Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-24


LOUISVILLE, February 23.-The old city
sewer running along Beargrass creek burst
this morning, the result of which was the de-
struction of one hundred yards of the Short
Line railroad embankment. The break oc-
CURED at daylight, and a yard engine moving
east went into the crevasse, fall of forty
feet. All the men on the locomotive were
more or less injured. The break allowed a
food of water to rush over the territory be-
tween jackson and Clay streets, and in few
minutes that part of the city was covered
with water, about three hundred houses be-
ing surrounded. The general situation in
front of the city has improved and it is
thought the worst is over. At the time OF
the accident there we're six men on the en-
gine-John StalliDgs, engineer; Lew Husser,
fireman; John Harper, John Meffert, Tom
Barrett and Fred Burns, switchmen. When
the engine struck the lotion it piled up in a
heap, and the tender came crashing down
upon it burying the men under the coal.
Their situation was an extremely dangerous
one, and it ia almost miraculous that no one
was killed. The coal, which came in a heap
on them, pinned them down into the water,
which was as cold as ice and covered
with mud. The switchmen, who were
on top, managed to work their way out
through the cab windows, and then pulled
the engineer and fireman after them. John
Meffert was the worst injured one in the
parry. Two of his ribs were broken, his
back and shoulder slightly injured and his
left arm bruised. Engineer StalliDgs sus-
tanned several severe bruises on the back
and sides, while Harper lost one of his ears,
which was cut off close to his head. The
other men we're not hurt, but badly fright
ened. The scene of the wreck was visited
by hundreds of people, the bank around being
lined with spectators all day. The engine
is lying in a very bad condition, the driving
wheels and trucks are broken off and fast
ened under it, while the smokestack and
boiler are doubled up in a heap with the
tender on top of them. The road is
completely destroyed for about fifty yards
and it will take some time before it is re-
paired 40 that trains can pass over it. Until
then all trains will have to stop at Southall |
street Except the accident to the railroad,
the damage done by the water was not great |
The ground floor, machinery and boiler room
al Bell & Coggesha ALPS planing-mill, on Clay
street, were hoated, and a quantity of lumber
and some unfinished work destroyed. A two |
story frame house on Hancock street, near
Fulton, occupied by negro named John
Lewis, was swept off its foundatiou. The |
family were sitting down to breakfast, and |
had no warning OF the food until it struck |
the house with a crash and, bursting the |
door open, flooded the room. A scene of the |
utmost confusion ensued. Everything in |
the room was upset; the stove was thrown |
over, and the lamp dropped on the bed, set |
ting it on fire. The flames, however, were
soon e1tinguished. The whole family |
scrambled up stairs and stood at the |
door, watching the water creep up
inch by inch until it touched the |
floor beneath their feet. Everything in the |
downstairs part of the house was destroyed. |
The family was finally taken to the shore in |
a skiff In another shanty a woman named |
Susan Hsrris was caught by the water and |
nearly drowned before aid reached her. The |
water struck the Kentucky Rolling Mill like |
a tornado, sweeping everything off the |
ground floor and effectually ducking several |
Of the workmen. For about two squares |
east of where the disaster occurred |
the ground is very low, and the water flooded |
it completely, submerging houses in many in
stances up to the second story. The scene is
one of the utmost desolation, and the sufferings
Of many poor persons are great. The slough
at the cutoff remains hanged, save where
the water has sunk in several places, leaving
indelible traces behind.