever since he was married. Mrs.
THOMPSON was Miss Carter, of Prince
EDWARD county. He leaves a brother,
Cornelius. and sister. Miss Rosina. in
Raleigh. His sister is very i'll at her
home.
Friends remained with Mrs. Thompson
and her little fatterless boy last ,lIgi1t.
It was double sorrow at the home Of
Captain E. A. Whitaker, Jr::, No. 6s6