WHOLE TRAIN BURNED

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Disastrous Freight Wreck on the Oxford and Clarksville Railroad.

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TWO MEN WERE INJURED

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Dropped Through a Burning Trestle Over Neuse River.

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WAS CONSUMED WITH BRIDGE

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Engineer Glenn, of Raleigh, Was Painfully Injured and Fireman 

Ferguson was Badly Burned.

            Sunday morning as the freight train was coming from Keysville over the O[xford] and C[larksville] road a most disastrous wreck occurred at the Neuse trestle, some twelve miles from Durham.

Early train at the Creedmoor, Granville County, station—one of 

the stops on the Clarksville and Oxford Railroad.

Found on the website of the City of Creedmoor:

 http://www.cityofcreedmoor.org/index.aspx?page=182

            Just beyond the long trestle coming from Keysville there is a short curve and a downward grade. Upon rounding the curve and when in a short distance away the engineer discovered that the trestle was on fire. The engine was reversed, but it was too late and before the man at the throttle had time for a moment's reflection the train was on the burning trestle. The engine and the entire train of cars went down to a depth of some twelve or fifteen feet below carrying destruction as they went. Miles Glenn, one of the best and bravest men on the road, stood firmly at his post to the last moment and the wonder is that he and his fireman were not instantly killed. Mr. Glenn was badly bruised, but his physicians say no bones were broken. His injuries were painful though it is hoped not serious. The fireman was pretty well shaken up, but his injuries are not so painful as those of the engineer's. Irwin Wood, one of the force suffered a severe sprain of the ankle in jumping from the rear end of the train.

            While the crew escaped the fire raged on until every part of the train except what was iron was consumed by the flames. Fortunately for the railroad the cargo was not a very large or expensive one. There were six loaded cars, one of which was marked to a Durham firm, that too, went up in smoke.

            It could not be ascertained what the probable loss to the railroad will be, but it will likely be several thousand dollars.

            Thus far everything seems to be in the dark as to the origin of the fire. Hands were at work re-building the trestle and there was a quantity of shavings scattered around. A spark might have been dropped from a previously passing train or it might have been the work of the mischief-makers. No one has been seen who could tell anything about this part of it.

            A large force was put to work Sunday clearing away the debris and replacing the burnt trestle and it will only be a short time until the trains will pass over as usual. Now the train goes out from Durham and passengers, mail and express are transferred at the river.

            Reports from the wounded are to the effect that all are doing well. Mr. Glenn's injuries were not serious and his physicians report him in a pretty fair condition.

[Taken from The News and Observer (Raleigh, NC) 4 Aug 1896]