“The Wreck of the C & O Number Five”
Description
"From Washington to Charlottesveile, then Staunton on the line Came the old Midwestern Limited...." The train hits a broken rail. It does not overturn, but veteran engineer Dolly Womack is killed by steam. He will pull a train in heaven
Notes
Inspired by his success with "Billy Richardson's Last Ride," which was also set to must by Carson J. Robison and recorded by Vernon Dalhart, Cleburne C. Meeks wrote his second poem about a train wreck which had occurred some years earlier. In this case, I rather suspect he intended it to use the tune of "Wabash Cannonball," but Robison again supplied Dalhart's tune. - RBW
Historical references
- Oct 6, 1920 - The westbound "Sportsman" train, redirected onto the eastbound track because of a derailment, hits a broken rail and crashes into a bank. Engineer Dolly Womack is partly buried in coal and scalded to death by steam
Recordings
- Vernon Dalhart, "The Wreck of the C & O Number Five" (Brunswick 117 [as by Al Craver], 1927); (Columbia 15135-D)
References
- Cohen-LSRail, pp. 236-239, "The Wreck of the C & O Number Five" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #14023
- BI, LSRai236