Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-07-02
? ERRIBLERA1LRoAD ACCIDENT

don Southwestern Railway the American
line express, carrying 4S Of the steamer
New York's passengers from Plymouth
to London, plunged from the track just
after passing the station at Salisbury, at
1:57 O'Clock yesterday morning and
mangled to deah in its wreckage % pas
sengers who sailed from New York June
20 and four OF the trainmen. Besides
those to whom death came speedily
dozen persons we're injured some of them
seyerly
The late hour of the New York's ar
rival at Plymouth saved many lives
The steamer carried more than %
travellers for London, but many of them
elected 10 travel on comfortably toSonlh-
ampton 10 preference to the late landing
at Plymouth and the long night ride
across the country. IF the New York
had made faster passage the somber
roster Of the dead and injured would
have been longer. The big American
line steamer reached Plymouth at 9:35
p. m. Saturday, and half an hour later
there was tender alongside to receive
passengers for England. Several who
had planned to debark and packed their
baggage decided at the last moment to
remain aboard.
The train consisted Of powerful ex-
press engine, three first class corridor
coaches and one combination guards
van and buffet. The passengers were
coon entrsined, and at 1880 the ex-
press pulled out II WAS given a
clear track on theru of 230 miles to
London, on which the express general
IL maintainsan average speed of mile
minute. @s-'
Driver Robins quickly gave the engine
her head, and he special was soon speed
ing swiftly through the night. 1t ran on
safely and without incident until it en-
tered the long railway yard at Salisbury,
when the passengers noted that the
co aches began swaying from side to side.
Suddenly at the end Of the long plat
form. where the track begins to curve to-
ward the bridge spanning flsherton street
the main avenue of the city, the engine
seemed Iairly tC leap from the track. 1t
swung across the adjoining track with
terrific force and destroyed the guards
van of milk train that was slowly
,ieaming in the opposite direction, kilt
ing guard. Lurching forward the To-
60 motive plunged against the standards
and girders Of the bridge. The bridge
withstood the impact and, rebounding,
the engine crossed into another en-
cine which, was standing on 4 sid
ing and overturned. The wreckage OF
the two engines interlocked in great
broken mass of twisted steel and iron.
throughout the wild plunging Of the
engine Driver Robins, whether alive or
lad. remained in his cab. Hours after-
ard his charred body was found grilled
over the firebox.
The first coach shot over the engine
and careened onward until it was hurled
against the parapet of the bridge and
smashed into fragments, killing or MAIN
ing almost every occupant. One man
was shot through the window, cleared
the parapet and fell to his death to the
street.
The second coach lurched forward and
rolled toward stationary train and prac
tically destroyed itself before its wild
fight WIS ended.
The third coach. dashed forward. with
the rest, left the rails and encountered
some obstruction, overturned and col
lapsed
The guards van and buffet, the rear
most car OF the train, was saved by the
courage and quickness of Guard Richard
son. With the first shock Richardson
Jumped forward and sci the brakes and
saved himself and his comrades The
van plowed forward, injuring some Of
its occupants, but practically maintained
its equilibrium.
The surviving passengers and train
men describe the sound of the wreck as
like the discharge of series OF heavy
guns of varied caiber, and when the
crashing of the wreck was past there
came calls of the injured, some shrieking
with pain and fear and others moaning
as if bewildered by the shock.
Relief came quickly, although it was
an hour before the last body was dragged
from the wreck. The police, attracted
by the noise, called ambulauces and sur
geons and warned the hospitals to pre-
pare to receive the injured. The railway
yard quickly filled with police, doctors,
nurses, tranmen and volunteers.
The darkness and incredible .destruc
ton made the work Of rescue exceeding
~ difficult. Lamps and torches were
brought to light the desolate scene. The
station was converted into surgery and
the platform was made a moriuary.
Several OF the dead aud injured were i'm
pfisonment 10 compartments and it was
necessary to saw away the partitions il
order to relieve them. Others we're caught
under heavy wreckage Several of the
bodies we're badly mangled and one wo.
man was decapitated,
Mayor Mcclellan, of New York, was
among the New York's passengers. He
at first intended to take the Inflated train
but later changed hismind and remained
on the steamer.
~ To,uroDoa No,,o m iooionar