The Washington times., 1906-12-08

fast. and overlook the freight inside
the block
Plan Sweeping Investigation.
4 sweeping Investigation will be
made on the DanVllIe division, of
which Z. II. COapman is superin-
tendent; because this is the second
frightful wreck and fire on this
branch within nine days. 1t Is said
the operator on the block south of
this city is at his home, but has
made no statement which the Of
ficlalS would make public.
Blame Tor the wreck is placed on
flagman 4. j. Null, who died al the
general hospital here "A few moments
after arriving. The freight Jrain stopped
IN the block because OF q breakdown OF
Ihe engine and Null. the nagman on the
freight, was sent back 10 bring No. 81
10 sJandStlL. lie was ordered 10 run
as fast as he could because the passen-
Eer was due on the block In d few mo-
ments- Had he Obeyed instructions il Is
believed the passenger train would have
been Tagged IA time 20 avert the
catastrophe.
r. b. smith. the block operator at
Jaffa, who let the Two trans m on the
block says lac ala SO knowingly because
lie had instructions from this end OF the
block 10 give the clear track signal 10
Engineer Kinney.
Physicians al The hospital say they
believe Brakeman H. NJ Patterson and
Postal Clerk .. O. Halter viii recover.
tlagman Null breatued his last before
he could be gotten on the operating
table. Fireman George Ford, cUlured.
who was hurled frCm the cabin OF the
deraiIed engine, Is believed 10 be dying.
shortly after noon The hTemen gain
ed the mastery over the flames. and tie
work OF searching the CbdTreG timber
and warped metal lOr bodies was begun.
Three have been found, but the Identity
OF the persons has not yet been estab-
lished. It Is thought that two OF the
men were tramps who were sleeping on
a freight car at the time the train
caught fire and We're roasted alive.
Seven or eight of the freight ears
were entirely destroyed with their con
tents, and the big engine is "a complete
wreck, being demolished by the fearful
impact with the freight train and It's
iron girdeTs twisted by the heat which
followed from the OnfiagTa ton. As
soon as possible The work of rescuing
The dead ana dying was taken up.
Kenny's Hand on Lever.
The first body found was that OF En-
sineer Kenny, who lay in his engine
cab with hand on reversing lever in
death making his last effort 20 care for
the passengers placed in his charge.
He was protected from the fire by the
sides of the cab and was practically
Tree from any burns. although be had
been badly scalded. and death probably
SnSued from the wounds thus sustained
Within a few feet Of where he lay
was also found the charred and mutt
lated body OF an unknown man. It's
head was burned from his body and
q EraT To- a
trunk was taken with kenuy's body 10
"A local undertaking tablishment and
VIII probably never be Identified. It -
thought that he was one OF the train
crew and was in the CabOUse with sey-
eral others.
BIakemen Probably Penshed.
The brakemen on the freight train
have not been seen or heard from. and
there is a possibility OF their having
been roasted under the burning cars. A
wrecking crow left Danvine as soon as
news of the collision reached here and
a large force Of men is at work clear
ing the track and looking FOR bodies.
Scenes attending the wreck We're pa
thetiC ana eXcruciatlug. Men. women, !
and children were all but pardlyZed !
with fear when they were thrown from
their seats and berJhs and awakened TO /
hear the roar of escaping steam from /
the bursted boiler and saw volumes of |
flames leapinE high in the air. Passen- /
gers leaped through the windoNs in |
their night clothes. Others struggled I
frautieally 10 get ont the doors. where /
men j0- tied and showed women in night
gowns with children In their arms
Outside the coaches the passengers
were further teTTOTiZed by the flames
and the roar Of steam. Those who wore +.
thick clothing shivered and shook, and (
THEN teeth chattered in the cold raw
morning air. A gale was sweeping along
the tracks. This made the misery OF
the passengers complete and also .
served 70 fan the flames
Many were taken to nearby farm
houses There they were treated cor /
bruises and cuts received when they
were hurled TO the floor. Women vyt re
prOstrated with nervousness after be-
ing carried from the scene of the wreck .
and several physicians from this city,
who welt down with the Wreckng
crew. attended them.