Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-28
ANOTHER TRAIN WRECKED.

1
Hardly had the community ceased t
discuss the serious accident near Coyes
vile, on the Southern Railway, lest Sun
day morning, when at an early hour to-
day it was again cast into a terrible state
of apprehension by reports Of another
accident on the same road b.
which the Washington and South
western limited train had been deraileC
and thrown partly down a bank al
Springfield, about nine miles southwest
Of Alexandria. The first reports, as
usual, were alarming, and people who
had relatives and friends employed on
the trains were filled with great anxiety.
1t was about four hours after the &C
cident before the facts were known, and
while more serious results could have
! followed such disaster, it was serious
enough, as two men were killed out
right and several more or less injured.
At $3.50 this morning work train,
drawn by two engines, left this city, and
upon reaching Springfield took the side
track leading to gravel pit. The crew
were aware of the fact that fast passenger
train No. 3S was about due and they had
locked the switch leading to the main
track. The passenger train is due in
Alexandria at GIG and was running ten
inmates Later AT 6:25 the material
train, which was on grade, "got away, "
in railroad parlance, and started 10 back
toward the main track. Every effort
was made to check it, but it continued
to move until itreached the "frog." At
this juncture the passenger train hove in
sight, running at high rate of speed,
and on down grade. The latter
train dashed against the work train a
most in the twinkling Of an eye ard
side wiped it, throwing the passenger
engine and tender, three mail cars, a
baggage car and one passenger car on
their Sides But one car, Pullman, Of
the passenger train remained on the
rails. The work train escaped serious
damage, nor was any one on it hurt.
1t was not so, however, with those on
the passenger train. The following
we're killed and injured
Walter Meeks, fireman, killed out
right and terribly mangled.
w. w. Woodward, mail clerk, killed.
Peter Harrington, engineer, severely
injured but will recover.
Mail Clerk Benz. Rollins both legs
broken and seriously injured.
Mail Clerk J. f. Kellar bruised and
otherwise hurt.
J. L. Thompson, mail clerk, right
arm injured.
J. F. Larrick and P. A. FOntaine,
also mail clerks, slightly injured.
Two or three other employees of the
mail car received minor injuries.
The train was in charge of Conductor
Rust. He escaped injury. None of
the passengers received any material
injury.
As soon as the news was brought to
this city a wrecking car was procured
from the Washington-Southern Rail-
way-that belonging to the Southern
being at the scene OF last Sunday
wreck-and a relief train was made up.
Drs. O'Bren and Smith were sum-
moned, and as soon as possible the
train proceeded to the scene of the
wreck.
AcrOwd soon gathered at the depot
aud hacks were procured which awaited
the arrival of the relief train. In the
meantime Mr.. b. Wheatley was notihed
to be on hand to receive the two dead
bodies, while every preparation was made
to minister to the injured
At 1920 o'clock the train drew in
sight. 1t consisted of passenger car, a
caboosc and freight car, and was back
ed into the depot. The crowd by this
time had become very dense, and as the
train came to a standstill it was
surrounded by a sea of humanity
Mr.. Harrington, the engineer, was
removed first and carried to his home.
The bodies of Woodward and Meeks |
were subsequently removed by the un-
dertaker The two mail clerks, Rollins
and Kellar, and two or three other en-
ployees of the mail car who did not seem
to have suffered serious injury, were
taken on the train to Washington.
When Drs. O'Brien and Smith
reached Springfield they found Meeks
and Woodward dead. They hastily at
tended the injured placed them on the
train and brought them to this city. DR.. |
o. Brien proceeded to Washington with |
the injured mail clerks where they were
met by DR.. Mclaughlin. The men were
taken to the Emergency Hospital where |
they are receiving every attention.
The work of clearing the track was
prosecuted as speedily as possible, but it
was late in the day before traffic was
resumed.
This is the third serious accident tot pas
senger trains on the Southern Railway in
four weeks. The first was at Rockfsh, the
most serious of all; the other near Coves-
vile last Sunday and the last that of this
morning. There is an impression among
many railroad men that when one
serious accident occurs two Others are
likely to follow in its wake This morn
ing's disaster makes the third during
the present month. 1t is hoped it will
prove the last for long time to come.
Backed Overheard.
while Mr.. John Rodgers, of Fairfax