The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-28
THREE KILLED.
TWO INJURED
Continued from First Page.)

standing SOME ydiuS away a. oAeo -
tree. He tells the story OF the accident
after this fashion:
II was standing there at the tree wait
ing for the train to pass, when the eN-
plosion came. I was looking at the en-
CINE when it happened First there
came, apparently without any warning,
a most terrific explosion, the loudest
ever heard, sounding more like thunder
thar, anything else, and Immediately
saw lot of things. they might have been
iron and they might have been men, fly
into the air. The engine stood straight
up. lust like man would, and then sank
down, falling off the track, where 1t is
now.
1.-THE freight car Immediately behind
the engine was thrown over to one SIDE
in front of the engine, and the car i'm
mediately behind this was torn from It's
trucks and stood up for moment. then
falling back. The iron pieces fell in a
shower within a radius of some 200 yards.
and the whole ends Of two buildings
were torn off. When I had seen this
much I decided had all I wanted and
got back behind the tree
AS for the condition of the engine. it
is mere scrap iron. It has holes blown
in the boiler all over. The crown sheet
seems TO nave SOnS dtlu lAiCAC Oh =
blow holes all over the bulk Of the boiler
which seem to indicate an explosion
which was widespread in its effect. AS
it lay yesterday on its side, its wheels,
trucks and all the under work belnS
merely a tumble of twisted iron. there
was no counting of the various holes IN
it.
EXPERTS ENGAGED.
When Superintendent Riddle was asked
about the matter, he said:
I'VE cannot account for the explosion.
The accident happened to the local
freight which is due to leave Manchester
about o'rlock. It was on time and.
running slowly when the explosion came.
The cause of the explosion is as yet un-
to look over the engine and see just
what caused the accident.
An expert engineer who looked over
the wreck, said:
'.In the making of engines of no mat
ter what weight, the average pressure
on a freight engine is from $50 to ITO
pounds of steam to the square inch, and
on passengers q little bit less After
boiler has been used for some time the
action OF the water tends to thin the
metal 1t flakes Off and gradually de-
creases the thickness of the boiler until
finally it becomes unfit for use"
Mr.. Gwathney was an old employe of
the Southern, being employed there for
fifteen years as engineer. Owing to i'll
health he resigned this position and con-
Quoted for several years a laundry bust
ness on Hull Street.
HIS FAMILY.
After leaving this work he accepted
position with the Atlantic Coast Line.
and had been there for three years. being
regarded as one Of the safest men en-
ployed. -
lie was thirty-six years old. and since
his youth had been connected with rail-
roads. Seven years ago he married Miss
Eva Harrison, of Manchester. He leaves
three small children, all girls. He was the
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Gwathney, or :.
this city, and leaves, in addition to his
three daughters and wife, four sisters,
Mrs Zeb. Percivall, of Clay Street: Mrs
w v, Davis. of No. 516 West Marshall
Street, and Misses Salle and Maggie
Gwa thney, of Richmond.
Although the accident occurred about
) o'clock the wife of the dead man was
not informed of it until about seven. So
intense was her grief and so complete
her collapse that it was necessary to
call a physician for her. Meanwhile
Drs Merchant and Hill, assisted by
the railroad surgeon. attended to the
immediate needs of the injured men.
IMMEDIATELY after the accident Coroner
Brodnax, of Manchester, was notified
and decided to hold an inquest. He will
probe the matter to the bottom and en-
deavor to learn who. if any one, is re-
sponsible for the accident. This inquest
was first called for yesterday. but
later the coroner decided to let the
matter so over until the result of the
injuries to the other men are known.
TILL: JURY.
The following jury was summoned by
High Constable George w. Blankenship:
Messrs. George H. Jones, J. w. Puck
EFT, Forrest Jones', James Holiday, w.
J. Williams, and R. w. Bailey DR..
Brodnax coroner, was with the jury
when it viewed the body of the dead
engineer and the wreck.
The jury have been notified to meet this
morning at 10 o'clock at the scene of .Ae
wreck. when expert testimony doubtless
will be given by some man employed by 4
the road rela.-ve to the cause Of the ex-
plosion.
The funeral will be. held this az
ternoon at o'clock from Cambridge
street Baptist Church, the Rev. E. Y.
Badly Officiating. Interment will be Il,
Hollywood.
EEa