The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-21
ESCAPE IS
THRILLING
Engineer Tells of Experience
in a Wreck.
------~--.A-------
ACClDENTONL LONG BRIDGE
Mr.. w. r. Sanders Was In Charge Of
the Train the Baggage Car and
Tender Of Which Went Down
Into the Potomac River.
ACClDENToNLoNG BRIDGE

Dir. W. r. Sanders. OF this city. engi-
neer on Chesapeake and Ohio train NO
s. engine 20. the tender Of which crashed
through the Long Bridge over the Po-
tomac to Washington Sunday night. has
arrived at his home In this city. after
an experience sufficient to turn his hair
gray almost, and one that he will never
forget Mr.. Sanders, who is one Of the
pluckiest and most efficient young engi-
neers on the road. described his thrill
ing experience in some detail to q re-
porter for Tho Times-Dispatch last
night. Said he, in telling OF the occur
renee:
We left Washington d, 11:21 P. NJ. and
the accident occurred at 1881. The train
consisted Of engine. tender, dead head
baggage car, which was being carried to
Gordonsville; express and mail combi-
nation car. two day coaches and three
sleepers. Three minutes time is required
OF trains In crossing this bridge by gen.
eral orders, and the train was just roll
ing along without steam when the crash
occurred. AS the engine passed the center
Of the draw reached up to the throttle
to increase the speed Of the train after
passing off the draw, which is about
eighty feet long.
LEFT IN DARKNESS.
Just as was In the act OF catching
hold Of the throttle the accident oc-
caused me to throw the throttle wide
open. Immediately the electric Lights
on the bridge and on the engine went
out and we were suddenly left In total
darkness. In the noise OF the escaping
steam and the crashing and cracking
OF breaking and falling timbers could
not realize what had happened. though
I felt the giving away Of the bridge.
which is about fifteen feet above the
water and the water beneath about If
teen feet deep. Some OF the cross beams
of the overhead frame work OF the bridge
fell and struck the headlight and dynamo
and the stack. knocking them over and
crushing the bell then falling on tho
rear OF the cab roof. crushing that down
considerably. 1t was too dark to see
anything. and I called to my fireman, ].
had become of him. After calling Nseve-
raj times he answered feebly by groan-
ing. Indicating that he was still on the
engine or near by. The second car, the
combination express and baggage car,
had toppled over the end OF the draw
and was resting on the edge Of It.. with
the other end in the water. In Its fall
OF the car to the other and was consid-
erably bruised. The car was left lying
over the edge Of the draw at an angle
OF about As degrees. .EHsa a8 -
las stated. everything was in COM
plete darkness. At this moment four
men, who were stationed In the engine
room overhead. whence the draw is ope-
tai SNxr eli - = fy.l1 lon
to the side Of the cab. About this time
] attempted to pull the engine away, but
it would not move
FIREMAN WAS HURT.
GAS soon as the fireman groaned in re.
Spouse to my call. found him In tho
cab, bleeding profuse'y from severe
scalp wound and another on the face,
inflicted by the falling tlmbers Of the
bridge. one Of which struck him in Its
fall. He was blinded by the how OF
blood and was nearly unconscious from
the blow and loss OF blood.
when found out he was al! right, or
a. least alive. lit torch and stepped
down on the ond of the ties. Had I
stepped OF the rear Of the cab instead, as
the light soon showed me. ] would have
gone down into the Potomac, for the back
Of the cab was just on the edge of the
broken draw. With the assistance of the
four men who had come down from the
draw, made an inspection OF the draw
where it connects with the bridge at the
south end, and finding 1t In proper posi-
ten. ] returned to the engine and moved
It off the draw carefully, so as to avoid
setting the bridge ahre and to get the
fire out OF the firebox and prevent pos
s.ble explosion, for with the tender gone
and full steam up. there was danger Of
1t Then I rendered all possible assist
ance to Fireman Woods.
although weak and In pain and blinded
by the blood flowing down his face, he
assisted me In getting the fire out of the
engine. In order to do this we had to
stand on the cab seats above the flrebox
and reach downward and work the CRATE
bar back and forth, there being nothing
fol- US to stand on. the tender and bridge
Faint and weak and bleeding. the fireman
labored faithfully, and between us we
succeeded In getting the fires out.
up to this time thought certain that
all the coaches had been plunged into
The river. for the tender and deadhead
baggage had gone. and It was too dark
to see beyond the draw and the silence
Of death prevailed. Naturally was
much relieved to find that they had re-
manned on the track on the other side
OF the break In the draw. and all were
safe.
WAS A BIG ENGINE.
THE engine was what Is known as a
sx-wheel connected one. with i've foot
eight inch wheels. such as Is used for
passenger trains. After easing 1t away
frcm the break and Oft the draw on to
tho solid portion of the bridge. ! went to
the south end OF the bridge. where tel
cgraph station is located, and reported
to headquarters the trouble. Assistance
soon came, and It was not until then we
learned the rest of the train was safe,
and only the deadhead car and the tender
gene. This empty baggage car was to be
cut Oft at Gordonsvlle. 1t was this that
saved the rest OF the train. On the bridge
wires. and In the collapse Of the super
structure OF the bridge was afraid that
wires had been exposed, especially when
the electric lights went out, Fortunately.
there was no such danger to add to the