Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-23

AT nine o CLOCK bdLuruAy morning Jneft
was a fearful accident on the Mississippi
Central division Of the st. Louis, Chicago
and New Orleans railway, a mile and a
half south Of Grand junction. The par
~ticulars Of this accident, in which the en-
CINE Of the south-bound freight train No.
6 collided with engine No. 81 drawing the
pay train, show a remarkable absence of
anything like system or order on the part
Of officials, resulting in the horrible death
of two men and the destruction Of two To-
comotives. 1t seems that the freight train
at Bolivar was instructed to await or
ders at Grand Junction before pro-
ceeding south. The pay train had
orders to go on to Grand Junction ire
spective of Ne. 6. The latter train reached
Grand Junction on time, and the conduc-
tor says he failed to receive any orders
there. Accordingly No. 6 pulled out
without orders and went on its way. Upon
reaching q point a mile and a quarter
south of Grand junction, where a reverse
curve of the track along an embankment
comes into a deep cut, the two trains sud-
denly came within view of the respective
engineers, who'at once blew down breaks.
Pat Doyle, engineer of the pay train, re-
versed the lever, but he did not have time
to materially check the speed of the train,
which was rushing on to ruin and to
death. The engineer and fireman Of No.
G, seeing that a collision was unavoidable,
jumped their engine and thereby saved
themselves from serious injury. Pat
Doyle, with heroic fortitude, thought
not of himself, but stood to his post.
With a fearful crash the two engines,
which were going at the rate Of twenty
miles an hour, came together with fearful
force. A fearful crash followed, and amid
the great cloud of black smoke and white
steam could be seen the flying fragments
Of the engines. The engines were entirely
wrecked, as were also their tenders and
the car of the pay train. Amid the con
fusion and terror that ensued it was inn
possible to ascertain at first the extent of
the damage. However, the smoke soon
cleared away, and two mangled bodies
were seen among the ruins of the wrecked
train. One was that of the brave and
heroic engineer, Pat Doyle. He was
mashed to a jelly almost and scalded from
head to foot, but one hand firmly
grasped the lever. His death was
horrible, but his conduct was noble and
sublime. The other mangled form was
that of a colored porter of the pay train,
who also died at the post of duty. When
he heard the danger signal from the en-
gineer the porter rushed forward to the
platform of the car and seized the brakes
to check the train. While in this act the
two engines struck each other, the tender
being driven back, smashing the front
and platform Of the car. When found
the brake rod had penetrated through the
p%orter's body, and he was standing in a
recumbent position, being wedged between
the splinters of the car and the tender.
His hands were on the brake, for he died
doing his duty. He was doubled over the
brake. Roadmaster 1. X. Fulson had his
hand slightly mashed. The fireman Of
the pay train saved his life by jumping.
The brains of Engineer Doyle were
knocked out by a blow, and his
mangled form presented a shock
ing appearance. The pay train
coach was badly damaged, but only a few
coal cars of the freight train were thrown
from the track. The accident delayed all
trains about six hours, the track being re-
paired and the wreck removed as soon as
possible. The bodies of the killed were
brought to Grand junction and thence
shipped to Water Valley, Miss. Engineer
Doyle was one Of the best on the road, and
his death will cause general regret. He
leaves a wife and family at McComb City.
Mississippi. Saturday a justice Of the
peace at Grand junction impaneled a
jury and investigated the circumstances
relative TO the accident. 1t was ascertain
ed that the accident occurred in Fayette
county, about two hundred yards beyond
the Hardeman county line. The Jury
therefore had no jurisdiction of the matter
and made no verdict. We hear that the
conductor and engineer of train No. 6
were TO be arrested at the instance of
General Manager J. G. Clarke, who, we
trust, win not confne his attention to
these two men, but also make a fair and
full Investigation, especially as to the Off
Gals who gave the orders for the running
Of the trains. This railway is well man
aged, and we we're surprised as we'll as
panied to hear that such an accident had
occurred. However, Manager Clarke has
telegraphed Colonel L. 7. Brien, assistant
general manager, that the accident is a
disgrace to any road, and for him not
only to thoroughly investigate the matter,
but 70 discharge every man connected
with it. Colonel r. N. Calishan, super
%intendent Of the Mississippi Division, and
Jack White, master mechanic, are ordered
to report Saturday and Sunday at Grand
junction to investigate the matter.
LADEIS',G GENTS AND
MHgGgSs gurpG m UUnyRe