Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-06-23
NUMBER a.
OLD ENGINEER.


especially in the mountain gorges
CT West Virginia, few of us ever
think Of the engineer who stands or
sits at the throttle and holds in his
hand the lives as it were, of the
thousands who ride in the cars be-
hind. The following is brief his
tory of faithful engineer who
spent long life in railroad work
many years of which he lived in
Greenbrier county:
REV. J. NJ. SAMPSON.
an active railroad man for SO
years, 40 of which were spent on
the Chesapeake and Ohio i'm south
ern West Virginia, without having
suffered Il serious injury.
This was the unique record of
hev. ). NJ. Sampson, widely known
III this section of the State and else
where, whose death occurred last
week at his old home ut Lancaster.
Pennsylvania.
Rev. Sampson, always a careful
pilot for the train entrusted into
! MS care, was in numerous wrecks
during his career as an engineer. In
at least two instances, the locoma-
tive turned completely over, killing
tne fireman and other members of
Inc crew, but the sturdy engineer
always climbd from the wreckage
OF the cab unscratched.
Rev. Sampson died as result of
complication of diseases. He was
born and reared on a farm near the
city of Grafton, w. Va, and at the
age OF II years, he Joined the quart
ermaster's department of the Union
Army: He served throughout the .
war, In spite of his age, and receiv-
ca hi9h commentator from his Sill
per1or officers and from the author
iheS OF the war department.
When II years old, Rev SamDson
d sturdy mountaineer boy, entered
lnc employ of the Baltimore and
onlo railroad He came to the Chex-
aDeake and Ohio in 1890 and had
runs on different divisions in
GUIDING the ,maih line from Lexjna-
ton to Roncevcrte, w. Va.
In 1889 he went to Ronceverte ~
run the engine of the construction
ram IN building the Greentrier d.
vision between Whitcomb and Win
terburn, w. Va. III
Upon the completion of the di-
@ vasiol' ne was given the first pas
SGhSer traln to run on the division
ne neld this run until his retirement
on December 20, 1918.
Rev. SIMPSONS first wife and CO,
Harry Sampson, proceeded him to
ulc grave some years ago. He is
survived by his widow, three daueb-
terS' Mrs: Weber, of Hinton: Mr.
nolsteln, of Baltimore: Mrs. n n
Gurry, of Ronceverte; two sons r
e. sampson of Hinton; and F r
sampson, of Charleston; two sisters
OF Connellsville, Pa, and one brotb'
or u. r: Sampson, retired engineer
OF Huntington, w. Va.
The deceased was lifelong mem
Dsr C OF the Methodist Episcopal
ohurch, and for many years wax a
preacher in that Church. He wax =
l'seinDer OF the Masonic Lodge and
vi the brotherhood of locomotive
engineers. The funeral serv;cas
were held in the Methodist Enicco
Pai Ihtlrch at Huntington. The
.Masons and Engineers had cbaroe
0l me services at the graveside and
nev. Goodwin preached the funeral
at the Church. ''e' "i
hev. sampson miraculousIv es-
Japeu ,, serious injury and possibly
uea'h on many occasions. The
iilamS snort curves, twists and turns
III the mountains of Pocabontas
county, where the Grcenbrier d.
vision is located, make II - bn.o, W
ouS task to drive a locomotive and
N'TP W2, IL on the rails in the early dnvs
NIile on his daily run to Winfcr-
Durh early one morning few vears
ago; HeV. SIMPSONS train coIiiJod
WIN an earth and rock slide four
lnlies north of Marlinton. The loco
,'lo'lVc went into the river will tbo
baggage and mail cars. Rev San,',
non GEawied out from under The
r%aecknSe' W. , suffering only a skinned
,sS .eS' Inc water was not deem h,,t
piie fireman was killed almost in
Stahtiy' his body badly crushed and
severely burned by steam esconina
IRON broken pipes. ''p'"S
On another occasion, Mr.. samn-
sons engine hit COW near Droar
mountain. The locomotive lcft tbr
ran ana went into the side of -, b;iI
~ :,'u II gone in the other direction
II would have dropped over 5o.
1901 bank. AS it was. tbc onoin,,
ere" was hurled through the small
J doors lpadipo IN H. 'ii."'