The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-11-28
lg6NN AWAKENED FROM ITS SAUNDERS
WHEN BOILERS OF IkGIkIS EXPLODE

might have been natural on a dark
night. especially as the locomotive
hauling the freight had a big head
light
1t would seem. at any rate. that
Engineer Beckham. rather than En-
gineer FaiSon. was the man that erred
since the collision occurred about hall
a mile to the north OF Granite Station.
wreck was not due to the mistake OF
an operator.
Loss at Least 100000.
At this writing II is difficult TO esti-
mate the monetary expense entailed
by the collision. The actual physical
loss ought easily to reach $4,000,
since the two locomotives were re-
ouceo 10 junk, at least one combina-
ton passenger and express car was de-
molished, others were badly shattered
and an immense lot of freight was de-
stroyed.
And IL the railroad is able to COM
promise all the lawsuits to follow at
another $4,000, it will be more than
but as has been said, neither the
loss of life nor the destruction OF
property was anything like so great as
might have been expected from all the
attending circumstances
Considering the force with which the
two engines rushed into each other
the northbound was going at terrible
speed-it seems wonderful that all the
coaches were not derailed and hurled
down the embankment.
Yet some OF the passengers on the
Pullmans were barely awakened and
had no idea how narrow had been
their escapes.
BY O'clock yesterday afternoon
the wreckage had been pretty well
1 - Inan rod
not removed from the scene of the
disaster. The northbound train, due
/ here about 6 O'Clock, passed slowly
over the rails, which a few hours be-
fore had been the scene of such con-
fusion, about 4:30 2. M. and reached
Richmond about 1880 p. M.
Those Injured in the Wreck.
Those injured in the wreck were:
William b. Tilghman, OF zoos Park
Avenue, Richmond, conductor on the
northbound train; now in the Virginia
Hospital; his injuries consist of bruises
and wounds about the head.
Herbert Coates, of 1907 East Mar
shall Street. Richmond. express mes
senger on the northbound train; now
/ ia the Virginia Hospital. He sus-
tanned a fracture OF his right arm and
other minor injuries.
Joseph Il. Bryant. of ia South Bel
Nicere Street, Richmond, baggage
master on the northbound train; he
/ Is being trateo in a hospital in Raj
eigh N. c. for burns and bruises.
G. g. Shannonhouse. of 200 East
Franklin Street, Richmond. conduc-
tor on the southbound train; he Is
slightly bruised up and is being
treated at his home.
A. L. Mears. of 35OS East Clay
Street. Richmond. baggagemaster on
the southbound train; he was taken
TO Raleigh for treatment.
Saw Two Perish
Herbert Coates, the injured express
messenger on the northbound train
who is now in the Virginia Hospital.
says that the cars were moving fifty
conversation with Q. b. Priddy, an
other express messenger, and
stranger named King when the acct
dent occurred. The two latter were
killed, and Coates was knocked sense
less for a moment, but recovered and
crawled out of the debris
Conductor William y. Tilghman. OF
the northbound train, was also dazed
by the collision, but quickly recov-
cred himself and CROPPED his way 70
the end of the train. After remov-
ing the body of Jim Ruffin, the dead
fireman, from the debris, he procured
lantern and made his way to the
curve to the southwark. There he
served as fiagman to keep back other
trains that might run into the debris
From this post he got quick relief
by a surgeon.
Another accident. growing out OF
the wreck, occurred at Raleigh last
night. Alex Geans, a carpenter.
prompted by morbid curiosity. went
to the undertakers shop, where the
remains of the dead who had per-
ished in the collision reposed There
he fell through an elevator shaft and
fractured his skull. His condition Is
now precarious. Nothing was known
OF this accident until some time after
Ii occurred.
The scene OF the wreck was visited
yesterday by hundreds OF people.
Scores came from North Carolina and
nearby Virginia points In automo-
biles.