The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-15
Passenger Gives Account.

- OtluB
= Passenger Gives Account.
2 Miraculous was the escape Of tn
occupants of eight cars on the Nor
> Iolk and Western passenger train, No
10, this morning about o'clock
about three miles west OF Ford's
some thirty miles west of Petersburg
The train is the fast passenger from
ROANOKE 10 Norfolk, and was run
nlnS a bit late. 1t was hitting VI
Instance at the rate OF about sixty
miles an hour.
Nine persons were hurt. three OF
then very badly and two fatally The
two badly hurt were porters on the
train, both colored men.
one OF the baggagemasters received
paintul cut on the head and a slight
cut on the wrist. but was otherwise
unhurt.
The train was made up of nine cars.
and is regarded as one Of the best
trains in the service. The engine and
the ninth car only remained unin-
Eight OF the cars left the tracks.
one or them turning over several
times. Six of these cars are declared
70 De wrecks and absolutely unfit for
further use in any capacity.
The cause of the wreck Is not
known, but 1t is believed that a truck
under the tender struck a piece of
timber at a crossing and that the
whole trouble followed the derailment
What Passenger Saw.
george 2. Adams, Of Blackstone,
one or the passengers on the wrecked
train, reached this city at noon, being
some four hours or more late in get
ting to the city on important bust
ness.
The train was late" but Just how
much 1 do not know" said Mr..
Adams: who was seen at the Capitol
soon after his arrival.
The cars were fairly well filled
and how the occupants managed to
escape without bearing evidences of
the wreck am unable to understand
| Eight of the cars left the tracks,
and six OF these are ready for the
scrap pile They will have to be
burned where they are, in my opinion.
Nine persons were hurt. three Of
them badly, and 1 believe that at least
TWO of them will die from the effects
~ the INJURIES nave not scratch
mat know of--for which 1 am
thankful lost my hat. and that was
replaced with a new one as soon as /
got to the city.
We were running sixty miles ar
hour. according to the railroad men
and L am not prepared to deny that
we were not travelling at that rate of
speed. l helped other men TO get one
OF the injured men from the wreck.
The train force was well organ
lHeu, ana the superintendent himself
was on hand-beng passenger
every precaution was taken, the
wreck was protected by sending out
r hagmen and a messenger was dis
patched to bring help.
Wreck trains from Crewe and Pc
tersburg were sent at once. bringing
. passenger cars and physicians. These
arrived with all possible speed. and
the passengers were at once trans
ierred and the injuries of the wound
ed men were dressed"
Senator Brock In Wreck
Senator r. X. Brock, of Farmville.
representing the Twenty eighth Dis
. trict, was in the accident, as were also
: Senator w. a. Garrett. of Henry, and
Delegate W. a. Land, of Blackstone.
All OF these gentlemen escaped with
out Injury. Speaking OF the wreck.
Senator Brock said:
+ I had taken the train at Farm
VILE and was on my way TO Rich
mond. We had left Farmville forty
. hNe minutes late, and the train was
going at a good speed-eVery bit Of
sixty miles an hour. 50 Tar as l am
able to judge.
Il was stretched across the seat.
asleep when the crash came II was
a sudden jar. but l did not leave the
seat. though / can tell you / was
awakened in manner which do not
care 10 experience again. l did not
get scratch OF any sort. and how
|
aged To get out alive. especially after
viewing the wreck today, / am at a
loss TO understand
The cars are badly broken up. and
theE VIII be unfit for any other ser
vice except kindling wood, 20 which
they were reduced when they We're
crashed against each other.
There was thing which 1 think
deserves credit. a Mr.. J. w. Womack,
OF FarmNille. He was going 10 Suf-
folk, where he is engaged in pusi-
ness When we began TO pour out
OF the cars our attention was attract
ed TO colored man who had been
caught under the cars as they went
over His legs We're caught under
heavy timbers, firmly pinioned, ana
ne was in bad way. Mr.. Womack
got a shovel, lantern and a pick
ana requisitioned two colored porters
from the sleeping cars. Under his di-
recuon they dug the man out. Mr.
Womack took u hand with the shovel
and the pick and / did the same
Mr.. Womack, however, deserves the
credit, tor he directed the work and
was the first TO see the position Of
) the colored man. He is badly hurt
The white men saved his life
We We're delayed some four or five
hours. and l am thankful that ! got
out without hurt of any sort
have just telephoned my wife that
am unhurt"
Senator Garrett Shaken Up.
Senator William a. Garrett, of
Henry county, who had been to his
nome to spend Sunday, was also one
OF the Legislators To get a shaking up
lie was in the sleeper. and managed
TO get away without being other than
rudely disturbed in his slumbers. He
was late in getting TO the Senate to-
day, but appeared TO be very well
lSatiSfed TO be here at all.
Il was not Knocked out Of my berth.
but II was a sudden stopping that |
shall not soon forget. l had gone TO
Roanoke and had taken the sleeper
there for Richmond. and was sleep
ing the sleep of the just. OF course.
we had to get out in a hurry. When
did get out all the men had been
rescued. those passengers in the dav
ICoaches not having 10 get dressed be-
fore they got out. 1t was avyfuI1,
icold. and we made a fire on the side
of the track for the comfort of the
passengers. who were unable TO cot