Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-14
KILLED.
J.F. WILSON. DavisbOrO, Ga.
INJURED.

INJURED.
A. H. STEPHENS, Barlow, badly
wounded.
;. B. STEPHENS, Barlow, badly
FANNY FREEMAN, colored, Milledge-
vile. leg broken.
MICHAEL FALvEY. Savannah, fireman
or locomotive Nebraska" drawing eN-
prpss tram. badly cut i'm the head.
The most exaggerated rumors were In
circulation in the city during the forenoon
in regard 10 the accident. the first report
giving tha number Of killed as fifteen, with
many more injured. The excitement was
increased with the knowledge that a large
number Of stockholders Of the road were
on board. The first reliable information
was a telegram received about / O'Clock
giving the correct facts. The news was
posted on the MORNING News bulletin
board, and was read by hundreds Of peo-
pie during the day.
Ii appears that the express was
behind time and left Midwife running on
the schedule OF the up bound freight,
which left No. Q at ; O'Clock a. IN. The
freight had proceeded about two miles
when the collision occurred. In round
ing a sharp curve the engineer of the eX-
press discovered the headlight OF the
freight train a short distance ahead. lie
reversed his engine. set the brakes and
succeeded in bringing the train nearly to
stop when the locomotives met with ter
ribie crash. The engineer named Hell
leaned from his cab and escaped without
injury. The fireman. Michael Falyey,
Of this city, remained at his post
and was buried in the ruins.
The freight train was unable to slack
speed and the shock was terrific. The
passenger train was composed OF TWO
| sleepers. two first-class coaches, one
| secOnd-class. a smoking car. baggage and
express car. in all eight cars. The
| secOnd-class car. next 10 the locomotive
[ was telescOped by the express car, and
| the baggage and smoking cars were piled
up on the ruins. The locomotive was a
total wreck. The locomotive ''Andrew
Low Of the freight train, two box cars
loaded with general merchandise and two
fiat cars loaded with lumber, were also
piled together in general wreck. the
engineer and firemen escaped unhurt.
The scene was one Of the widest excite
ment. and in the confusion il was impOs-
sible for a time TO tell the extent OF the
destruction.
The train was heavily loaded, large
number Of stockholders of the road being
on board on their way to the annual meet
inc. which was to have been held here
yesterday. The passengers rushed out OF
the sleepeTs and the day coaches and sur
rounded the wreck. 1t was some time
before anything could be done, but as
soon as the excitement was subdued the
work of removing the ruins to get at the
buried passengers was begun. Those who
were present worked with Will. The
remains Of J. f. Wilson We're found under
the second class car. and were badly
crushed and mangled. Near him
were Messrs. A. II. and 5. B.
Stephens and the cOl0red woman, who
were rescued and removed 4 short dis
lance from the train, where they were
placed on stretchers and rendered such
aid as was at hand. The injured fireman
was pulled ont from under his engine,
and was found to be badly cut about his
head, and it is feared is injured internally.
Fires were built around the stretchers.
and the wounded were gwen every pos.
sible attention until they could be remOv-
ed to their homes.
The wreck was cleared away, and
the train left for Savannah at
$3.50 o'clock, arriving at $3.50 last night.
\ large crowd gathered at the depot, and
the passenger sheds were packed as the
train rolled in. General Passenger Agent
Whitehead returned, leaving Superlnten-
dent Rogers and the Master Of TranspOrta-
ton ut the wreck. Great anxiety prevailed
during the day among those who had
irlen0S on board the tram, ana the
anxiety only ceased when their safety was
assured. The real cause of the accident
is unknown. but the fact that the passen-
ger train was behind time and was running
on the schedule of the freight is evidence
either Of cIrelesSness on the part of the
conductor or his ignorance OF the schedule.
Conductor Pace, who had charge of the
train. was recently promoted from the
freight train service. and was looked upon
rs a careful and competent emplOye. The
matter Will be fully investigated by the
officials Of the road and the cause of the
accident will be determined if possible.
This is the second accident in which a
passenger has been killed on the line of
the Central Road prOper-that is between
Savannah and MacOn-since il was built
The previous fatal accident was the kill
ing or a passenger about thirty years ago
at the Walnut creek bridge.
The injured fireman Falvey was placed
upon an imprOyised couch in sleeper and
brought TO Savannah. He was carefully
removed to his home on Tattnall street,
where he was attended by physicians.
His injuries are of a serious nature, and
his recovery is somewhat doubtful.