“The first wreck that I have been in during my 30 years on the road.”
That was the statement made yesterday afternoon by W.F. Borland, engineer of Southern train No. 108, which crashed head-on into Southern train No. 5 early Friday morning between Clarksville Junction and Jeffries when interviewed by a representative of the Durham Sun.
Mr. Borland is at Watts hospital, where he was taken after being brought to the city on a special train from the scene of the wreck. Accompanying Mr. Borland were Captain Rufus H. Powell, conductor; W.F. Sibley, baggage-master; C.H. Crabtree, flagman; Steve Jones, colored porter, and Richard Giles, colored fireman. Mr. Borland and the two negroes were the more seriously injured, and are being retained at the hospitals.
“We had just left Clarksville Junction and were running between 30 and 35 miles an hour when I looked out the window and saw that the two trains were coming together,” Mr. Borland stated. “Seeing that the wreck could not be avoided, I jumped from my cab. This is my only recollection of my actions, however.
“This morning when I woke up, I looked around the room here and after a few minutes decided that I was not at home. I called for help and when one of the nurses came in, I asked her where I was. ‘You are in the Chase City hospital,’ the nurse told me, and then I asked her why I was so bruised, and she told me that I had been in a train wreck. Her statement was the first thing I knew about a train wreck. However, since she told me about the wreck, I have thought it over and have decided how it happened and what I did.
“I have been expecting a wreck of this nature for some time due to the fact that both my train and No. 5 use the same track about the same time. No. 5 is supposed to wait in Jeffries, unless it is ahead of time, until I pass. However, Friday morning, it tried to make it to Clarksville Junction. This is why the wreck occurred.”
Mr. Borland is suffering from a wound on his head, which required about five stitches to close. In addition, the engineer has a mashed nose and several other bruises about his head and body.
At the Lincoln hospital, Richard Giles, who also has 30 years of railroad work to his credit, related his experiences pertaining to Friday morning’s wreck. Giles has a badly bruised back in addition to several other injuries. The following is Giles’ statement:
“I was throwing coal in the fire box as the train was speeding up the track about 50 yards beyond the water tank at Clarksville Junction when I heard Mr. Borland yell ‘Look!’ I dropped my shovel, and looked out. About 50 yards in front of us, I saw the engine of No. 5 bearing down on us. I jumped, and landed at the foot of the embankment on my back. However, while I was in the air, I saw the two engines meet, and saw the baggage coach of our train fall from the tracks and over the embankment. I also saw Mr. Borland jump from the cab. His jump was short, and he was injured by an object which was hurled from the wreck.
“As I lay on my back down that embankment, dazed, I could not help from crying—not because I was suffering or because I was injured, but because I was happy God had spared my life. It was His act that made me jump, and it was His act that saved me from being more seriously injured. I have been in several wrecks during my career with the railroad, but the one yesterday was the biggest one that I have ever been in. If Mr. Borland had not seen No. 5 when he did, and if we had not jumped, well—we would not have lived to hear the result.”
While telling his story, Giles showed signs of intense suffering. His back was in a plaster cast, and he had to tax his strength to move his body to a more comfortable position. However, throughout the interviews, and despite the suffering, Giles appeared happy because God had seen fit to save his life. Before beginning his story, Giles asked about Mr Borland, Captain Powell, Mr. Sibley and Mr. Fitzgerald, members of the crew of train No. 108. When informed that all of the men had been released from the hospital with the exception of Mr. Borland, Giles declared that it was a miracle that no deaths had occurred. “When I saw that baggage car turn over, I just knew that Mr. Sibley, the baggage-master, and Mr. Fitzgerald, the clerk, had been killed. However, I am glad that no one was killed or more serious injuries resulted.”
Clarence Jones, colored porter on No. 108, stated that he was entering the baggage car from the passenger coach, when he heard the brakes grab. “I knew that something had happened, but before I could do anything, the two went together. My foot was mashed, and my neck and shoulders were bruised. I must have been caught in some manner, or I don’t believe I would have been hurt so badly.”
Train No. 108 was made up of the engine, baggage and mail car, and a passenger coach. The engine and the combination car were practically demolished. However, the passenger coach, which was made of steel, did not leave the track. All of the injured are getting along nicely, it was stated yesterday. Captain Powell received a broken arm and other injuries while other members of the crew and a few of the passengers received small cuts and bruises.
From page 3 of the Durham Sun, Sunday morning, March 29, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020732/1925-03-29/ed-1/seq-3/#words=MARCH+29%2C+1925
No comments:
Post a Comment