The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-09-29
A Terrific Icxpl.,sIon.

the secretary OF the assoclatlOh MS carry
rs possible.
a Terrific Explosion.
The STATESMAN reporter learned from
Mr.. j. NJ. Preston, and others who came
In on the International and Great North
ern railroad Sunday evening, the follow
ing particulars about the terrible accident
that occurred three miles this side Of
Jewett: A south-bound freight train
consisting of twenty heavily loaded cars,
drawn by engine No. -, with engineer
James ii. DoughertY, and fireman James
Russell, on the iootboard, was moving
over the rails at the usual speed of Il
cumbersome freight train. 1t was u
BEAUTIFUL SABBATH MORNING,
and the long line OF steel rails stretching
away out in the distance glistened like
silver as the rays OF the sun came shim-
mering down upon them. A delightful
south breeze was coyly stealing in among
the trembling, whispering leaves on each
side of the track. Birds, disturbed by
the rumbling of the ponderous train,
huttered and twIttered in the air, and,
settling back In the rich foliage of the
forest, sent forth joyous notes to gladden.
the hearts of the grim and faithful engi-
neer, his trusty fireman, and the careful
train men. They were ut their post of
duty, calmly moving over the rails, with
everything in apparent good order, and
little dreaming that In few moments n
terrible accident was to occur, that would
wreck the train and cause the death and
manning of certain Of their number.
IL was nine o'clock in the morning, and
the train had reached point about three
miles south of Jewett, small station
thirty miles this side of Palestine, when a
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
occurred, that was heard for miles. The
boiler of the locomotive, from some
cause, had suddenly been torn asunder
by the pent up forces within, completely
demolishIng the engine and wrecking the
entire train. The faithful engineer, with
his hand on the throttle, peering out of his
cab window and down alongthe line of the
cleaning rails when the explosion Oc-
Cured, was hurled many feet into the
air. He was found forty yards from his
engine, standing against tree and SUIT
fering terribly from the effects of his in
juries, and, when the train men APP
preached him, fell to the ground speech
less. He was fearfully scalded about the
face, arms and chest, but, strange TO say
had no bones broken. He was brought
to Austin Monday evening and placed in
the Manning hospital. where the reporter
found him yesterday, with Doctors
Swearingen and Mclaughlin doing all ID
their power to relieve his suffering an6
restore him to health. His injuries are
dangerous, but the eminent surgeons
who have him in charge have hopes o
bringing him through all right. Hi
faithful wife is ut the hospital attending
to his wants. The fireman, for time
was supposed TO havebeen
BLOWN TO ATOMS,
rs not a vestige of his remains could b,
found. His cap was discovered in tn
top OF tree, about fifty feet from wher
the explosion occurred. And some tim
during Sunday evening his body, man
gled beyond description, was foun'
hurled beneath the tender. None of tn
train men were hurt, so far as the re
porter was able to learn.
The force of the explosion was enol
nous, and one who visited the debrl
shortly after 1t happened, informed tn
reporter that piece of the boiler, weigh
ing, It is supposed. about one thousan
pounds, was hurled over the entire trai
of twenty cars, and fell on the track som
distance from the eabOose, or rear cal
The heavy trucks aud lower parts of III
engine were set flying over the track an
fell about two hundred feet from tn
debris. The cab, bell, chimney, and a
the top part of the engine were hurle
through the air in every direction, man
of the pieces being found five hundre
feet from the scene Of accident.
The tender was picked up and throw
some distance, the force being such tina
one of its trucks was buried into the har
earth to the depth Of several feet. A
but three of the cars composing the trai
were thrown from the track. Many
them were shattered to pieces
the force OF the terrific explosion, an
were piled high upon each other, creatin
scene o. wild confusion without pa
allel In the history of railroading in tn
state.
The track was torn up for hundreds
feet, the heavy rails bent and twisted
il ordinary wire, aud the ties broken AT
scattered to the tour winds.
The STATESMAN reporter, desiring
get all the particulars of this affair, a
piled to the railroad men in this city, bl
they were as dumb as oysters, aud with
GOODNESS that reminded one of the frig
zone, fatty refused to give any partic
lnrs, or even allude to the catastroph
The guileless news-gatherer however, n
completely frozen up by their frigidit
wiped the perspiratlon from his masst
brow, and set out on avoyage OF disco
cry. determining to find out somethiI
about the causes that led to the accider
He learned from reliable sources that Il
demolished engine was
VENERABLE wHEEzY,
an old rattle trap that has been used fra
time lmmemorial, hauling light eonvi
construction train over the road. Il
gagged In this duty, the boiler carri
from so to 100 pounds OF steam, and W
considered safe enough Cor this pressur
On sunday an extra aud very hea
goods train was to be sent out from p
estine, and not having proper engin'
twenty heavily ladened cars were
tached to the old rtckety engine, and
started out, and ended Its career
stated above. To pub a train as hea
As the one alluded TO, locomotives mi
carry from 40 to 100 pounds
steam. The old boiler, with Il
pressure and the terrible strain on
working parts OF the engine wsS
.hE&3eh. and the former was torn asund
lnman being murdered, another tel
bly, injured. add great loss to proper
sustained. II the eompsny.has any me
wheezy old rattle traps that are liable
be overloaded and sent cut on the no,
an interested public would like to KIN
Il that they may oe given a wide Der
In many Of the states soch An accid,
would be thoroughly Investigated, a,
A there Is law ia this state governl
such matters, IL is hoped thorough
animation WIN be made In this case. d
the responsibility OF loss OF life and q,
age TO private property may be pla
where il properly belongs.