| From the Richmond Dispatch |
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| April 29, 1863 |
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| Accident on the {Richmond &} Danville
Railroad |
| While the cars on this round were coming
to this city yesterday, about forty minutes past 3 o'clock, their
progress was interrupted by an accident of a serious and total nature.
It appear that the train was a short distance this side of Coalfield
station, 13 miles from the city, going at its usual speed, when two of
the rear passenger cars tumbled over a steep embankment and relied to
the bottom, carrying their living freight with them. By the casualty,
Mr. Bowden, of Denville, and a brakesman, a slave named Albert, lost
their lives, while eight or ten were reported to be seriously wounded,
and twenty-four of the passengers were found to be slightly so. When
the passengers had been extricated from the cars it was found that the
jar and tumble had broken nearly all the seats, and otherwise damaged
the cars. The train was expected in last night at 8 o'clock, and
arrangements had been made to care for the wounded, a number of
Confederate omnibuses being stationed at the depot so as to remove
them speedily to the hospitals. |
| The cars arrived about 8 ½ o'clock,
bringing the wounded and other passengers, of which there were 200 on
board of six cars. From Mr. Vincent Bargamin, who was wounded, we
learn that the accident was caused by the engine running over a cow,
whose carcass was dragged several hundred yards. When the curve of the
road was being neared and the cars going at full speed, the two rear
ones were thrown off the tracks, which continued on the rails,
and were harried down an embankment about forty feet high. The cars
turned over once or twice before the bottom was reached. None of the
lady passengers were injured. A Mr. Keeling, of Denville, was reported
dangerously hurt. Mr. Bowden, who was killed, was standing on the
platform. His head was crushed, and he died instantly. He was on his
way to this city to meet his mother. The escape of a large number from
death is considered providential, when the nature of the accident is
taken into consideration. It was impossible last night, owing to the
confusion at the depot, to obtain the names of the wounded. Much
solicitude was evinced by those of our citizens who became aware of
the accident to learn the particulars, many people from this city
being passengers. |
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