The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-20
BY EDWARD E. BRITTON.

Goldsboro. N. c., Aug. 19.-With
blood dripping from its top, and little
patches of brains with the CORY drops,
the coach with the Durham company
on board came into Goldsboro this
afternoon about half-past one as part
of the military special train returning
from Camp Lee. near Morehead City.
Two dead soldiers lay in their gore
or top another was trying to Chamber
down. a third, badly injured, was
writhing in agony. Blood and brains
covered the space where fearful ac-
cident had rudely ended two lives, en-
dangered two others.
on top of the coach four soldiers,
had been sitting talking to each other
and drinking. These young men, Ser
geant S. F. Gates, Corporal Will z. Nc
Dade Privates j. II. Johnson, known as
Bunch" Johnson and Private }.
Burney Warren, were making merry
rs the train, having left LaGrange be-
hind, was hurrying towards Colds
boro. At the covered bridge at Stoney
Creek, two miles east of here, death
struck quick and sharp, rudeiy putting
it's hand upon Johnson and warren,
while McDade and Gates survive, the
first slightly injured, the second ter
ribly to tell the horrible story.
The dead bodies of Johnson and
Warren were taken from the top of
the train, cared for by the Guard
Hospital Corps, and sent to Durham.
Gates is in the hospital here, it is
feared, dangerously injured, while
McDade, his head bandaged. has gone
to Durham, his injuries giving him lit
tie concern as he smoked a cigar on
the train.
Here is how the terrible accident
occurred. brought about by dlsobed-
ience to orders and drinking whiskey
The men were on the second section
of the military train which left Camr
Lee. near Morehead City. about niae
O'Clock this morning, on the train be-
ing the companies OF Greensboro
Reidsville, Burlington, Raleigh and
Durham, the rear coach DelnS the
char car Vance" in which were Ad-
infant General RoySter and Staif, and
number of ladies and gentlemen. A,
IaCirange some of the Durham com
nland had left the train and had Sc
cured some whisl1ey. In place of re-
turning to their coach the four men
climbed to the top of 1T, standing on
the platform, brakes, and swinging UP
between the projecting edges of the
tops of two coaches. They went for
to the engine, and were drinking
laughing, talking, singing. Inside the
coach their tramping feet had told
they were on top, and it is said that
the conductor declined to stop the
train TO have them come down, say
ing that he would stop at the next sta
ton GoldSbOro.
The bridge at Stoney Creek is a COW
cred bridge, ard the bottom is close to
the ton of the coaches. The warning
knotted ropes failed to arouse the men
to their danger as they sat on top
and as the train dashed beneath the
cover of the bridge, the heads of the
ill-fated men struck the heavy tim
bcrs. The train was going at perhaps
forty to forty-five miles an hour and
was in charge of Conductor Davis and
- Engineer Russell. The men were
seated in couples, Warren and Nc
Dade Johnson and Gates, and the
first two of each couple were stricken
their falling bodies acting as bufferS
TO save the other men, against Whon
they fell. Not one was knocked from
the top of the coach.
All the wounds are about the heads
Warren's skull was terribly crushed
and Johnson's also, the later evident
ly dying at once. while there was
spark of life in Warren when he was
found The blood gushed out and the
bralpS or the men was scattered. Inc
dripping blood over the side and front
OF the coach was Whirled against the
coats of soldiers inside through the
windows and of soldiers on the plat
form. An investigation followed and
the terrible accident was discovered
AS the train came into GoldSboro
some women near the track saw the
horrible sight of bleeding and man
gled forms, and drawing away, assist
ed IN giving the alarm. Men climbed
up and found Warren's body lying
lengthwise near the front. while John
sons was nearly lengthwise; a little
beyond and yet further lay the tremb-
lin~ form of Gates. while McDade was
endeayoring to climb down between
the cars.
As the train pulled into the yards
at Goldsboro the fearful news was
heard of the disaster in Company "A. "
Captain E.sF White at once Went