Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-16
rae rREsrLE D1sAsTER.
Further Accounts OF the singular
Accident on the Charleston and
Savannah NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
the Train Hands-Intervaew with
Savannah Railroad OmciaI.

NEWst cOnbl0Qes 10 De the k6ucfdA S0bJSSs
of conversation. There are quite number
of strangers In the city Eastward bound who
are detained by the interruption Of commu-
nication, and who are unable to reach points
that they desire to visit without max
ing great detour at considerable
expense and the loss of time. Bren's ticket
Office is filed during the day and evening
by anxious inquirers for Information con
corning the trains, and the "Major" has
prepared set speech on the subject, set
ting forth the why's and Wherefores, and
gracefully abiding to the snow blockades
on the Northern and Western railroads,
coupled with the advice to belated passen-
gers to possess their souls in patience, be
content and thankful that the situation is
not worse, which he delivers at intervals of
ten minutes during the day for the edi1ca-
ton Of searchers after knowledge.
There is no doubt that serious inconve-
nience and annoyance is oceasioned by the
interruption of regular communication, but
accidents viii happen, and the railroad man.
agement are doing everything In their
power to place the road in good order in
the least possible time, meanwhile perfect
ing the best arrangements for the transfer
of passengers and mails that can be made.
A large force is engaged at work, which, we
learn, is progressing very favorably. The
work of removing the perishable freight
from the cars has been commenced, and an
effort was to have been made yesterday to
get the engine out of the swamp. This can
only be done by jacking it up, building a
track under it and then pulling it by ropes
and pulleys. II the river does not continue
to rise it is anticipated the trestle will be
rebuilt before the first of March.
Mr.. Edward Wilkinson, the fireman, and
Mr.. N. L. Kennedy, the wood passer on the
engine which fell through the trestle, ar
rived in Charleston on Sunday evening.
The latter furnished the following state
ment to the News and Courier:
81 am the wood passer on engine No. 10,
which was attached to the Inflated freight
train that fell through the Savannah river
trestle on Thursday night. The train was
composed Of twenty freight cars loaded
with cotton, lumber and perishable articles
The engine weighed about thirtY-six tons,
and was in good order. We were crossing
the trestle, and running not faster than
nine miles an hour when the timbers gave
way, and the engine and train quietly
settled down into the swamp. The en-
CINE went down first backwards and the
cars settled behind her. There was very
severe shock, but neither the engine
nor the cars left the track. Not even q
coupling nor a coupling pin was broken. /
was in some way knocked senseless, and
did not know anything for three or four
minutes. l received a severe blow over the
left eye, my back was bruised, and my left
leg strained. When recovered conscious
ness, heard the engineer, Jimmie Wilkin-
son, calling for bucket OF water, and the
train at the bottom of the swamp. Ed.
Wilkinson, the fireman, was also hurt by the
fall, but his injuries are not very serious.
When the engine went down backwards the
strain on the benches of the trestle was 80
severe that they gave way, and the falling
of one bench weakened the connecting tim
bers, and caused two miles Of the trestle to
fall. The crash took place about five min
utes before 9 O'Clock. 1t was SO dark that
we did not notice the track when It began
to give way.
"The conductor, Mr.. G. C. Murphy, and
three train hands, Benjamin Wigfall Sims
and Thomas Hutson, white, and a colored
man named Aleck, were In the conductors
cab, at the extreme rear Of the train. The
brakes were worked in the cab, and not on
the top Of the train, as Is sometimes the
case on freight trains. When the shock of
the falling trestle was first felt the conduc-
tor and train hands thought that the cab
had ran off, but that the engine was still on
the track. The engine was within fifty
yards of solid ground when the accident
occurred. After the train had fallen, Con-
duetor Murphy walked to Vaudeville and
sent dispatch to Savannah, saying that the
train had gone through the trestle."
Mr.. 8. G. Boylston, the General Freight
and Passenger Agent of the road, said that
it was impossible to estimate the amount of
the damages, or the time that will be neces-
sarY to repair the broken track.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MR.. W. B. M'KEE.
In consequence Of the general interest
felt in the matter, representative of the
MORNING NEWS yesterday called on Mr.. W.
B. Mckee, Chief Clerk and Passenger Agent
Savannah, Florida and Western Railway,
when the following conversation occurred:
NEws-How are the repairs to the
damaged work progressing!
Mr.. McKee-The work is getting on very
satisfactorily. kilograms received last even
ing from Major Gadsden, the Superintend-
ent of the road, state that the engine, tender
and five cars had been taken up and con-
siderable portion of the trestle recon
strueted.
NEws-When do you think the road will
be open to travel!
Mr.. McK.-From the best information
we can get, it will probably be open In three
or four days. Much depends on the stage
of water in Savannah river, in which a
freshet is on its way down, and expected at
that point the latter part of this week. The
Charleston and Savannah people are exert
ing themselves to complete repairs before
the freshet reaches the work, as they antici-
pate 1t would have as unfavorable an effect
In delaying the work as the recent one ex-
erted on the trestle.
NEws-Your people have been quite un-
fortunate with this road of late.
Mr.. McK.-It by our people you mean
the management of the Savannah, Florida
and Western Railway, you are in error. The
management OF the two roads is entirely
separate and distinct. The Charleston and
Savannah is most important connec-
ton Of ours, and the two are to a certain
extent under common ownership; conse-
quentlY, it is our duty and interest to ex-
tend the Charleston and Savannah such aid
in their trouble as lies In our power.
NEws-But / thought Col. Haines was
General Manager Of the Charleston and Sa-
vanEah Railway.
Mr.. McK.-This is not the case. Perhaps
the impression has grown out of the very
friendly relations between the two com
panies. The Charleston and Savannah have
a joint arrangement for terminal facilities
at Savannah, and call on the Savannah,
Florida and Western Railway for assistance
in emergencies. This is the extent OF the
relations existing between the two roads.
NEws.-To what cause is the accident at
tributedS
Mr.. McK.--The cause has not been posi-
lively ascertained, but is being carefully in
vestigated. 1t is more than probable it will
be found to be washed out piles under that
part of the trestle where the train fell
through; but until the train is taken up, and
the ground cleared for examination, It is
impossible to determine this point This
has been an exceptionally rainy season, and
this swamp has been under heavy freshets
for weeks, and the strong current passing
under the trestle at the point where the train
stands renders this view Of the case very
probable.
NEws-Are there not extensive improve
ments proposed for this road?
Mr.. McK.-l learn that not only proposed
but have been In progress for some time.
The long period of bankruptcy and litiga-
ton through which 1t passed caused a
general running down in all departments of
construction and equipment, which re-
quires time to fully bring up. The recent
weather has, to very considerable extent,
retarded the work of reconstruction. / am
aware of the fact that extensive purchases of
steel rails have been made, large amount
of which has been already laid, and re-
newals Of all kinds have been progressing
as actively as circumstances would permit.
know that large quantities OF cross ties
have been purchased for the line of our
road for renewals. / an also aware that
the management of the Caarleson Road
contemplated by next season to have their
road entirely renovated and re-equipped.
That excellent remedy, Coussens' Honey
of Tar, which has so rapidly gained in popu-
lar esteem, is pure and simple compound
adapted to all ages and constitutions, and
hacf na6f aEr.a sr,f Ha NOR N