N&W in 1903 -- Three Bad Days

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[The Bluefield Daily Telegraph newspapers for November 20, 21, and 22, 1903, reported a run of accidents that was attention getting, but not-too-unusual for that era.  The following four short items were listed under "Personals and Briefs" in the Friday, November 20 issue:]

    Wm Horst, brother of the unfortunate brakeman, John E. Horst, whose death has been noted the Daily Telegraph, arrived in the city yesterday.
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    Mike Selena, working for the Crozer Coal and Coke Company, was run over by a Norfolk and Western train and had his left leg cut off just below the hip.
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    Mat. Crawford, a colored miner, en route from the coal field to his home at Milligan, Tenn., sat down on the railroad track at Bristol and was killed by a train Tuesday night.
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    Charles Shepp, working at Vivian for the Norfolk and Western Railway Company, was run over by a train and was taken to the Miners Hospital at Welch, where it was found that one leg had to be amputated.  Shepp died from the effects of his wound and was buried at Kimball.
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[An article on the next page of the same Friday issue of the newspaper listed Engineer  Lewis Farrar as being killed in a wreck at Matewan in which three other enginemen were injured.]
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[The next day's issue, Saturday, listed two more who were killed in the Matewan accident.  It also stated the following:]
    B. P. Holland, who had his back broken in the wreck of the wrecking train last Sunday, was taken to the Roanoke hospital yesterday.  It is not thought that he will recover.
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[The following day's issue reported that an engine derailed at Powhatan, and that Engineer Clendenin suffered a badly mashed foot which had to be amputated.]
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[The "good 'ol days" were not always so good.]

Gordon Hamilton
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