Serious accident on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
--From the Lynchburg
Republican, of the 15th instant, we copy the following account of an accident which occurred on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad on Wednesday morning last:
A serious accident, which it is supposed will result fatally to two of the persons injured, occurred about half a mile west of Forest Depot, to the upward train, yesterday morning.
The train left the depot running at a slow rate of speed, and had not put on a full head of steam, when several of the cars were thrown from the track by the displacement of a rail, occasioned by the breaking of a spike which held it in its proper, place.
Fortunately, the accident occurred on a level portion of the road, else the result might have been very serious.
The only persons injured were
James Lambert of
Richmond, a member of the
Caskie Rangers;
Thos. J. Spradlin and
G. A. Nunenger, of
Bedford, all of whom were on the platform of one of the cars at the time.
The two former it is thought cannot survive.
Lambert has both legs badly crushed below the knee, and is injured internally, and
Mr. Spradlin one of his legs severed from the body.--
Mr. Nunenger though severely, it is hoped not fatally injured.
The wounded were all brought to this city immediately after the occurrence, and proper surgical attention rendered them.
It is a noticeable fact, which persons traveling on railroads should hear in mind, that not a single person who was in his seat in the car, though they were crowded with passengers, received a scratch or bruise of any kind, with the exception of a wounded soldier, who had his arm broken in the fight at
Richmond, and was so severely Jarred as to cause a displacement of the bone again.
The persons on the platform had, when they left Forest Depot, been directed by
Mr. Kinnier, the conductor, to take their seats on the inside, and he thought they had done so. Had they obeyed his direction, they would have escaped unhurt.
The damage to the cars was but alight.
P. S.--Since the foregoing was written, Lambeting has died, and at a late hour last night, the condition of
Mr. Munenger was such as to induce the belief that his injuries would also prove fatal.
Mr. Spradlin rallied after an operation was performed on his leg, and hopes are entertained of his recovery.
