The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-20
FOUR KILLED
IN THE CRASH
heard the agonized cries of the dying and
Wreckaee Took Fire.
Continued From First Pagc.)

Several times the wreckagc took fire.
but the blaze was soon extingulsl1cd, each
time by ready anu willing helpers from
among the passengers and people from
the country round about, who flocked to
the scene as soon as the disaster became
known. AS soon as possible the work OF
extricating the injured and suffering from
the scaldng steam, and the danger Of Inv
cnoraton was begun and pushed with
feverish haste. Engineer Atwell was badly
manglcd, but his remains we're rescued
and turned over to an undertaken. he
others presented sckening sights as they
were taken from the grimy ruins. and the
bodies of the dead laid out for identifi-
cation. The injured were taken out and
given emergency attention by Drs. John
H. Young and F. ], Gregory, Of Keys
vile. Their sufferings were alleviated AND
they were taken to Keysville and. there
made as com Portable rs possible.
Several times during tbs day flames
threatened to add their horror to the
hovoc of the collision. and but for stub
born and vigiant effort would have burn.
ed the bodies of the dead. AS soon as
possible a wrecking crew, working under
the supervision of Captain w. ]. west.
superintendent e the division, got 10
work, and by nightfall had made fine pro-
gress In clearing away the debris. The
track was not even clear when darkness
fell upon the scene, but passengers. bag
gage and mail were transferred around
the debris. and as little time as practical
BILE lost. 1t Is hoped by to-day to resume
regular service over the road.
The Train Crews.
Train NO. il consisted Of locomotive.
and tender. mail car, combination bag
gage and express car, two passenger
coaches and a Pullman car. No. ~,
which had left Kcysville but a few mo-
mcnts before the clash, consisted Of To-
connective and tender, combination bag
gage and express car and two passenger
coaches Train No, II was manned by
Engineer Charles .. Farmer. one Ut
the most experienced men on tho road;
Fireman w. J. Jackson (colored) OF this
city; Postal Clerk n. f. williams, and
Conductor A. T. Atwcll. On the o.he:
train were Engineer r. II. Atwell, Fire
man Daniel i'inchion, Conductor w. j..
Ruld and Flagmnn L. s. Dillon.
Engineer Y. II. Atwell, Fireman Pinch
ion, Postal Clerk Williams, who was
al. work III his car, and Flagman Dillon,
who was in the baggage car Of No. -,
were all almost instantly killed, Tho
crew Of No. II were more fortunate. En-
gineer Farmer had q badly broken leg
and other injuries and Conductor Rudd
and Fireman Jackson on that train and
Mr.. j. Dorsey Tyler on No. IS were all
more or less seriously injured
From what can be learned the wreck
was clearly the fault Of the RUM ny
crew OF the south-bound train, No. II.
which was running on the time Of No.
Is after leaving Mcherrin No. II Is
due to leave this city for the south via
Danville at 1880 p. NJ, but it was do
| ayed nearly five hours in getting away
! Sunday night because of the delalment
| Of two oil tank cars and box car In
| front Of it at Granite, seven miles from
| Richmond. Sunday night. 1t was about
$3.50 A. NJ Monday. when the train
| scheduled to leave Keysvlle at sos A.
| NJ, and had just pulled out and gone
| two miles when It ran full into No. II.
| the south Inbound train which had pulled
out from Meherrin, where 1t should have
lain under general orders or ,ntil In
structcd to proceed. 1t was not so In
structed and II Is sad TO be the rule
invurlable in all cases Of regular trains
that the north-bound have right OF way
over south-bound trains and, that he
layed train must not cncroach upon the
| rights Of one on time, The north-bound
train was due at Mehcrrln about G.25
and the south bound train left Keysvillc
about 6, the crew overlooking the fact
that No. IS was then between Iteysvillc
and Meherrin, IT is understood that tho
engineer of No, II proceeded without
recollecting that No. is was or its way
with track rights to Mehcrrln. No i
was within It's time and no other trair
had any warrant for cncronching on that
right, Tho schedule has been recently
readius,ed and this probably account.
for the total mistake OF No. lis engineer
and conductor. Unfortunately, the crew
OF No II We're nearly all injured ant
hardly in condition to give an ,intelllgibl'
account of the disaster. 1t is said tina
the conductor and engineer arc almos
overcome by the shock OF their own In
jurics and the terrible consequences O
the MISTAKE,
Had T me TO Jump,
The two trains came. together in til,
dim hazy light Of the dawn in q dce]
cut and on curve near the mile pov
seventy-one miles from this city. !
appears that the crow of No II were o,
the lookout for the other train or sghte
It before they were seen by No lS'
crew for Engineer Farmer and his fire
man both jumped after doing All the
could to avoid OF at least minimize III
force OF tho collision Engineer lrarme
had a leg badly broken,
Both trains were presumably runnin
AT about their usual speed, over tl|rt
miles an hour in one case, and nearl
the same rate IN the other The ~
? engines Were almost upon each o,he
before others crew was aware of I'll
pro& nifty of the other, and all that coui
! be done was vain effort 70 stop bot
' trains, In This the engIneman and FIR,
: man OF the north-bound train appear
@ have stuck TO their posts and died thei
c n,, iIt,nh1gi they ~ iI,,ln IA.