| From the Wilmington Journal |
| February 5, 1862 |
| |
| Dreadful Accident |
| Last evening about 8 1/2
o'clock, whilst a crank car containing David DeCoppet, Stephen Rhapp
and Thomas Keith and two negroes named Peter and Alexander, was coming
round the curve near the Depot of the W. &. M. R. R.
{Wilmington & Manchester RR}, it came in collision with a
train consisting of one locomotive and six cars, which was backing out
to go on the turn-out just beyond the curve. The whole of the cars
went over the crank car, which resulted in immediately killing three
of them, viz: Messrs. De Coppett, Rhapp and Keith; the negro Peter has
since died. Alexander was only slightly wounded in the ankle. The
bodies were mangled considerably, DeCoppett's head being cut off from
his body. |
| Messrs. DeCoppett and Rhapp
were at work on the Road engaged in repairing the bridges, &c.
They were natives of Switzerland, but had been residents here for some
time, and were very highly spoken of. At the time of the accident they
were coming from the Brunswick river Bridge, where they had been at
work, as also were the negroes. Mr. Keith was here on a visit, but on
yesterday, we believe, went out to see Messrs. DeC. and R. |
| Mr. Keith was a young man, a
native of Timmonsville, S. C., where his parents reside. He had been
Captain of a Company in Virginia, but on account of ill health had
resigned. His body was sent home this morning. |
| The negroes were the property
of Mrs. M. E. Durant, of South Carolina. |
| The occurrence appears to have
been purely an accident, resulting from the belief of those on the
crank car that no train would be moving at that time, and indeed, the
train with which they came in contact was simply backing on the track,
even that being somewhat unusual at the time of night when the
accident occurred. |
|