Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-09-28
ANOTHER RAILROAD HORROR.


The fast mail train from New York
for New Orleans on the Southern Rail-
way was wrecked just outside of the
yard limits of Danyille yesterday after
noon. The train, which was made up
of mail and express cars, left the track
just as the engine was entering a high
trestle that spans a creek north OF the
city. The trestle is on a steep grade
and curve. 1t is supposed, definite IN
formation being unavailable on account
of the death of the conductor and engl'
neer, that the train was running at a
high rate of speed, and that the fiange
on a wheel of the locomotive broke
when the curve was struck. The engine,
followed by three mail and one express
cars, ran some distance on the trestle,
plunging along the crossties, and then
fell rs feet to the water below.
OF the 16 men On the train, all en-
pIoyes Of the United States railroad
mail service, excepting the engineer,
fireman and conductor, nine were killed
and seven hurt.
j. A. Broadey, the engineer, of Salts
vile, who stuck to his post, was thrown
some distance from the engine, and
his mangled body was found lying in
the bed of the creek. The following
were also killed. J. Thomas Blair, of
Spencer, n. c., conductor; w. S.
Chambers, mail clerk, Midland, Va. !;
John L. Thompson, mail clerk, Wash
ingtou, d. c. :; d. p. Flory, mail clerk,
Nokesvile; P. NJ. Argenbright, mail
clerk, Mt. Clinton Fireman Klap An
unknown hagman. The injured are {:
Railway Postal Clerks Lewis W. Spies,
Manassas, Va. Frank G.. Brooks, Char
lottesville, Va; Percival Indeumauer,
Washington, d. G. /; Charles E. Reams,
Culpeper, Va. Jennings j Dunlop,
Washington, d. c.: n. G. Maupin,
of Charlottesville, and ]. Harrison
Thompson, of St. Luke's.
All the coaches were piled one upon
another and most of them broken and
splintered into kindling wood. The
locomotive is buried at the bottom of the
creek. The one car that remained in
tact broke through the trestle at the final
plunge, making a gaping hole and de-
laying traffic on the road.
The wires north of Danville are all
down. 1t is said that the engineer was
running mail train for the first time.
This train is the fastest on the road and
was entering the city at a speed of about
40 miles au hour There were many
eye-witnessest to the tragedy. The tracks
at this point are lined with houses on
either side, and a number of women and
children were sitting ON the porches
when the wreck occurred. They state
that their attention was attracted to the
train by the high rate of speed.
Two small children, the sons of Rufus
Jones, were playing underneath the
trestle at the time OF the wreck. The
heavy train plunged to its destruction
within few feet of them. They were
both thrown down AID somewhat bruised,
but not seriously injured. The trestle
on which the wreck occurred was last
night condemned by the officials of the
road, and people we've not allOwed to come
within 10 feet of it. Itwas in good con-
dition when the wreck occurred, but the
strain has made it dangerous. 1t is pre-
dicted that the entire structure will col
lapse before morning.
The railway officials at Danville are
unable to account for the accident, exs
cept that the train may have been run
ming too fast when it struck the curve.
This curve, which embraces the treste
at which point the wreck occurred, is in
the form of the letter "S'' and has al
ways been considered dangerous local
ity. The injured men were conveyed to
to the Home for the Sick in Danyille,
where they have received every atten-
ton. 1t is believed that all of the
wounded mail clerks will live, with the
possible exception of Spies, whose con-
dition is critical. 1t is considered re-
markable that any escaped with their
lives, as the shock Of the fall was terri
bic, even if the wreckage had not been
piled about and on them. This is the
most disastrous wreck that has occurred
near Danyile in many years. Hundreds
Of people lOcked to the scene yesterday
afternoon and last night. A wrecking
crew is busy clearing away the debris
preparatory to putting the trestle in
passable condition again today if posi-
bic Among the crowd at the scene
yesterday afternoon were many women,
who tainted when the workers began to
take the dead from beneath the wreck
age. Others turned away from the horri-
bic spectacle completely unnerved. Sew
eral mail clerks who were on the rear
car we're among the least injured.
The fall Of this coach was not so far,
and it is the only one that presents any
thing like its original sembance Two
men jumped as the train plunged. They
rolled down the embankment and were
found unconscious among the broken
timbers. The hole which the rear coach
Of the wrecked train made in the trestle
has indefinitely delayed traffic over the
road. Trains which came in late in the
afternoon were sent back The rails of |
the track north of the bridge are bent
aud twisted. The crossties have been
torn up for a considerable distance, the
engine and all of the cars having passed |
over them after the engine lett the track.
The Southern is arranging to run its
southbound trains over the Norfolk and
Western from Lynchburg via Burkyille
to Danyille, new trains being made up
at that place.
STATE COMMITTEE. Chairman J.