| From the Wilmington Journal |
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| September 13, 1862 |
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| Painful Accident |
| We learn that last evening, about 7 1/2
o'clock, a most painful accident occurred on the Wilmington & Weldon
Railroad, a short distance this side of the North East Bridge, resulting
in severe, if not fatal injuries to Hon. Wm. S. Ashe, President of the
road, whose left thigh was broken -- his right leg shattered below the
knee, and his right foot almost crushed off, besides other injuries. The
right leg has since been amputated just below the knee. |
| It would seem that Mr. Ashe, who lives
some nineteen miles from town on the line of the railroad, started home
yesterday evening on hand-car intending to get to the turn-out at North
East and wait there until the down mail train passed, before proceeding
farther. He was confident that he could easily reach that point some
time before the mail train would be done there. For some reason the
hand-car did not get there in time. When within about a quarter of a
mile of the turn-out the train; met and struck it, picking it up on the
cowcatcher. The others who were with Mr. Ashe on the hand-car had got
off and escaped. He alone was hurt as already described. When discovered
he could not for some time be recognized. He was brought into town and
received all the attention that friendship and medical skill could
suggest. From the terrible nature of the injuries, it is evident that
the case must be critical in the extreme. |
| Unfortunately there was no light either on
the hand-car or the engine. It appears that the regular engine had
somehow given out, and an engine purchased from the Seaboard & Roanoke
Railroad, which was being brought down in the rear of the train, had to
be put in front to haul the train to town. The engine had no light. |
| At the latest accounts Mr. Ashe was
somewhat easier, though of course his case depends the turn which things
may take, and this cannot yet be ascertained. |
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