Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-07

dragged from me wreck. The police.
attracted by the noise. called ambu-
lances ard surgeons and warned the |
hospitals 70 prepare TO receive the In |
lured The railway yard quickly filled |
with police. doctors, nurses. trainmen
and volunteers.
Work Of Rescue Difficult
The darkness and incredible de
struction made the work OF rescue ex-
/ ceedfuely difncult. Lamps and torches
were brought 10 light the desolate
/ scene. The station was converted into
a surgery and the platform was made
mortuary. Several of the dead and
| injured were imprisoned in compart
ments and Il was necessary to saw
away the partitions in order to effect
| their release. Others we're caught un-
: der heavy wreckage. Several OF the
bodies were badly mangled and one
/ woman was decapitated.
| The horror of the scene which pre-
( scented itself was intensified by fears
OF the added calamity of fire. Flames
| shot up from the furnace OF the over.
1 turned engine and set fire 10 debris
! in the vicinity and a considerable es-
| cape of gas from the reservoirs under
| Meath the train. Officials. however,
with the greatest promptitude brought
hose into play. checked the flames at
the outset and turned of the gas.
Rescue parties set at work imme-
diately. but 10 little purpose. and the
injured were forced to remain buried
| in the debris a long time. AS the bodies
Of the dead were extricated they were
laid in rows on the station platform
awaiting identification.
All the physicians in Salisbury were
summoned and devoted themselves tC
attendance upon the wounded.
II was necessary TO saw away parts
OF the compartments OF the railway
coaches in order to release the surviv-
ors and &c secure the bodies OF the
dead.
In one compartment al OF the pas
sengers except two were killed and The
rescue Of tho survivors was exceeding
b ly difficult
The injured were later removed q
the Salisbury hospital. where the entir
stafi. assisted by local volunteer sur
| geons. attended them.
Was the Train Racinu7
The cause OF the accident is still Fl
doubt It is supposed that the wheel
OF the engine failed to take tho switc
or that a wheel or axle broke. IT. is OK
+ pected that the inquest will be opene
today and a board of trade inquiry late
will fully investigate.
The train was regarded as havin
been light fer high speed. but II is nc
torious that trains always sway an
I, shake going az any speed over thi
curve Much criticism is likely 90 3
evoked by the fact that latterly Their
has been sharp competition between On
% London Southwestern and the GreS
Western lines. which are rivals for th
= traffic between LONDON and Plymouth.
one OF the NOSE interesting case
at the infrmary is chat OF Robert
Critcheu. of Chicago. He Is constant
p watched over by his cousin. J.
- CritcheU. of London. who. odd
enough. started Ia his bGsincss care'
within few yards OF the spot whei
= Mr.. Critchou now lies az deaths dco
u As Ehc Associated Press ccrrespo
- dent was talking with j. T. Criticize
~ az midnight there came CLEAN
hope when the doctor announced thi
b the injured mau was slightly bett
and on the road 20 Improvement. "
Critchell has been practically uucO
scious since the accident. with occ
sional evidence OF semi-consciousne
in which he expresses a chivalrous d
al sire TO help sumo one whom be thin
- In danger This very chivalry adds
4, the sympathetic interest in the ca
i, by the doctors. who have not yet aba
- doned hope of his recovery.