Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-09-26
FREIGHT WRECK ON
THE B. { 0. R. R.
Rear End Collision Of Freights
Near kearneysyiIle.
TWO MARTlNSBURG MEN
BADLY INJURED IN WRECK

ed Freight Cars Smashed Up and
Tracks Blocked Several Hours
Tramps Make Narrow Escape.
From The World of Friday:
A rear-end collision between two
eastbound freight trains on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad occurred this
morning al 4:3O o'clock, seven miles
east of Martinsburg, in which Con-
ductor sebastin F. Smith and Brake
man Cleggett Keplinger, this city,
were badly injured and five loaded
freight cars were mashed up, blocking
the track for a couple hours.
The circumstances of the wreck, as
nearly as could be learned, are as fol-
lows: Eastbound freight train drawn
by engine 2642, Engineer c. e. Riley,
of Brunswick, and helped by engine
1917, Engineer L.. l.. Drifting, ran into
the rear of a freight train drawn by
engine 264S and helped by engine
1918 ON a curve in Buffers fiat. n
mile west Of -Kearneysville. Conduc-
tor Smith was standing on the bump
er OF his caEoose when the crash
came, but was caught in the jam be-
fore he had time to jump. Brakeman
Keplinger was in the caboose and
was pinner fast in the floor by the
impact and had to be pried loose. The
injured men were brought here at
$50 "a. m. on a westbound freight
and taken to the Kings Daughters
hospital.
Engineer Riley and the firemen
and brakeman of engine 2642 remain
ed on the engine and were not hurt.
Fireman johnson, of the helper en-
CINE, jumped over a wire fence and
saved his life.
AS stated, five freight cars were
smashed up and derailed. blocking
the e~astbound freight track for three
hours ami the eastbound passenger
track / ~ hours till the wrecking
crew from Brunswick came up and
cleared the track. Engine 2642 had
two drivers derailed and was slightly
battered. Helper engine 1918. Emory
Duvall, engineer, had the front end of
it's tank smashed in and the caboose
of the front train was pretty baby
wrecked by the impact The track
was damaged for a short distance.
The cars We're wooden and We're
loaded with coal, pulp wood and
sand brick.
Two tramps were in the brick car
but miraculously escaped injury.
The cause of the accident is said to
be due partly to the fog prevailing in
the early morning and partly to the
fact that the rear train was running
faster than the one in front.
On account of the wreck, accommo-
dation train No. 10, due here at $40
a. M, was SO minutes late.
Later Drs. Myers and Henshaw
were called to the Kings Daughters
hospital to see the injured men. Ex-
animation showed that both men
were hurt about the feet and lower
limbs only, proving that they were
standing up when tie crash came.
Brakeman Keplinger, who resides
on Liberty street, had both bones OF
his right leg badly fractured above
the ankle and the top Of the right
foct crushed below the instep. The
physicians have strong hopes of saw
ing the foot and leg.
Tue case of Conductor Smith, who
resides on West King street, is more
serious than that of his companion.
.tHis left heel was bursted, though it
can be saved. but his right foot was
so crushed that it had to be amputat-
ell above the ankle. The operation
was performed by the railroad com
pany's resident surgeons, Drs. Myers
and Henshaw, assisted by Drs. West
and Hedges. the company's surgeons
lat Brunswick, who came here on the
wrecking train about $3.50 o'clock this
morning. Owing 0 the interruption
.,of the telegraph service they were
called from Brunswick to the scene
of the wreck and came here.
Word received this afternoon was
to the effect that the injured men
we're resting comfortably.