The C.& O. Wreck It was on a New Year's morning, Nineteen hundred and thirteen, Engine Eight Hundred and Twenty Went down with fire and steam. It was on this sad morning At about eleven o'clock, The C. & O. bridge at Guyandott (I) Began to tremble and rock. When the train reached Guyandott The engineer was there; Ed Webber was his name, He had dark and wavy hair. He pulled his engine to the bridge, But the flagman he was there; He held out the red as if to say, "You may cross her if you dare." Ed sat in his cab window So peaceful and so fair; He did not know that on the bridge That death awaited him there. Fireman Cook walked across the bridge And stopped on the other side; He did not know that Webber Was taking his last ride. Rufe Medders was the hridge foreman, A kind good-hearted man; He stood there giving orders And signals with his hands. His crew was working on the bridge, But this I think you know, A-working for their families, And for the C. & O. Brakeman Williams gave the signal And the engine started on; But when she hit that trestle He knew that Webber was gone. The bridge rocked for a moment, And then went tumbling down; They heard the engine crash below With a sad and mournful sound. . Conductor Lovelooked over the bridge Then turned and bowed his head; He knew that faithfui Webber Was numbered with the dead. Thirteen men were on the bridge, And when the bridge went down, Six of them were rescued, Whiie seven of them were drowned. Ed Webber was the engineer, A brave and faithful man; He went down on his engine With the throttle in his hand. His body was recovered And placed beneath the sod We trust that he is resting With our Savior and our God. Ed Webber left a loving wife And eight little children dear; May God protect and comfort them While they remain down here. Were those men religious? This I do not know; But when our Savior calls us We surely have to go God bless their families Their dear old mothers, too; God bless their brothers and sisters As they journey onward through Now all of us that see this song Be good and be true; For God has said in His own words That death will visit you. From Coombs collected from William Back, KY DT #736 Laws G4 RG oct96
Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!