Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 September 1891 — CRUSHED AND KILLED. [ARTICLE]

CRUSHED AND KILLED.

Twenty Persons Killed on [a North Carolina Railroad, Spreading Kails Throw a Train SixtyFive Feet Into a River— Many Injured. One of the most disastrous railroad wrecks in the annals of North Carolina occurred about 2 o’clock a. m. at the Boston bridge, two miles west ol Statesville, on the Western North Carolina railroad. Passenger train No. 9 known as tho fast mail, which was made up at Salisbury, pulled out on time (1 a. m.) loaded with passengers. It was composed of a baggage and mail car, second and first-class coaches, Pullman sleeper and Superintendent Brißge’s private car “Daisy.” This sleeper, which was from Goldsboro, usually hasanumberofpassengers from Northern points and last night was no exception. The run to Statesville was made on time, a distance of twentyfive miles, hut just after leaving Statesville there is a high Stone bridge spanning Third creek, down into this creek plunged the entire train, a distance of at least sixty-five feet, wrecking the wholr train and carrying death and destructior with it. Twenty passengers were killed outright nine seriously injured and about twent) badly bruised gnd shaken up. The scent at the wreck beggared description. Tht night was dismal, and, to add to the horror of the situation, the water in tho creel up. It was only through the mos 1 heroic efforts of those who hurried to th* sccnoof the wreck that the injured wen not drowned. The accident was caused b] the spreading of the rails. The bridge wai not. injured, and trains are running oi schedule time. Twenty dead bodies an now lying in fc warehouse at Statesville Tho Injured are having the best of care a private residences and hotels.