The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1880-12-28
TELEGRAPH
RAILROAD ACUEDENT.
Cars TeIesc0ped, Passengers
Killed and Others Burned
Alive with the Ruins.


Charlotte, N. c., ga frigbtful
railroad disaster occurred on the Air
Line Railroad here, 500 yards be-
yound the Paw Creek trestle, nine
miles from the city. Two freight
trains left Charlotte yesterday morn
ing in sections, one about fifteen min
utes behind the other. On the ny
grade, just beyond the PaW Greek
tressle, fourteen cars of the forward
train broke loose and stopped after
running q short distance. In the
rear car we're Flsgmsn Bob Griffit.
and ak passengers, three of whom
were colored. When the detached
cars, stopped, Griffith Immediately
jumped OF, ard, having told the trsiG
men to notify the passengers
they had broken loose from theremain-
der of the train Immediately started
back to signal the second section. He
had not gone far before he heard the
approaching train. and then realized
the fact that he could proceed no
farther bscsuse of the trestle, which
lie $50 yards wide, and very heavy,
He waved the flag as the engine.
in charge oil Engineer Wssenberry
came in sight, and the engineer ex
pressed bis recognition Of 1t by imne-
distely blowing on brakes; but biz
tram was heavy ana be was nearing
the bottom of one of the biggest
grades on the road, hence it
was impossible 10 stop. As soon
as he realized these facts, and
before the crossing trestle be re-
versed his engine and continued to
blow on brakes. Realizing the catas-
trophe he lett his seat, and standing
in front of the fre-box, with his hand
on the lever, awaited the shock. Il
came, and he was partially kn cked
down by stick of wood from the
tender, but was otherwise unhurt,
though almost entirely shut in by the
mass of debris which was thrown
against the engine. His life wes
probably saved by the fact
that the rear OF the tender
was thrown to one side, thus diverting
,ne full momentum OF the train from
the engine TO the side of the cut.
against which the shattered cars were
piled in an inextricable mass. What
ACQUIRED in the cab is obtained from
statement made by Thomas H
Gather, of this city, who was pas
senger and who miraculously escaped,
though seriously injured. having had
several of his ribs broken. There
we're six passengers besides the flag
man.
The train which ran into them had
caught up with them at Wood
station, lew miles back and
hence, when its coming was
announced, no one felt apprehensive.
The fGgmRn had been sent back ss
an additional precAution and hence
no attention was paid to the ap-
preaching train. 1t was upon them
before they knew it. Gather remem-
bers that he and Philip s. WhisnaDt,
started to get out, but before be
passed the middle OF the Car he Wss
knocked down. He managed, With
the assistance Of a colored man, to
sxtricste himself by lifting the top OF
the car of The other passengers,
Philip s. Whisnant. ofthis city, Char
lie Sellers, whose parents live in Pin
Hook, and Rnegro named Ned Stroud,
we're ali killed. The Cars telescoped
each other and we're piled in the
greatest confusion. The macs cought
fire and the remnants OF the Csrs,
including that in which were the
passengers we're destroyed. At leas,
one OF them, name unknown, was
burned alive, his cries being heard
Che cbsrred remains we're recovered
otter several hours, but could not be
recognized, the head, feet snd hands
oein entirely burned of.