Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-31
BIO Wreck
Kills Engineer
AbodrdF Flyer
National Limited
Piles Up at Tunnel
In Petersburg Area


81 (SpeciaD The engineer was
killed and the fireman was miss
ing today in wreck of the Bal
timore u Ohios westbouno Ma
tional Limited as it emerged
from a tunnel 30 miles east of
here.
Bound from New York to st
LOUIS, the coach and Pullman
tram had left Washington at
1880 pm and was on time when
the locomotive and six cars eft
the track al 1892 am. tEDT)
None of the 40 passengers was
seriously injured. but some were
treated at hospitals for minor
complaints.
C. E. Bertrand, B&O division
superintendent at Grafton, said
the wreck was caused by a large
rock rolling onto the tracks
from the mountainous terrain.
The rock apparently was loosened
by heavy rains.
Engine Topples IN Creek
The head unit of the diesel
locomotive toppled 80 feet down
an embankment into Hughes
Creek, trapping the engineer,
Joseph C. Riley, about so, of
Grafton, w. Va. His body was
pulled out several hours later.
The second half of the loco
motive toppled over, but did not
slide into the creek. Behind it,
a mail car was tilted at a As
degree angle.
Adding to the confusion was
the fact that all the other cars
had not cleared the tunnel. The
next four cars, a combination
baggage and smoking car. a
diner and two coaches, all left
the tracks but remained upright.
One other coach and five Pull
mans on the 11-car train re-
AAoA44CO vi bi4C u dChos
Fireman Still Missing
Hours after the wreck, train
men still we're searching for the
fireman, P. R. Hooten of Graf
ton. He was not found in the
cab of the diesel, overturned in
the shallow creek. Railroad Off
Gals said it would be some time
before the wreckage could be
lifted out for more thorough
search.
The wreck occurred near the
small town of CORVALLIS. Five
ambulances from Parkersburg,
Clarksburg and other nearby
cities went to the scene. Doctors
gave first aid to those needing
attention.
-Four persons were treated in
hospitals, none from the Wash
lngton area. At Camden-Clark
Hospital. Parkersburg, William
H. Baum. 81, of Parkersburg
was treated for minor scalp cuts
and released.
Mr.. Baum was one of four
clerks riding in the mail car.
Two cooks who were jolted
from their hunks we're taken to
st. Joseph's Hospital, Parkers-
burg. James Hopkins, 80, COM
planned of pain in the left knee,
and Esken Kendrick, SIS, Of pain
in the lower chest. Both are
colored and live in Baltimore.
Another passenger, Donald B.
Crawley, %. of Clarksburg, was
treated at st. Marys Hospital,
Clarksburg, for multiple cuts and
bruises.
Taken to Clarksburg
Most of the passengers were
sleeping when the engine, travel
ing perhaps at 40 miles an hour,
plunged off the rails. Since the
coaches and Pullmans were up
right, the passengers were able
to leave the train and grope
their way out Of the tunnel.
They were picked up later by
a relief locomotive, which hooked
up with the cars still on the
tracks and took the passengers
into Clarksburg.
The main line was blocked by
the derailed cars. none of which
was badly damaged. Traffic
was being rerouted over a line
from Clarksburg to New Martins
vile. on the Ohio River north
Of Parkersburg, then south into
Parkersburg.
Railroad officials said the
tracks probably would not be
cleared until late today.
The train was about to cross
the bridge over the usually placid
stream, now swollen by rains,
when the rock was struck. Rail-
road officials said the l04-mile
section between Grafton and
Parkersburg had been in service
since 1857 without a passenger
fatality.