The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-04
Supervisor Wood Killed
and Three Hurt When
Trestle Falls.
ENGINE IS BURIED
UNDER THE WATER
Sixty-Foot Span Collapsed, Car
rying Locomotive and Three
Freight Cars With It-Trans-
fer West Point Passengers
in Motor-Boats-Body
Not Recovered.

OUS mum was hllleo anu tnTcc "eTC
injured yesterday afternoon when
sixty foot span In the wooden trcstlc
over the Pamunkey River on the West
Point Division of the Southern Rail
way collapsed under the weight or
mixed train and precipitated tho en-
nine. tender and three box cars into
thirty feet of water.
r. S. Wood. of 1910 Perry street,
South Richmond, supervisor Of the
roadway on the division. was killed
outright and his body has not yet been
recovered. John r. Jewett, tho cngi-
neer. OF los West Twelfth Street.
South Richmond: his fireman. a. W.
Mcintosh. also OF South Richmond. and
William Lindsay, colored. extra
fireman. were Injured. They are SUI
fering from bruises and small abrn-
sions. but none sustained broken bones.
Jewett was taken 10 his home and Nc
Intosh. who. IL is feared. has received
internal injuries. was removed TO tho
Memorial Hospital for treatment. Lind
say was able to go home unassisted.
Iknd just Crossed Drnwbridgc.
The accident occurred 1T 80 O'Clock.
Tho train. which consisted OF seven
teen freight cars and Il combination
passenger coach. was crossing tho
bridge cautiously on It's wey 10 this
city. Tho drawbridge was passed in
beginning to increase tho speed. when.
without warning. the entire span
dropped with Its burden into tho river.
Wood and Lindsay were III the cab
with the engine Grow, and all jumped.
Wood went down, and, IL is thought.
was knocked unconscious and drowned.
Efforts to recover his body failed. as
a heavy tide was running and IL was
probably carried down the river.
Jewett and Mcintosh jumped clear
OF the engine and struck among the
plies ana were considerably hurt. They
went under the water, but on coming
TO the surface. managed 10 cling 10
some wreckngc and were hauled TO
shore by trainmen- Lindsay was more
fortunate, rs he cleared the wreckage,
but in coming up struck his head on
heavy plank ana severely rashed
IL. without assistance he climbed up
the trestle to safety.
The cause OF the collapse OF the span
has not been ascertained. When
long distance telephone message was
received by superintendent j. NJ. Huds-
peth. conveying very meagre details
OF tho accident, he ordered out q re-
lief train and left Immediately for tho
scene. The train arrived after ark,
and il was impossible 10 make sat
isfactory examination. IL tx thought
however. that boat probably struck
tho span and loosenei it from the
piles.
To Transfer Passengers.
Traffic on the division VIII be delayed
for several days until the bridge is re-
paired and the sunlcn engine and
cars recovered. Ali are beneath the
surface IN at least thirty feet OF water.
y wrccking crew is now at work
Inquiry viii be made to-day 10 learn
tho cause OF the wreck. y diver viii
be sent down TO examine the piles and
to see if the comDanys theory is pos
sible. Until the bridge is repaired.
trains will run from this city to the
pamunkey. and passengers. freight,
mail and baggage will be transferred
across tho river in motor boats TO the
opposite shore. where n train VIII con-
Vey them TO the end OF the line. This
was done last night with the passen-
gers OF the wrecked train. and those
going to West Point from Richmond on
the train leaving here At 4:a5 o'clock.
Killed Willie on Duty.
Engineer Jowett has been in the
employ OF the company for many years
and is considered one of The most care
ful engineers in its service. Mcintosh
has a1so worked for the Southern for
o number OF years. Physicians stated
last night that both were suffering
more from shock and the sudden
plunge in the Chilly water. than from
actual injuries Their injuries are not
serious.
Wood had charge Of the roadway on
tho West Point division. and was go
Ing n short distance down tho line to
inspect part OF tho track. 1t was Gus
tomary for him TO ride In the cab OF
the engine on inspection tours.
Every possible effort was made to
recover his body last night. Boats
were sent out in tho channel. and tho
water surrounding the wrecked train
was thoroughly dragged owing to
its depth. the task was Extremely diff
ficult. The tide was running out, and
the body was probably carried a con-
siderable distance.
Wood was married and had two chill
drcn living. He had been extremely
unfortunate during the past year. hav-
ing lost two young children by death.
lie was about thirty-sx years OF age.
Tho Panunkey River ut tho point
where the wreck occurred Is on tide
water and is extremely deep. Tho
main channel reaches depth OF forty
feet, while the engine is twenty-five
or thirty feet under water. draw
bridge In tho ceutre Of the treatlc al
lows largo boats to got through The
train which had crossed 1T before the
span went down was In charge of Con-
ductor G. w. Smart.