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FELL NINETY FEET.A Fast Train in North Carolina jumps from a Bridge.Forty Lives Said to Hare Keen Lost— Twenty Bodies Taken from the Kuins —A Great Many Other Kasseii-jyers Are Injured.AS AtVPC I. PLUNGE.New Orleans, Aug. 28.—The Times-Bemoerat's Charlotte (N. C.) special says: The most dreadful railroad disaster in the history of the state is to be recorded; the story of the total destruction of the entire passenger train on the Western North Carolina road, an accident in which engineer, fireman, all the brakeraen and probably forty passengers were dashed to instant death.—a wreck from the debris of which only one man, the conductor, emerged able to walk back to the nearest station and give news of the disaster.It met its fearful doom at the high bridge over Third creek, 2 miles west of Statesville. The bridge was built years ago of solid masonry. It is tit) feet high and is arched for the passage of wagons on the roadway beneath as well as for the waters of the creek. It is as safe as a bridge could be—in fact, a track on solid ground could be made no safer. Trains, therefore, do not slack speed upon approaching it. In the center of the bridge there a gap in the gleaming line of rails. The engine struck the gap, gave a great bound and fell down into the space. Along with it went every ear train, one after the other, with their numan loads, crashing upon the hard ground DU feet below. Every car was smashed into kindling wood and the wreckage was heaped in a confused and disordered pile. Down under were the torn and mangled bodies of the crew and unfortunate passengers.In the fall the Pullman car had leaped over all the others, whirling through the air and striking the ground with terrible effect away 111 front of where the engine lay. It was mashed as one would crush an egg by throwing it against a stone wall.William 11. Houston, of Greensboro, who was killed, was a leading merchant of his city. Mr. and Mrs. Link, of Lexington, who are among the injured, were married Wednesday night and had just began their wedding tour. Rev. J. M. Sikes, who was killed, was a graduate of the Southwestern Presbyterian university of Clarksville, Tenn. Dr. Sikes had been assigned to missionary work in China and was to have left for that country September 2ft. He was married. Mrs. Poole was drowned before aid could reach her. Three bodies have not been identified. One of these is an old lady; another is a lady with a ticket in her pocket whichreads: “Mrs. George McCormick and mother, Elmwood, N. CL, to Alexander, N. The third is also alady. Upon her finger is a ring engraved T. II. W. to M. R. R. It is thought that all bodies have not been taken out of the debris which is piled up so high that it is impossible to make thorough examination. Not a soul who was in the sleeping car is alive. Miss Ophelia- Moore, of Helena, Ark., died alter being taken out of the wreck. The Western North Carolina railroad extends from Salisbury to Point Rock and is owned and operated by the Richmond it Danville.
Newspaper Details
New Hampton Courier
New Hampton, Iowa, US
Thu, Sep 03, 1891
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 05 Nov 2024
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