Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-07-24
EXPLOSION ON
The N. { ".
Two Blown TO Atoms by Explosion
Of Dynamite Near Pearisburg,
Virginia.
SIX BADLY, TEN SERIOUSLY HURT.
A Partial Investigation Made, But just
What Caused the Explosion
Is a Mystery That Will in all
Probability Never be Solved.

Two blown to atoms, six badly and
ten slightly hurt.
The above paragraph tells in brief
the story of one of the most appalling
accidents in the history of the Norfolk
and Western. That there was not a
veritable harvest OF death seems al
most miraculous, and those who saw
the dismanteled coaches which bore
the brunt of the explosion were lothe
to believe the statement that none of
the passengers We're killed. or even ia
tally injured. Fortunately, however.
such proved to be the case
The first reports of the disaster, as
usual in such cases, were exaggerated to
some extent
AS passenger train No. 1 was pass
ing point about mile west of Pear
isburg, box of dynamite lying by the
track blew up. The engine and five
coaches had gotten safely by, but the
sixth coach caught the full force of the
explosion. Conductor O'Connor was
hurled to the floor and temporarily
stunned, but managed to pull the bell
cord, and the train was stopped within
fifty yards. None of the cars left the
track, but the force of the explosion
was so great that the rear end of the
sixth coach was almost torn to pieces,
even the ceiling on the inside being
torn off, and on the opposite side of the
car from the explosion were lodged
pieces of human flesh. Windows on the
left side of every car in the train were
shattered, and the glass rained down
like hail, many of the passengers being
slightly cut by the falling fragments.
A partial investigation has been
made, but just what caused the explo-
sion is mystery that in all probability
will never be solved, and it is not to be
expected that there will be any further
inquiry into the matter, the only two
persons who might have thrown any
light upon it having gone to testify be-
fore higher tribunal.
The invetigation developed the fact
that William Philips, white, aged 10
years, and who had been driving
team for Vaughan & Co., but who had
not been working for several days, was
standing near the dynamite when the
explosion occurred, as was also Buster
NOEL, colored, aged 16 years, who was
a water boy for l.. HI. Vaughan & Co.
NOEL had crossed the track just in
front of the train, and had only just
reached the scene of the disaster when
he was hurled into eternity. His body
was Utterly torn to pieces, probably
the largest piece of him found being a
fragment of flesh and bone little larger
than mans hand, which had been
blown through the window of the coach
and lodged in the shutters on the side
furtherest from the explosion
Philips had been near the dynamite
for probably twenty-five minutes, and
it is possible that he had been tam
pering with it. 1t is said that Philips
had been discharged by the contractor
a few days before, and this led some to
believe that the horror was not entirely
an accident but might have been the
result of the young mans desire to
avenge his fancide wrongs. However,
it is not believed by parties who visit,
ed the scene and inquired into the de.
tails of the explosion and the condi-
tions preceding it, that Philips had
any criminal intent. Any way, he is
not here to defend himself, and even
If he were guilty, he had already paid
a fearful penalty. He, too, was blown
into minee-meat, and small fragments
despatched the side of the coach. His
head was torn from his body, and was
picked up, fearfully mutilated, some
feet from the scene.
Philips is from Grayson county, vir-
ginia, and has no relatives living other
than his father, who is said to be some
where in this state.
There were no caps in the box and
it only contained twenty sticks Of dyna-
mite. Had it been full box. the