The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-29
extinguished BY the Danville fire depart

extinguished By the Danville fire depart
ment.
On account of the wreck, all traffic on
the central and northern divisions OF the
Southern will be delayed several hours.
Arrangements are being made to run
southbound trains over the Norfolk and
Western from Lynchburg Wit Burkevlle
20 Danville, which will cause delays of
several hours
OFFICIAL REPORTS ON WRECK.
Official report to the Southern Railway
general offices in this city state that the
wrecked train was on time at the last
station at which she was reported, and
that it was going at the rate of thirty to
thirty-five miles an hour when it ap-
preached the trestle and ran off the track
just north of the trestle, carrying the
trestle down when the engine ran off the
tracks to the ground below.
Broadly, the dead engineer, was about
fifty-five years of age, and had been with
the Southern Railroad about twenty years,
his service large part of the time being
on the division on which the accident oc-
Cured. While reports leave it in doubt
just how the accident occurred, and it will
tain, it is believed here that the accident
was due to f1ange on the front wheel pro-
jecting over the rail and striking the ties.
The trestle where the accident occurred
will be fully repaired by an early hour
this morning, and trains are expected to
be running over it today.
TAKEN TO DANVILLE HOSPITAL.
The injured men have been taken to the
hospital at Danville and are being given
every attention. Train No. 81, it is stated
at the general office, has been running
about year and has had no mishaps, ex-
cept that some months ago it ran into
some earth that had fallen on the track.
John L. Thompson, of II Thirteenth
street northwest who was killed in the
wreck. was thirty-six years old. He had
been employed in the railway mail service
! for fifteen years, having entered upon the
work while at his old home, Roxboro, N
C. In July last he was promoted to a
| 81, 500 position, and when on his first run
| in the new appointment he was injured
in the wreck at Springfield on July 2S,
and was unable to work. He had return
ed to his work only a short time since.
| He married Miss Price, of this city
about ten years ago, and then took up his
residence IN Washington.
FINLEY'S STATEMENT.
! Mr.. T. E. Green, City Ticket Agent of
the Southern Railway, received telegram
yesterday from Mr.. S. H. Hardwicks,
General Passenger Agent, giving an inter
view with Vice-President Finley, of the
Southern Railway, giving his views of the
| wreck. vice-President Finley is quoted
as saying:
1.-THE train consisted of two Postal cars,
one expires car and one baggage car for
| the storage OF mail The trestle is very
| little damaged as the train jumped the
track about forty feet north of the trestle
on sound track, good line and surface and
proper gauge. The trestle was in first
] class condition and was so well braced that
| the engine and train falling on the out
| side of curve knocked down the outside
post and left the others standing. Eye
witness reports that the train was ap-
! preaching the trestle at the rate of speed
of thirty to thirty-five miles per hour.
| The loss of life and personal injuries are
very much regretted.
1.-The cause OF the accident is being in
vestigated The trestle was promptly re-
paired and the first train passed over at
9:10 this a. M"