Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-08

smoker, engaged in conversation with
Mr.. G. G. Owens, a boiler inspector OF
Philadelphia, when the collision occur
red. Owens WAS killed instantly, his
body falling on Sharpe.
w. B. Brubeck, of Charlottesville,
conductor of the local freight, is report
ed in crazed condition as result OF the
catastrophe. After witnessing the awful
sight. he is said to have become sudden
" insane, and when found was five miles
from the wreck.
An eve. witness describes the scene as
horrifyiug. Nearly all of those crushed
to death had either arms or legs broken,
the limbs in many cases protruding IRON
the mass of splintered wood and wrenched
iron.
Charles Gay, the colored fireman on
the freight, was literally cut to pieces,
and the torn flesh and bone had to be
gathered up in blanket.
The dead Austrians had considerable
money on their persons, one of the men
having 5000 in an envelope, and wo-
man 800 in gold tied around her waist.
Ate clock last nighta wrecking train
from Alexandria, Fastening to Rockfish,
met with an accident at Rio, four miles
north of Charlottesville. In turning a
curve, the car containing the derrick
jumped the track, ditching the derrick.
Four persons were injured, but not seri-
ously.
Charles T. Davis, the engineer of the
passenger train who was killed outright,
lived at POI s. Payne street in this city
He was member of Andrew Jackson
Lodge of Masons, and of the Knights of
Honor of this city, and was very popular
among those who knew him. He leaves a
widow.
Engineer Davis was one Of the Oldest
and most reliable employees on this divi-
sion on the Southern Railway, having
had his present run for over 25 years.
In the past s years he had been in two
wrecks-the first at Gilbert station and
the second at Burnleys. In the latter
be suffered broken leg.
J. VIM. Payne, baggage master on the
passenger train, who was severely hurt,
lives at 1915 King street. He has
wife, who left for the scene of the wreck,
together with a number of relatives of
other Alexandrians, on the wrecking
train.
Engineer Mccormick formerly lived
in this city. He was member of Alex
andria Council, Royal Arcanum.
Conductor George Mays, of this city,
was in charge of the passenger train.
He escaped injury.
The cause of the accident is matter
of discussion. 1t is said that the pas
senger train was 35 minutes late when it
left Charlottesville, and that the crew of
the freight was notified of the fact, but
the passenger train made up 10 minutes
of the lost time and was but % minutes
behind time when it was drawing near
Rockfsh. The freight crew calculated
on the Inflated train being 10 minutes later
than was really the case. Another state
ment is to the effect that an error was
made in reading the order, the men on
the freight train supposing it read 81
hour and 35 minutes late"
It is believed the passenger train was
running as fast as possible when the
collision occurred, and the effects Of the
fearful impact would substantiate thai
belief
A wrecking train left here yesterday
evening shortly after the receipt of the
news of the accident. Trainmaster
Abrams, Division Engineer Finke
and DIR. O'Brien were aboard. When
the train reached Rio it jumped
the track and some of those
aboard-neither, however, of those men
toned above-were slightly injured.
The track was tornup for some distance,
but it was soon repaired and the train
proceeded. Upon reaching Charlottes-
vile, about ten o'clock last night, DIR.
O'Brien disembarked and concentrated
his attention to the injured which had
previously been brought to that city
from the wreck. Most of them had been
made as comfortable as possible by DR..
Magruder, the company's surgeon at
Charlottesville, and his assistants. Bag
gagemaster Payne was at hotel where
Drs. O'Brien and Magruder visited him.
He was found to be resting comforta-
bly. Most of the injured are not thought
to be seriously hurt. DR.. O'Brien WED
with DR.. Magruder and his assistants in
attending to the injured.
Superintendent Choate arrived on the
scene later.
DR.. O'Brien subsequently returned to
this city and was at the depot early this
afternoon when a train from the wreck
brought Baggagemaster Payne here. The
doctor accompanied him to his home
where he assured his family and his
friends that Mr.. Payne was not serious
ly injured.
The body of Engineer Davis was re-
covered from under the engine at IL
O'Clock this morning. 1t has not yet
been sent home.
So far as can be ascertained between
% and 20 people were killed by the
accident.
The track was cleared as quickly as
possible and trains were soon running
as usual.
STATE SECRETS.