JOHN CHALKLEY RIDE TO DEATH
Killed on Engine After Applying Brakes When Machine Jumped the Track.
BAGGAGEMASTER AND FIREMAN BADLY HURT
Fast Train Coming from Newport News Wrecked Near Lanexa Just Before Noon. All Passengers Uninjured.
Engineer John R. Chalkley. one of the oldest employees of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, in charge of one of the fast trains between this city and Newport News, was instantly killed near Lanexa to-day about 11:30 o'clock, while his train was coming to RICHMOND.
The engine Jumped the track three hundred a mile this side of Lanexa, turning over on its side, crushing the life out of the engineer. The engineer died at his post, and to his rare presence of mind, his duty to those on his train, a Score might have been killed to-day.
The train is one of the fastest on the road, and Engineer Chalkley, noted for his daring and coolness, has been pulling the train for years. An examination »f the engine shows that when it left the track the engineer shut off the steam and applied the emergency brakes. But it was too late to save himself, and the monster steel pile rolled over and caught him.
The engine and the baggage car only left the track, the cars coming to a stop in short order. Not one of the passengers received more than a scare and a shaking up, with slight bruises. The fireman, Robert Walkley, was badly injured, and the baggage-master was a so severely hurt, the heavy baggage striking him and inflicting painful injuries.
RUSHED AID TO SUFFERERS.
Only the most meagre information of the accident came to the offices of the company for some hours, and this was promptly given out by the railroad people. The first thing done was to get a crew to man the wrecking train and to get coaches to send down to bring the passengers on to this city. Physicians were hurriedly summoned, and in an hour after the news of the accident the train had been made up, the surgeons were aboard and the train was on its way to the scene of the accident. Drs. Brock, Bryan. McCarthy and Taylor were on the train.
The train is one of the handsomest that goes out of the city. The cars are modern, heavy built, well appointed and substantial. Their construction is the very best possible, and the fact that the cars are of such build prevented the possible further loss of life when they struck the wrecked engine and baggage car.
Just what caused the accident is not known. The point where the engine left the track is at a curve this side of Lanexa. The track is constantly watched by track-walkers, and every precaution is taken to prevent any sort of mishap.
The passengers will reach this city same time during the afternoon, probably about 3 o’clock. The railroad officials say that the track will be cleared in ample time for the trains to pass through at 4 o'clock, when the fast train leaves here for Old Point.
Engineer "Johnny” Chalkley was about fifty years old. He had been in the employ of the company for thirty years. His home was at 2306 East Broad street. The officials expressed great feeling for the unfortunate man when they heard that he had stuck to his post and gone down to death with his engine in protecting the life of his passengers.
"He was one of the bravest of men. he was loyal to the company and to the welfare of his passengers,” said one of the high officials of the company today. “If it had been necessary for John Chalkley to have laid his arm across the track to stop the train or to save one of his passengers, he would not have hesitated a moment. I believe that he would have sacrificed his life to prevent injury to the train and passengers. He was a faithful and appreciated employee "
-News Leader, 19 September 1908
The engineer John Randolph Chalkley, 54, is the same Engineer Chalkley from the train incident in July 1905 that killed two men that was posted here on November 10.
About fifty carriages were used In the funeral procession of John Randolph Chalkley. the engineer of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway who was killed near Lanexa Saturday, the last rites over his body having been held In the family home, 2306 East Broad street, and in Oakwood cemetery yesterday afternoon. It was one of the largest funerals seen In that section of the city In a long time.
-News Leader, 22 September 1908
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