N&W in 1903 -- Passenger Train Dynamited

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DYNAMITE EXPLODES UNDER PASSENGER TRAIN
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Two Boys Standing Near Torn into Mincemeat, Fragments of Flesh Being Blown Through the Windows and Bespattering Opposite Side of Coach
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PASSENGERS ESCAPE DEATH BY MIRACLE
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SIX BADLY AND TEN SLIGHTLY HURT
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Man Hastening to Brother-in-Law's Funeral is Among Those Badly Hurt
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ONE COACH ALMOST TORN TO PIECES
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Conductor Knocked Down and Temporarily Stunned by Force of Explosion, but Managed to Pull Bell Cord and Stopped Train Within 50 Yards
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    Two dead, blown to atoms, six badly, and ten slightly, hurt.
    The above paragraph tells in brief the story of one of the most appalling accidents in the history of the Norfolk and Western.  That there was not a veritable harvest of death seems almost miraculous, and those who saw the dismantled coach, which bore the brunt of the explosion, were loath to believe the statement that none of the passengers were killed, or even fatally injured.  Fortunately, however, such proved to be the case.
    The first reports of the disaster reaching this city early yesterday afternoon ,and as is usual in such cases, were exaggerated to some extent.  It was known there were a number of Bluefield people on the ill fated train, and for a time excitement was intense.  Quite a crowd gathered at the depot to meet the belated train, which arrived about 6 p. m. and great was the relief when it was learned that no one from this city had sustained any really serious injuries.
    The details of the disaster are interesting.
    As passenger train No. 1, due here at 1:35 p. m. was passing a point about a mile this side of Pearisburg, a box of dynamite lying by the track blew up.  The engine and five coaches had gotten safely by, but sixth coach caught the full force of the explosion.  Conductor O'Connor was hurled to the floor, and temporarily stunned, but managed to pull the bell cord and the train was stopped within fifty yards.  None of the cars left the track, but the force of the explosion was so great that the rear end of the sixth coach was almost torn to pieces, even the ceiling on the inside being torn off, and on the opposite side of the car from the explosion were lodged pieces of human flesh.  Windows on the left hand side of every car in the train were shattered, and the glass rained down like hail, many of the passengers being slightly cut by the falling fragments.
    A partial investigation was made yesterday afternoon, but just what caused the explosion is a mystery that in all probability will never be solved, and it is not expected that there will be any further inquiry into the matter, the only two persons who might have thrown any light upon it having gone to testify before a higher tribunal.
    It was developed by yesterday afternoon's investigation that William Philips, white and aged 19 years, and who has been driving a team for Vaughan & Co., but who was not working yesterday and had not been at work for several days, was standing very near the dynamite when the explosion occurred, as was also Buster Noell, colored, aged 16, who is a water boy for Vaughan & Co.
    Noell had crossed the track just in front of the train, and had only just reached the scene of the disaster when he was hurled into eternity.  His body was literally torn to pieces, probably the largest piece of him found being a fragment of flesh and bone little larger than a man's hand, which had been blown through the window of the coach and lodged in the shutter on the side furthest from the explosion.
    Phillips had been near the dynamite for probably twenty-five minutes, and it is possible that he had been tampering with it.  It is said that Phillips had been discharged by the contractors a few days ago, and this led some to believe that the horror was not entirely an accident, but might have been the result of the young man's desire to avenge his fancied wrongs.  However, it is not believed by parties who visited the scene, and inquired into the details of the explosion and the conditions preceding it, that Philips had a criminal intent.  Anyway, he is not here to defend himself, and even if he were guilty, he has already paid a fearful penalty.  He, too, was blown into mince meat, and small fragments bespattered the side of the coach.  His head was torn from his body, and was picked up, fearfully mutilated, some feet from the scene.
    Phillips is from Grayson county, Va., and has no relatives living other than his father, who is said to be somewhere in this state.  He will be buried at Pearisburg.
    What fragments of Noell, the colored boy who was killed, can be gathered together, will be taken to Shawsville, Va., where his father, Charles Noell, lives, for interment.
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    There were no caps in the box, and it only contained twenty sticks of dynamite.  Had it been a full box, the entire train would no doubt have been hurled into the river.
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    Relief trains were sent from this city and Radford, and three physicians from Pearisburg and one from Oakvale were quickly on the scene, and ably assisted by the passengers who escaped injury, more especially by the ladies, dressed the wounds of the injured.  Dr. McNeer, hurrying from Philadelphia to Bramwell to attend his brother's funeral, was a passenger on the train, and rendered valuable assistance in attending those who were most seriously hurt.
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    Most of the injured were brought to this city, and those most seriously hurt were taken to the Bluefield Sanitarium.

[The balance of the article listing those who were injured is omitted here.]

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
July 19, 1903

Gordon Hamilton
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