Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-11-18
ANOTHER RAILWAY ACCIDENT.


Passenger and Freight Trains IN
Head-on CoIIision-Engines Demo
Iisbed, Cars Smashed and Train
men Injured.
Shortly before six O'Clock TINS morn
ing serious accident occurred about
78 miles miles from this city on the
Southern Railway, when passenger
train No. 16, known as the "mllk
train.n was wrecked and an extra
freight train partially demolished.
News of the accident reached this
city shortly after its occurrence and a
wrecking train, carrying DIR. O'Brien,
the company's physician, and others
was dispatched to the scene. In less
than an hours time the news had spread
in every direction and, as is usually the
case, the actual facts in connection with
the catastrophe we're somewhat exagger-
atcd. 1t was known, however, from
the meagre information obtained hattie
accident was of serious nature ana
people having relatives employed on the
road passed through terrible period OF
anxiety until their ordeal was brought
to a close by the true version OF the
wreck.
An extra south bound freight train,
No. II, in charge of Conductor Litchford
and Engineer Dowery, had pulled into
Culpeper shortly before six o'clock this
morning and the conductor after leaving
it on the side track went to the tele-
graph Office for orders. While in the
Office the engineer of the freight for
some unexplained reason, pulled out on
the main track and started south with
the train. When the conductor realized
the situation, and knowing that in all
probability the south bound local pas
senger train was about at Winston and
if not stopped would collide with the
freight, had hurried dispatch sent
to Winston to hold the passenger train.
An answer was Immediately returned
announcing the startling fact that No.
Is had Just left, which rendered COLI
sion certain. A few minutes later the
passenger train, which was running at a
high rate of speed met the freight train
at the seventy eight mile post (near the
place where Engineer Crosen was killed
in collision about fifteen years ago..
The fright train was also running at
lively rate of speed. The powerful cleo
trio headlight of the passenger engine
almost obscured the oil light of the freight
locomotive, and hardly before the danger
could be discovered or realized the iron
horses plunged into each other with
terrible impact, almost Gemolishing both,
knocking cars of both trains from the
track and more or less smashing them.
The engineer and fireman of the freight
train must have seen the passenger train
in time to jump, as the only persons hurt
we're on the latter Engineer John Irby,
Baggagemaster Fletcher Davis and Flag
man Robert Turner, all of the passenger
train, were more or less hurt, but the
nature of their injuries is not known de-
finitely, nor will they be until the relief
train reaches this city. Engineer lrby
had his head cut, one rib broken and
one of his ankles broken or sprained.
The fact that some were not killed seems
miraculous.
The collision occurred short distance
south of what is known as McGinnis's
cut, few miles the other side Of Gull
PEPPER Had the two trains met in that
cut the catastrophe would have been
terrible. None of the passengers were
hurt, while ali had severe shaking up.
The track was cleared late this even
ing when the running of through trains
was resumed.
The Inflated passenger train stops atway
stations. 1t leaves Charlottesville about
o'clock in the morning and reaches
Alexandria at 8 a. m. Engineer lrby
had taken Engineer Moore's place tenn
porarily, the latter being on hunting
trip. The train was in charge of Con-
ductor Cameron.