Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-06
ENGINE CAUGHT fire R
NO. 7s, PULLING OUT FOR WASHING
TON, SWITCHED INTO a
SIDING.
CRASHED INTO FREIGHT CARS.
Engineer DreeInnd and Fireman Al
Wis Leaped from Death.
BOTH MEN PAINFULLY INJURED.
Mrs. Lambert, of Washington, One
of the: Passengers, Confined tc
Her Room at the Lexington-Her
Graphic Account of the Crash.
Which Threw the Women into
Great Excitement.
,nsineer Dree1nnd and Fireman Al
BOTH MEN PAINFULLY INJURED.
Great Excitement.

A remarkable railway collision occurred
of the Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tonac railway. near the shops, in which
an immense six-driver road engine was
badly wrecked and partially burned. and
a baggage coach and two freight-cars
were partially or wholly demolished, but
senger was severely hurt. and none OF
the trainmen fatally injured, though two
were painfully cut and bruised.
The train wrecked was north bound
through passenger train No. IS, of eight
or nine coaches, filled with people. and
was moving at rate of forty miles an
hour, when it was suddenly thrown into
q switch and twenty yards further plough
ed into and through two heavily loaded
box-cars Engineer Dreeland and Fireman
Avis, both of this city. were incapaci-
tated, and were removed to their homes.
The box-cars were ripped open, tele-
scoped, and lifted on to the passenger To-
comotive, which was almost completely
buried beneath the debris.
Wreck Caught Fire.
To make matters worse. the wreck took
fire, and only prompt and energetic effort
averted a more serious loss. The burn
ing debris was extinguished. it was
thought. but a few moments before II
o'clock the flames broke forth afresh
and tire-alarm was turned in from pri-
vate box no. S61; located at the shops.
bringing two engine companies, and one
truck company of the Fire Department.
Even after the arrival of the fremen,
the blaze was still burning to such an
extent that stream of water was played
upon 1t for osme time, and finally had to
be turned downward, into the stack, be-
fore the fire was finally extinguished.
Naturally, the collision caused the great
est excitement aboard the train among
the passengers. They were moving along.
oblivions of any danger, when the air
brakes were suddenly applied, and sec
ond later the train came to q stand. While
many Of the pa sselgefs were severely
shocked by the force of the collision, none
was seriously hurt, and even the occu-
pants of the buried engine escaped fatal,
or even very serious. hurts. After ap-
plying the brakes and reversing the en-
sine, Engineer Dreeland and Fireman
Alvis both leaped to save themselves an
sustained their injuries in their desperate
leap. Had they stuck to the cab in the
terrific crash they would probably have
been crushed to death in the debris.
What Caused Accident.
The collision was due to the fact that
the switchman mistook the train for the
engine Which usually pulls it up the
grade and detaches at Elba, running
thence to this switch in the yards, which
&c.
Immediately closed to let the train pass
on its way to Washington. When the
swiftly-roving train reached the switch
it was too late to avert it's diversion into
the siding. Nor could the engineer and
fireman have foreseen the crash. They
were moving ahead at rapid rate on a
clear track, as they supposed, when the
train was suddenly thrown into the
switch. 1t required remarkable quick
ness to apply the brakes and thus 1nti-
gate the force Of the crash. In in
slant security was converted into thrill
ing peril. and for a few moments the
efforts of Conductor Dickinson to allay
the excitement Of the passengers.
Extent of Their Injuries.
Strange as it may seem when one has
seen the debris and realized the force of
the ColISlOI, uelLISi Inc tlSIlltcl lOl
fireman was seriously hurt. Fireman AL
Wis had a thumb dislocated and was pain
fully bruised about the right shoulder and
right side Of the head Engineer Dree-
land was even more fortunate, sustaining
only a cut on the inside Of the left hand
and some bruises.
Many of the passengers received a Sc
we're nervous shock and were consider
ably Jared by being thrown forward from
..eir seats, but with few exceptions ali
were able to resume their northward
journey on the train made up soon after
wards to replace the one wrecked. Mrs.
W. G. LAMBERT of Washington, who was
stunned by the collision, came to the Lex
ington Hotel. where she spent the night.
4 Scene of Havoc.
Three hours after the collision the
wreck still presented a scene Of havoc.
Projected high in the air above the first
box-car into which the locomtive was
jammed, was another box-car completely
telcscoped-torn open from end TO end.
Under the front of the engine were the
trucks Of the first box-car, and all
around was wreckage, splinters and de-
bris The flames were pouring from the dis
mantled engine. The baggage car, IN rear
of the tender had it's front crushed in.
It's occupants must have had terrific
shock The weight of the heavily-loadet!
freight cars alone kept them on the track,
ripped open as they were
just Out of Byrd-St. Stntion.
The train wrecked was Richmond, Fred
ericksburg, aud Potomac passenger trs1e'
No. Is, due to leave the Byrd-Street Sta
ton at sos P. NJ, but it was eight min
utes late when it pulled out. This delay
caused it to reach the yards at SIT in
stead of at S:19 the usual time of arrival
there. At the time Of the crash the train
had Just passed the switch tower It is
a through train going to Washington over
the Richmond, Fredericksburg. and Poto-
mae line and thence to New Y York via the
Pennsylvania. but it makes local stops
between this city and Washington. It
consisted Of eight or nine coaches includ-
ing the baggage car, and usually runs at
a good speed. After a little more than
an hour train was made up with anoth-
er engine and baggage car and dispatch
ed northward.
The injured fireman and conductor We're
removed to their homes where their inju-
, ries were attended to by DR.. Winfree.
Mr.. 5Dreeland. the engineer. lives at No.
4o6 Hancock street, and is married. The
fireman. Mr.. Avis, ives at No. 1910 west
Clay street He, too. is married.
How FlaEman Nvas Fooled.
The cause of the accid dent seems To- have
been g tollow1; to- the SgE1dest The