TERRIBLE RAIL ROAD ACCIDENT

Remarkable escape.

________

     By a dispatch received here on Monday, we learned of a terrible accident on the Wilmington & Weldon Rail Road near Whitaker's Station (Nash, Edgecombe Counties).

     By our exchanges, we learn the following facts.

     While proceeding along on schedule time, and when just over an embankment some twenty feet high, the engineer observed that a rail was misplaced on the track. He immediately blew his whistle and shut down the engine, but could not check its speed sufficiently to prevent thee accident. The engine and tender, second and third class cars, and ladies' coach all were tumbled down the embankment and literally smashed. The sleeping car alone remained on the track, and to this the ladies' coach was held by the coupling pins and greater damage prevented. The engine was turned wheels in the air, and is seriously damaged. The engineer, Mr. John Hewett,

escaped without injury, how it is unknown. Captain Geo. Morrison, the Conductor, was in the second class car, and also escaped unhurt. The passengers and train hands also escaped as by a miracle, no serious injury having been sustained by anyone. On the whole, the escape of all on board is the most miraculous thing on record.

[Whitakers, NC Train Station 1966
Piedmont and Western Railroad Club
http://www.pwrr.org/nstation/whittakers.html ]

     To Capt. Morrison, the passengers unite in ascribing great credit for his attention to them during the whole affair,—he speaks in high terms of the assistance rendered him by his engineer and the sleeping car conductor.

[The Tarborough Southerner (Tarboro, NC) 4 Jun 1868]