The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-03-10
/ SAD RAILRoAD ACCIDENT.

il the Knoxville Chronicle of Satur-
day:
We met Conductor Elmore, who
had charge of the train, the engine
of which was wrecked and got from
him the following report: He arriv-
ed yesterday evening at the bridge
IN question and found it not quite
completed. He reported to Road
master Benson, that some of his re-
pairs on the road some three miles
back we're giving way. and were not
safe for trains to pass over, when
Mr.. Benson sent number OF men
back with Elmore's train to make
the necessary repairs. Conductor
Elmore, however, remaining.
He came to the bridge a half mile
this side, where Roadmaster Moore
and Capt. Jacques were trying bridge
they had just completed by running
a loaded fat over it, and finding it
give somewhat, Mr.. Moore said he
would not risk an engine on his
bridge until he had further braced it.
About this time they could see that
the train had returned, and hearing
the engineer whistle off brakes, some
one remarked Benson is going to try
his bridge with the engine, to which
Mr.. Elmore replied, he certainly is
not going to do THAT, but looking
they could see the engine advancing,
and having fairly gotten on the
the bridge, the headlight suddenly
disappeared and the crash was heard,
every one turning as white as q sheet.
Rushing there and the true condi-
ton of affairs being seen, Captain
Jacques was seen to weep like child.
The general opinion is that Road
master Benson is at fault in urging
the unfortunate man to attempt 10
cross the bridge. 1t is stated that
Mr.. Armbrustar, master of car re-
pairs, pronounced the bridge unsafe
until better braced, but that Mr.. Ben
son insisted it was safe. Engineer
Holloway hesitated about making The
attempt, anq considered it unsafe,
but was repeatedly called upon to
cross by Mr.. Benson, who was on
this side of the creek. Finally the
engine was cut loose from the train,
and the engineer insisted on Jordon
Smith (the freman) leaving the en-
CINE, stating that if there was any
danger one man was enough to be
killed. The fireman did not wish to
leave him, but the engineeraiusisted,
and being alone he started on his
perilous and last trip. AS soon as
the engine and tender had fairly got
ten on the bridge it gave way sud-
denly, and the poor man was hurled
into eternity,
Before reaching the water he whis-
tied on brakes. The above we gath
cred from different parties who were
near the scene, and from parties who
had a conversation with Smith, the
fireman. w failed TO see Mr.. Smith,
although inquiring for him, but sup
pose we have given about the facts
Of the case.
The reporter of the Press md Her
aid had an interview with the fire.
man of Mr., Holloway's engine, A. J.
Smith. lie said:
l was the fireman on Mr.. Hollo-
ways engine. We left Knoxville on
No. I passenger train, last Wednes-
day morning week ago, for Chatta-
nooga, but did not get any further
down than Athens, owing to the
breaks in the road, Yesterday af-
ternoon We started up from four
miles this side of Sweetwater, with
train on which were good many
passengers, and intended coming to
Knoxville. We ran on q little while
and then arrived at the bridge g mile
and a half west of Philadelphia, over
Sweetwater Greek. Mr. Benson's
party were at work on the bridge,
which had been carried off by the
food. We waited there about an
hour. The engine was standing
pretty near the bridge and Mr. Ben
son {the road master of the Western
ordered me to run her back
away from the bridge, as she was
so much noise he could not
hear the wOrkmen. I got on the en-
CINE and ran her back two or three
hundred yards.
The engine was disconnected from
the train, and Mr.. Holloway was not
on it. About dark l learned that
the engine was to run over the bridge
to test it, and soon after I was sig
nailed by lantern to go forward.
moved the engine on slowly, and had
gone maybe half the distance to the
bridge when Mr. Holloway stepped
on her. lie said to me, ''Jud, you
need not go over the bridge unless |
you want to; if l we're you [ would
not go" I said l didn't know about |
it. Just as we neared the bridge Mr..
Holloway said to me again, tremor
in his voice, "Jud, perhaps the bridge
may fall, and something happen.
You had better get off; there is no
reason why you and both should be !
killed" ! said then. that as he in
sisted, 1 would go, and stepped of.
The engine went slowly on the
bridge. When it reached the central
portion, tight over the creek, heard |
4 crash, and saw the bridge give way, !
The tender fall into the water and |
The engine double backward and fall |
IN the tender. As it went down |
heard the shrek of the whistle. | |
Mr. Holloway started to
amp, and his hand caught on the
whistle lever.
There were quite a number who
the accident. Capt. jacques
vas there. and Mr.. Benson. After
. moment somebody hallooed that
Mr.. Holloway was in the creek. aud
FASTENED, with a section hand, in
o a skiff, and rowed some distance,