The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1905-08-24
HORRIBLE DISASTER,
BAD WRECK NEAR NORFOLK.
Train Plunged into River and Many
Killed and Drowned.

One of the most horrible railroad
wrecks ever known in this section OF
the country occurred near Bruce sta
ton on the Norfolk and Carolina rail
road as an excursion train from Kins-
ton was crossing the Western Branch
OF Elizabeth river seven miles from
Norfolk Thursday, August 18th.
1t was an exturson made up entirely
OF colored people and At this writing
there Is no accurate account of the
awful wreck. The Norfolk Landmark
OF Friday, August Is. gave the best
report it could an1, following is a pal
tial reproduction OF the story:
The excursion train, which consist
ed of FIVE coaches and one baggage car
from Kinston, N. g., plunged into the
open draw. The train was in charge
of Conductor Morris and Engineer D.
F. Reig, OF Richmond.
The engine plunged into the open
draw, carrying 1t away aud struck the
trestle on the other side, sinking to the
bottom Of the river.
| The first coach followed and sank,
being nearly submerged, and the great
or number of the dead were in this car.
The second coach fell on top of the
first and was partly smashed. The
third coach yet hangs from the trestle.
The other two coaches and the bag
gage car remained on the track.
| Ernest Walston, colored, of Green
vile, N. G one of t1e survivors, was
in the car overheard. He says he felt
a shock and an instant later the car
began filling with water. A mad
scramble followed Men and women
fought to getto the doors ard windows,
smashing doors and ventl!ators in their
efforts to escape. Those on shore i'm
mediately went to the rescue, and by
cutting hole through the top of the
submerged car were able to rescue
many, and others escaped through the
windows and were picked up.
Engineer Reig, whose home is iii
Richmond, did not see the danger
until too late. He applied the emer-
gency brakes and jumped, landing in
the river on raft, and badly iDjuring
himself about the face and eyes and
back. The fireman, Alfred Cooper,
heard the brakes applied and looked
out of the cab, saw the danger and
jumped, escaping injury.
The crash when the train went into
the river and the screams of the terri
| fed passengers were heard for nearly
halt mile, an crowds Immediately
thronged the waters edge and boats
| were at once pressed in.O service in the
work OF rescue The tug Glendale, for
! which the draw was opened, was about
to 60 through, but the engineer saw
the rapid train approach hing and backed
his engine, averting further disaster,
and did splendid work in resculng
those thrown in the water
There were about 169 passengers
aboard, and with the exception Of the
white men in charge, all were cOlOred.
The only two white persons known
to be killed were Edward Jolly, OF
Greenville, n. c., manager of the ex-
cursion, and his young brother-ln-law.
The scene of the wreck presented an
awful sight. Those arriving first saw
| the dead body of colored man with
his head only projecting from the water
crushed to death under the demolished
| ears, and the mansled body of col
ored woman caught in the wreckage
was Visible near the water.
Superintendent E. r. Wooten OF the
Coast Line, Immediately sent out a call
for all the doctors in Norfolk, Por.s-
mouth and Norf ,lk county and nurses
that could he secured, and sent an
emergency train with them on board
L
to the scene.
The baggage car was turned into
temporary hospital, while the busy
doctors worked to relieve the Injured
FLAGGED DOOMED TRAIN IN VAIN.
Collins Ferguson, the bridge tender
| on duty, vigorously tagged the doomed
train, and he, with Allen Banks, was
thrown into the river when the engine
struck the bridge in the center Of the
open draw. Banks was rescued, but the
body of Ferguson has not yet teen re-
covered.
Conductor Morris III charge OF the train,
escaped injury, and with his pres
ence of mind, with the valiant work on
the part OF the unlnjured passengers,
did much In resculng others from the
submerged car.
THOUSANDS RUSHED TO SCENE.
| As soon as details of the accident
spread, thousands Of people rushed to
the scene, and every available boat in
the branch in that vicinity was put into
! .arvico in farrvinp the Injured to the