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The Crash of the Norfolk and Ocean View Railroad, Day 1
(For more Norfolk geography tidbits, click here.)
"When the 6:30 p.m. train, consisting of a motor car and two trailers, left Norfolk for Ocean View yesterday evening it carried about 150 passengers, men, women and children, who, before they returned, had one of the most miraculous escapes from death imaginable.
As a matter of fact, it hardly seems reasonable to think that two cars laden with passengers  should plunge down a fifteen foot embankment into Tanner’s Creek, without a life lost or a bone broken, yet such was the case.
There were but few people in the motor car, but the coaches were well-filled with Norfolk people, together with several excursionists. Mr. W.A. Barritt, Jr., superintendant of the railroad, had charge of the motor, while standing beside him was Mr. William Pannill, while Dr. Lankford was standing in the front door to the car enjoying the breeze and talking to a young lady. Among the other passengers were the Rev. Robert Gatewood, his son Arthur, and a companion, young Mr. Murdaugh, Mr. J.T. Peelle, Mr. McD. L. Wrenn, Dr. A.D. Barrett, Mrs. George D. Levy and Mrs. Dunbar...." ("A Miraculous Escape," Norfolk Landmark, Aug. 10, 1895)
By the next day, the truth had been learned that the Rev. Gatewood’s son and his son’s companion Mr. Murdaugh had been buried inextricably in the mud and both had perished. Earlier it had been thought that the two had left the train early to get help at the power station, which was described as being “not far distant.” (Norfolk Landmark, Aug. 11, 1895)
The power station may perhaps have been located near the train line either on Norview Avenue or near today’s Widgeon Road, as there is designated a “Power House Road” going westward from Sewall’s Point Road near today’s Widgeon Road, and then running northward to Guy’s Road – today’s Norview Avenue – according to the 1923 county road map, figure ZZZ.)
Two days after the accident, the Landmark (Aug. 12, 1895) reported: “The train, which consisted of a motor car and two trailers, left the track a short distance from the trestle and toppled over the embankment at its end. The motor car plunged down the bank head first into the mud and swerved around into such a position as to leave its read end across the track. The next car was the one in which the ill-fated young men were seated. They occupied the front seat of the car, on which was the young Hunt Hannah, a son of Mr. W.M. Hannah, of this city. The Rev. Robert Gatewood occupied a position further back in the body of the car. When the crash came the car was thrown from the track on the opposite side from the motor car, but owing to its position toppled over on its side, where it lay with its forward end embedded in the mud. The other end was toward the embankment. The persons named above were all thrown out into the mud and water.”
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