Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-10-03

Charlotte, n. c. Sept. a0.-While run
ming at a high rate Of speed train No. 81,
on the Southern railway, tho south
bound fast mail train, jumped from q
trestle IS feet high. half mile north OF
Danville, Va, Sunday afternoon and was
almost demolished. OF tho CROW of 10
men, including mail carriers, on the train.
nine were killed and seven injured.
The Victims.
The dead are: Engineer J. A. Broadly,
of Placerville, Va; Fireman A. G..
Clapp, of Greensboro, N. c.; Conductor
I. T. Blair, OF Danville Va; Mali
Clerks J. L. Thompson. Of Washing.
ton, D. c.; w. +. Chambers, of Mid.
land, Va; D. T. F1ory, Of Nokesville,
Va; P. N. Ardanvright, Mount Gin.
ton, Va; Flagman, 8. J. Moody, Of
Raleigh, N. c., and 12-ysar-old son OF
J. L. Thompson.
The injured are: Nail CLERKS louis
W. spfers, Manassas, Va; Frank E.
Brooks, Charlottesville, Va; Percival
1ndenmauer, Washington; Charles E..
Reams, Culpepper, Va; Jeonines J. Dun
lap, Washington, D. G.; II. G. Naupin,
Charlottesville, Va, and J. Harrison
Thompson, st. Luke, W.
An Awful Plunge.
The tresue where the accident occurred
Is 500 feet long and is located on a sharp
curve. Engineer Broadly was new man
on that division Of the Southern, and IL
IL said he came to tho curve 1t q voe1
high rate Of speed. The engine had eone
only about 80 feet ON tho trostls vhen II
sprang from the track, carrying With n
four mail cars and an s1pross car. Fha
tresde, wooden structure, a1so save VA
for space OF 20 fset. At the foot OF tAa
trestle Is shallow stream with q rook1
bottom. Striking this tho engine and tha
cars were reduced TO Z mass Of twisted
iron and stssa and paeees Of spllntered
wood. All the desd men were killed IL
stantly, 1t is thought. and al were great
~ mutilated. The SKIN and hair on IL
engineer and fireman wsrs torn OF by ths
impact OF the steam engine.
Speed Was Ne -Huh.
Several thousand people wees soon a
the scene Of the wreck. No one on any
of the cars had made an effort to tump
and the bodies OF all thoss killed were
found in the wreckage OF the different
cars to which they belonged.
It seemed miraculous that anyone
should have escaped, for each or fall
ing with the engine bounded from 1t
and completely collapsed after stzktna
the rocks at the foot OF the trestla,
All unofficial opinions that have been
ascertained agree IN giving only one
cause for the wreoA-the high speed OF
the train on the sharp curve. Train
No. 81 was running about an hour BE-
hind time. It is thought that tho en-
gineer, being unfamiliar with the road,
did not take into consideration the
danger Of coming on the curve With
such great velocity.
Statement Regarding Accident.
Washington, Sept. 29.-Vioe Presi,
dent Finley, of the Southern railway
made the following statement, regard
ing the accident to train No. 81, in thu
vicinity Of Danv11le, Sunday:
1.-THE train consisted OF two postal
cars, one express car and one baggage
car for the storage of mails. The trestle
Is very little damaged, as the train
jumped the track about 40 feet north
of the trestle on sound track, in good line
and surface, and proper gauge. The
trestle was in first class condition and
was so we'll braced that the engine and
train falling on the outside curve
knocked down the outside posts and left
the others standing. Eye witnesses state
that the train was approaching tho
trestle at rate of speed of 80 to IS miles
per hour. The loss of life and personal
injuries are very much regretted. The
cause Of the accident is being investi-
gated. Thet restle was promptly re.
paired and the first train passed over II
at 9:10 Monday morning."