The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-04
THE LAST RAI1RoAD HORROR.

TIE LAST RAILROAD HORROR.
A Train OF Cars Precipitated Thirty
Feet and Consumed BY Fire-Twenty-
five Persons Killed. Wounded and
N1tssing-I1oss Estimated at S50O,OO0-
Thrilling Details. -..f-.
The dreadful accident which befell pasaen-
ger train on the Clarksvllle division Of the
Memphis and Louisville Rsilroad occurred at
q point eight miles south Of Clarksville, Tenn,
at one o'clock in the morning OF Wednesday,
the 18th. Four persons we're killed outright
and forty or City wounded, more OF less. sers-
ously. The Courier Journal furnishes the fol-
lowing details:
The accident occurred to tho second or night
messenger train from Memphis to Louisville.
I'm crossing tho bridge and trestle over Rudd's
Creek, eight miles below Clarksville. at one
o'clock in the morping. the greater part of the
train into the valley or bed OF the creek, from
an altitude OF about thirty feet. The train
consisted Of 10 .omotive, csboose, express and
baggage car, two passenger coaches, and one
sleeping car, all OF which we're dashed almost
to splinters, and afterwards, With the e1cep-
ton Of the sleeping car, entirely destroyed by
fire.
Mr.. Hugh Mccall. one Of those instantly
killed, was 4 we'll known cotton merchaot In
New 0rleans.- .-'.- -. .-'''-
The fre made nearly complete ruin Of the
tram and its contents. Only three passengers
saved their baggage. All the remaining PR,
yate property, save the garments, money and
jewels upon the persons OF the passengers was
consumed. The express books and papers
were saved. and from them it is sscertalned
that there we're about $16o 600 in the safe. At
last accounts from the wreck the safe had not
been recovered. he destruction OF the cars,
express and mail matter and baggage involves
loss little if any short OF three hundred thou
sand dollars. -
The south-bound train reached the scene Of
the disaster some two hours after it's occur
renee, affording al needed relief to the suffer-
ers. The whole Of them we're taken back to
Clarksville, where the dead we're nea ly dress
ed and placed IN metallic bHriai cases, subject
10 the orders Of their friends, and the wounded
were kindly minlstered to by the citizens OF
the place. The train which arrived here at 4
P. ID. yesterday brought eighteen OF the
wounded, none Of whom are in dangerous
condition. -Four Of these. Mira Mccall and
Norman Mccall, (wife and son Of Hugh Nc
Call, killed, Of New Orleans, Oh. Sage, Of
Fulton, New York. and W. G. Sheppard. OF
New Orleans, we're conveyed to St. Joseph's
IL
homes CT their relatives aud friends in the
city. Some ofthe injured remain ar Clarke
vile, where everything in human power ls be-
ing done for their comfort and restoration.
STATEMENT OF THE PAssEgaKRs.
As described by those who we're aboard the
ill-fated train when it went down, the situation
was awful In the extreme. About one o'clock
the sleeping travellers we're Awakened by
sudden rough movement Of the train, as II it
were of the track. After this joltlng motion
the train appeared to come to o siand-stil, and
those who had been aroused congratulated
themselves that all was right again. just at
that instant. they say, the train was on poise.
ready to fall over the trestle height. 10 apoth-
er second the whole line Of cars had pitched
downward, and lay crushed and ghastly heap
in the basin Of the creek. Notwithstanding
lndiscrlminate wreck OF human beings, hardly
q voice was heard. The stiffness was as pro-
found as d:ath. Two Bpans OF the bridge,
about fiftyfeet each IN length, snd four bents
OF the trestle-f fell. The speed was 80 high that
it carried the train under the track ON the
other side OF thu creek. The train fell IN o zig
zle or letter 8 position, and 30 lay upon the
ground.
EMERGING FROM THE RUINS.
As so IN as those who were but slightly dis
abled recovered from the shock, they set about
extrIcating the less fortunate. OF their COM
panions. The dead aud MANNED were all re-
moved to thu most comfortable localities
around, and the cushions and bedding from
the wrecked cars were happily brought into
use. It is q fact not q little singular that the
children, OF whom there was goodly number,
cident, and, without exception, escaped unin-
jured. They seemed to take the fearful leap as
one Of the Incidents OF railway riding to be ex-
pected il not desired.
While the unhurt passengers were bumanely
engaged In releasing and caring for those IN.
the train took fire from the engine furnace.
This occurrence dire as 1t might have appe "
ed, created no undue excitement, owing to the
precautions adopted by thu cool-headed men
performing the work OF extrication. The FIRE
burned slowly, beginning at the engine and
gradually approaching the rear sleeping coach.
The entire train and contents, as We have stat
sleeping car, which was badly damaged. Near
ly all Of the bridge AMI trestle-work also fell
prey to the confaeration.
.,v MELANCHOLY SURROUNDINGS.
On the side of the trestle upon which the
train fell is dense thicket, and the place has
a generally dismal appearance. The wounded
men and women, being thnly clad and mostly
barefooted, suffered greatly from exposure to
the night air, which was sharp and chilly.
Their. situation WaS fOrl0rn lnQe6Q. NO one
knew whence to look for assistance. 1t. was
finally suggested that some one Iecounoitre
the ground and tind means OF succor. 10 about
two hours after the catastrophe-two hours OF
inconceivable affection Of mind and body-the
south-going tram arrived upon the scene. The
living and dead were tenderly transferred to
this train and taken to Clarksville. Here the
victims Of the deplorable and fatal breakdown
received the most devo'ed attention at the
hands Of the citizens and the officers OF the
railroad.
MIR. Hugh Mccall met his death from the
pressure OF piece Of timber upon his breast
as he lay in his berth, which was the very
hindmost in the sleeping car. he was mer-
chant Of high standing in New Orleans and he
and his Hiie and son we're en- route to the east
on tour OF pleasure. His body will be brought
to this city and deposited in Cave Hill until
the recovery Of his b,reaved vile and son, who
are now at st. Joseph's Iufirmary.
The engineer, Eugene Riley, was killed BY
the escaping steam Of his engine. He leaves
wife and child at Bowling Green, Kentucky.
where he had lived some time. he was regard
ed as one Of the most discreet engineer on the
road he served, and stood high in the estima-
ton of all who knew him.
Charles Shields, the fireman, also died from
the iphalauou of steam. He was resident OF
Bowling Green, and leaves wife and family.
Several hours after the accident the body OF
a man wasexhumed from the ashes OF the de-
stroyed train, but it was 30 charred and mutt
L L. f0oht 10 dio-