The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-23
FIFTY PEOPLE DROWNED
An Excursion Train PIunges Through
Veass Open Draw.
A HUNDRED OTHERS WERE INJURED.
All OF the Victims, Except Two, Are colored--
Appalling Accident at Bruce station, Seven
Miles From Portsmouth, Va, on the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad Edward Jolliff, Mana
ger OF the Excursion. Among Killed.

Norfolk, Va. (SpcciaD. - Owing tc
The inability OF Engineer d. l.. Reig to
control his airbrakes, an excursion train
from kinston, N. c., bound TO this city,
plunged through an open draw over the
Western Branch OF the Elizabeth River,
eight miles from Norfolk, and half
hundred persons, mostly negroes, were
drowned.
The list Of injured, so far as can be
ascertained, numbers nearly 100, though
most OF these are slightly hurt
Among the victims the only white ones
were Edward Joliffe. manager Of the ex-
cursion, and Edward Forbes, who as.
sisted him, both Of Greenville, n. c.
The Merritt Wrecking Organization
dispatched an expedition TO the scene
for the purpose of raising the sunken
cars, which lie in about rs feet of wa
ter Until the cars are raised an ac-
curate estimate OF the number of dead
is impracticable.
The forward coach crushed on the
plling OF the draw and was splintered to
kindllng. Those OF the helpless pas
sengers in this coach who were not
killed before reaching the water were
drowned. Those in the rear escaped,
bruised and cut by glass and splin,ers.
The car next behind this one was broken
in two on the trestle. Three other cars
kept 10 the track. Their occupants cs-
capped.
The train was made UP at Kinston, N.
C., and had picked UP passengers off for
a holiday at every crossing. 1t was
due at Norfolk at 1 o'clock, and was
running fast to make up for lost time.
There was no warning until the fatal
crash.
In the door of one of the cars was
the corpse of negro man struck down
by timber.
There was not sign OF the grea, To-
comotive lying submerged in mud and
water in the middle of the channel.
Many boats were ferrying the injured
to the eastern side OF the river, where
the relief train, with every doctor in
Portsmouth who could be reached, was
waiting. The baggage car was turned
into :, temporary hospital, while the busy
doctors worked to relieve the injured
Ernest Wolston, of Greenville, one Of
the survivors, was in the car that went
overheard. He says he felt a shock,
and the next moment the water was up
to his feet. A mad scramble follow
ed. Men and women, shrieking and
fighting to get to the doors. blocked the
aisles and clambered over the seats,
smashing windows and ventilators III
their efforts to escape. Wolston and
his brother were imprisoned when the
car was smashed, and crowded through
window, through which they rescued
many women and little children.
Too much praise cannot be accorded
the colored boatmen who went to the
rescue of the drowning passengers and
saved many lives The superintendent
of the Coast Line rushed aid to the
scene OF the wreck and took personal
charge of the situation.
Superintendent Wooten states that the
engineer told him that he didn't see the
open draw until he was upon it. His
fireman leaped before it was reached,
and the engineer himself reversed his
engine and applied the emergency
brake and sprang into the water strik-
ing his head on the craft passing through
the draw. Fifteen physicians were rush.
ed to the scene on special. which also
carried 40 men of the clerical force at
Primers Point, who acted as nurses.