Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-03-24
WRECK ON SOUTHERN RAILWAY.


CARs-sCENES AND INCIDENTS.
Early yesterday morning rumors be-
gan to circulate 10 this city 10 the ef'
feet that terrible accident had &C.
Cured on the Southern Railway q
short distance south of Charlottesville;
that No. 38, the New York and New
Orleans vestibuled train, composed OF
Pullman cars, had struck a land or
rock slide, the car being thrown from
the track, wreck ed and burned and that
many persons had lost their lives.
The accident occurred at $40 3. N.
Several Alexsndrians were known to
be employed on the train and the
greatest anxiety was experienced
among relatives and friends until the
facts 10 connection with the accident
were sscertained. The railway officials
soon received dispatches confirming
the reports of the wreck and destruc-
ton OF most OF the train, but it was
found that the loss of life had been
exaggerated. that but two persons we're
killed-neither from this city-and
| that the Alexandrisns we're injured,
but none killed. These dispatches
caused many 10 breathe easier, al
though there was still some uneasiness
until later In the day when members OF
the crew of the ill-fated train began to
arrive here.
The point where the wrecked occur
red Ia At Coleman's Cut, half mile
from Covesville and 1l5 miles south OF
this city. The limited train was be.
hind time, aud was running at the rate
OF fifty miles an hour, when the slide
OF earth was encouL tered. Ten min-
utss OF the lost time had been made
up, but Engineer Lynn, who lives on
Pitt street. opposite st. Psul's Church,
10 this city, was bent on recovering
what delay beyond LyDchburg had
lost for him; so the speed was high as
Charlottesville was neared. Especially
| was IL desired to regain the lost
schedule, for train No. 40, the Wash.
nRton and Chattanooga Limited, over
the same road, follows the Southern
Limited ID this city, only thirty min
] utes behind. Engineer Lynn was
I peering through the window of his cab,
trying to distinguish objects ahead as
he sped along the many miles OF track.
Just as he entered Coleman's Cut,
where there IL slight curve, he saw
. some dark object across the track.
As a matter OF precaution, Lynn APP
oiled the air brakes. Barely had the
| effect OF the brakes begun ID tell be-
| fore there came crash; the locomotive
reared up, left the track and plunged
| into q shallow ditch. Six cars followed,
Including two mail cars, one baggage
| car, and three Pullman coaches. 10
the mail cars were all the postal clerks,
| who had Just finished the work Of as
sorting the mail matter taken on at
various points north OF Charlotte, N. G.
As the locomotive and cars left the
! track there came terrible ar. Coaches
| piled upon the engine and still other
| coaches piled upon the first care; so
| that great mass OF wreekage was
thrown from and strewD along the track
for considerably distance. Within a
very few minutes, fire added to the
horror OF the situation. From the en-
CINE, the flames spread to the wrecked
coaches, and the debris burned 6ercely.
| The train was almost completely de-
stroged, as the engine and all but the
last three coaches left the track, piled
up on top of one another, and were
burned.
The crew of the train and many Of
the passengers, most Of whom were
awakened from sleep as the crash came,
went to the assistance of the Injured,
several of whom were found pinned
down by the wrecksge. Conductor
Rust aud others wired to Charlottes-
| Vile and Monroe, nearby towns, for as
sistAncs, and wreckiDg trains were sent
| to the scene of the disaster from both
places. At Charlottesville, because OF
orders sent out by railroad officials in
Washington, special train vas made
I'D and sent to Covesyille for the pass
| engers. These were taken aboard and
brought north, arriving 10 this city
yes terday afternoon shortly before 4
O'Clock.
On the first alarm surgeons from the
University OF Virginia went TO the
Gene OF the wreck ID render what as
sistance was possible. When the ply.
sicians first arrived at Coleman's Cut
they found the wounded lying upon the
ground, wrapped only in what little
clothing had been saved from the
flames.
The wrecking crews reached Coves-
Vile two hours aft sr daylight. Prior
to this passengers and members OF the
crew of the liwited had discovered the
remains of a white man, apparently
forty years old, badly msDgled, lying
some distance from toe macs OF debris.
The body has been identified ss that OF
Edwin Dougherty. 1t ia believed he
lived 10 Lybchburg, as he and his bro tn
er Thomas were seen to board the train
when 1t passed through Lynchburg.
The latter is also believed to have lost
his life.
Half q hundred passengers, being
unable to crowd into the three remain
ing sleepers, stood shivering for hours
10 the cold OF the early morning, watch
ing the work OF rescue and clearing
away the debris from the tracks. Un-
til the relief train reached the scene OF
the wreck, several hours after the dis
astsr, these passengers had no protec-
ton from the chilly winds. Many OF
them bad narrowly escaped from the |
wrecked coaches with their lives and
bad saved only their night clothes. At
best such persons had only a wrap
which they had hastily sns tched as they !
fed in the darkness from the horror OF |
the wreck. Some few Of the psssen.
gers walked ID Covesville. halt mile |
away, but the town is 80 small that but |
little sccommods ton of any sort Was
10 be found there.