The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-08
Landslide at Mouth Of Tunnel
in Giles County.
CAUGHT IN DEATH TRAP,
The Gang Of Laborers. White and Col !
ored, We're Double Tracking the
West. End Tunnel, Near Eggle.
s,on Springs, In Giles.
my Associated Press. ,

ROANOKE, VA, May 7.--Details reached
here this afternoon OF a fearful catastro-l
pho which occurred late yesterday eve-'
Tunnel. known as Tunnel No. 2. at Egg,
gleston Springs. Giles county, on theI
Norfolk and Western Railway. In whici1
six men were killed and five inJureds
three OF them fatally, while two other1
were almost mirnculously saved.
Railroad contractors were engaged IN
doublc-tracking the two tunnels at thu
point named, and 1t was due to theia
operations that tho accident happened,
1t seems that when the tunneling force
had removed the earth and etono foN
the tracks at the point where the calamS
ity occurred. huge slide Of solid ston(
gave way on the mountain Side and cam&
down ut an angle OF about Is degreesr
striking the gang fairly and literally
crushing the life out OF six men.
Three bodies have been recovered. and
It is believed others will b gottn out bee
fore morning. A wrecking car Is at worA
clearing away tho debris. The entranca
to the tunnel Is now clear and safe and
no further trouble is anticipate. This,
killed and injured are all colored men.
Doctors were on the scene within twenty
minutes after tho accident and rendered.
all possible aid TO tic injured naen
This stratum OF solid rock was found
on examination to be connected only bY
clay seams and when the foundation
was removed tho stratum, some feetl
long, came with tremendous force andi
without warning. catching the men in theI
death-trap. One man was in niche OF
the tunnelway. and was only grazcd on
the face and head. and escaped with
slight injuries. He was removed without
great difficulty. A second man. who stood
on the outer edge OF the slide. was only
slightly hurt. but tfrco others were
more unfortunate, and were so badly ms
1urcd that It is feared they will die.
The bodies OF the other six men. SONG
of whom are whites. arc still under tho
mountain slide. A wrecking car and dert
rick were taken out from Radford. bu&
SO far have been OF no avail. There Il
no likelihood that the bodies can DO re-.
covered soon, as the rock will have TO be
dynnmited and removed bit by bit.
This Is considered dangerous. as the,
length OF the stratum cannot be ascer-i
tanned. and there Is imminent danger i
OF q second crash as soon as tbs base
IS removed, and a consequent loss OF oth.'
or lives.
So far 1t has been impossible to Sc.
cure the names OF the victims. ThoJ
arc only known to the contractors. and
they can only Judge by tho missing mem
bers OF the force, Ono thing that is known
Is that 1t was q mixed gang, composto
both OF white and colored laborcrs
Tho accident did not materially delay
train traffic on the main line. The traita
were delayed. however. by another slid.
in Big Tunnel. at Montgomery, twent3
miles east OF Eggleston. over four hours.
The latest adyIces from an official
source, so far as the Norfolk and Vest
crn Railway is concerned, arc to tho
effect that only seven men were killed
outright, but prominent contractor cons
Ing to Roanoke from the scene gave the
| facts substantially as related above.