The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-30

bodies OF Mr.. Spencer n his frlenos 70
Washington was made up in Lynchburg
this afternoon and started north in charge
of General Superintendent Coapmsn OF
the northern division, and Judge Horsley,
assistant district counsel at Lynchburg.
At Monroe, Va, it was met by another
speciaI train which started out from Wash
ington this morning, having on board W.
W. Finley, second vice-president OF the
road, and Alfred p. Thorn, general counsel,
OF Washington. Their car was attached
to the n%orthhound special and the remains
Of the unfortunate victims of the wreck
were brought to Washington in charge Of
Mr.. Finley,
II. b. Spencer. elder son Of the presi-
dent of the road. was on "A train coming
into L~ynchburg from North Carolina at the
time q" the accident ard reached the scene
of the catastrophe about two hours after
it happened.
He gave directions for the preparation
of the bodies of his father and the other
for removal to Washington and then came
on here. arriving shortly after o O'Clock,
to meet his mother, brother and sister, who
reached Washington at $50 O'Clock this
evening from Tuxedo Park.
The body of Mr.. Spencer was taken to
an undertaking establishment in this city
and tomorrow will be removed to his late
residence on Massachusetts avenue, where
the funeral will be held. Complete ar
rangements have not been made, but the
ceremonies probably will take place on
Saturday.
The body of Mr.. Schuyler was shipped
to New York on the 1890 O'Clock train
tonight and ia due to arrive there at 7
o'clock tomorrow morning in charge OF
Mr.. Craig of the general Offices Of the
Southern, who was assigned by Second
Vice-President Finley to accompany it
horne.
The remains Of Mr.. Fisher and Mr.. Red
wood were met AT the Pennsylvania depot
here tonight by friends and were taken 10
Baltimore. The unidentified body Of the
porter will be taken charge of by the rail-
road officials and held until claimed by
friends. 1t is believed that the man lived
In Washington and has relatives here.
Mr.. Thorn, general counsel of the railroad
in Washington, who was aboard the special
which brought the bodies here, gave to TIE
SUN this statement concerning the acct
dent, based upon the hurried investigation
which he made to-day:
MT. SptuCtT WIS IthllB a party VI IL IL
to spend Thanksgiving Day hunting at his
country place, Friendship, near Green's
boro, n. C..
AT Lynchburg one Of the couplings
was found to be in an unsatisfactory condi-
ton and the train was delayed about an
hour while the defect was being repaired.
This brought its departure from Lynchburg
UP to very near the time when train No. 81,
which ran into her. was due at that place.
-Mr. Spencer's train had proceeded below
L%ynchburg about eight or ten miles, the
defective coupling broke and the train
parted. As soon as the accident was dis
covered the engineer stopped and sent out
a hagman toward rain No. 81.
According to our reports, which have
necessarily been meagre and Incomplete,
No. 81 got a clear block from the operator
and proceeded into the block in which
No. 80 was disabled. No. 81 was proceeding
at full speed. The fagman going back
met the train, but as it was on a down grade
it was too late for the engineer to stop,
and the locomotive crashed into Mr..
Spencer's car with its velocity little re-
duced.
why the signal was given to No. 81 that
the block was clear we have thus far been
unable TO ascertain, but that is a matter
which will at once be investigated. We
have not had an opportunity TO do il yet.
18th engine Of the colliding train went
almost entirely through Mr.. Spencer's car.
the pilot stopping at about the kitchen.
which was on the front part Of the car.
Mr.. Spencer's car took fire and was entirely
consumed. It is supposed that all the
occupan were asleep at the time and had
no opportunity to escape; it was only by
what seems a miracle that Mr.. Merrill
wa not killed with the rest. He was
occupying a section toward the front Of the
car just opposite the section occupied by
Mr.. Davis, whose body was pinned be-
meath the w~reckage and who died about
fifteen minutes after the accident occurred.
-Mr. Merrill was slightly burned about
the hands and feet and sustained a slight
injury to his back. He and two Of the
colored servants we're the only occupants
Of the car who escaped with their lives.
william Pollard, one Of these servants,
is probably fatally injured, and the other
IL said TO be in a serious condition. II is
our purpose to make the fullest possible
investigation of the cause Of the disaster,
which is most lamentable."
Il was an unusual and affecting scene
in the railway station tonight when the
special train came in from Lynchburg
bringing the bodies of the dead. Thirty
minutes before the arrival OF the train
a gay wedding party Of perhaps fifty, with
the usual compliments OF old shoes and
rice, filed the station with merriment.
Even then First Vioe-President A. B;
Andrews of the Southern Railway, and
other officers OF the road, were waiting in the
station for the train. Mr.. Andrews showed
plainly that he had been unable to restrain
the feelings of grief which he felt.
The gayety OF the wedding party was In
strange contrast to the scene which followed
a few minutes after the departure OF the
bride and bridegroom. The gates were
opened to permit Mr.. Andrews and the oeheI
officers of the road to GO upon the platform.
A great many people had been drawn TO the
station through curiosity
The very atmosphere seemed funerea!
after the stationmaster passed along and
announced that the special bearing the
bodies was then entering the yard, A
great hush fell upon all those asse mbled
Al the engine came putting slowly into the
station there was a rush for the train. Rep
resentatives Of the bereaved families were
present to arrange for the disposition Of the
remains.
U~ndertakers were in waiting. As o o
as the train had been brought TO a stand
atilI ViCa-pregidanf Andrews boarded a