The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-07-14

CLARA NORRIS. ten year old
dlatsBt1ters contuston o n tore
and fescesscrSNtca led
LEONARD nor RIS. aged two
hfs,-stfsht bruise on arm.
The most shocking tragedy that
has ever happened in this vicinity
occurred last night on the Monon-
gah division of the Baltomore &
Ohio, Just ont of the corporate Inns
of this city. Elijah Norris, the
father, and Dora Olive Norris, his
fouryear-old daughter, lie dead at
The Clifford Osborn morgue, and the
1nother and five children are In st.
MarYss hospital, the mother and
two children, George and Clifford,
probably fatally injured.
The entire family composed of
the father and mother and five
cEliidrens the Oldest not yet ten
years of age, were walking from
Adamston to this city on the rail-
road tracks and were caught like
rats IN trap on the bridge that
crosses both the main line and the
Short Lime division
Norris had his household goods
packed and ready for shipment to
Fairchance, Pa, where he had been
working for several weeks and q.
his family was paying farewell
visit to his sister, Mrs. Alfred Nay,
who resides in Adamston.
The Norris family had engaged
rooms at the Capitol hotel for the
night and left the Nay home short
AZ before 10 o'clock to get to bed.
Fhey decided to walk to town and
were following the railroad tracks.
The original intention was to pass
through the Short Line tunnel
which runs parallel to the branch
tracks, but as this way very muddy
Mr. Norris changed his plans. a
freight train was occupying the
branch track so he had no other
choice than to climb the bank and
90 BY way of the NJ. r. track and
bridge. When nearing the structure
they met some pedestrians who in
formed them that there was not a
particle of danger in that route as a
train had Just passed over and That
it would be the last for some time.
The family started across but be-
came frightened and turned back.
This performance was repeated three
times and then the fatal attempt
was made. When half way across
the bridge an engine suddenly loom
ed out of the darkness and before
they had had time to reach the end
of the bridge or retrace their steps
the iron monster was upon them.
The father and mother screamed at
the top of their voices but without
avail, as no one heard their cries.
All were run over with the excep-
ton Of Clara, the oldest, aged ten.
who was either knocked from the
bridge or jumped and she escaped
with slight bruises.
After passing over the remaining
members of the family they were
discovered ard the engine was
stopped. The bodies and the liv-
ing ones we're removed from the
structure and ambulances and I'M
dertakers summoned.
The only member of the entire
family of seven who escaped harm
was Clarence, the baby, aged ten
months who laid perfectly still on
s the tics IN the mi,tlle OF the track
and while the engine passed oves
him he received not scratch.
The train which struck them was
in charge of Conductor Miller and
Engineer Robinson and was bring
ing in a train of coal from the
GYPSY region. Having u very heavy
train Engineer Robinson was afraid
that he would run out of water and
for that reason cut his train off sew
eral hundred feet below the bridge
and went to the Junction to replen-
ish his water supply This had been
done and the engine was on its way
back to the train when the fatalities
occurred. 1t is said that the fire.
man had the ssbIovvarv on Mt the