NP, RD 10/11A/1861

From the Richmond Dispatch
 
October 11, 1861
 
Accident on the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad
   The Lynchburg Republican, of yesterday, contains the following in relation to the accident alluded to in our Lynchburg letter:
   A serious accident occurred to the Eastern bound freight train of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad on Tuesday last, resulting in damages to the cars and engine to a large amount, as well as occasioning the loss of freight, consisting of groceries of various kinds, together with a quantity of soldiers baggage, estimated in round numbers at $50,000 or $60,000. Owing to the heavy rains of Monday, the mountain streams were very much swollen, and while the train, of nine cars, was crossing Pea creek in Wythe county, an abutment of the bridge was washed away, precipitating the engine and cars into the water below, and making almost entire wreak of them. Several of the cars, we are informed, were carried by the force of the water 200 or 300 yards below the place the accident occurred at. The engineer and fireman escaped by swimming, and a negro brakeman who could not swim was washed some distance down the stream, when he was rescued by the exertions of persons who witnessed the accident. No other persons were on the train at the time. In consequence of the accident, the running of the passenger trains is somewhat interrupted; but we learn that the damages will be rebuilt, so as to cause no detention, by Saturday next.

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