Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-01
The Western and Atlantic Railroad Dis

SAVANNAH, GA, April 30.-Edft0r Morning
Nelos: In your issue Of this morning 1 find
telegram from Atlanta in reference to the
disaster to the Western and Atlantic Railroad
caused by the water-spout some couple Of
weeks ago. and as your correspondent is so
far out OF the way with his figures, deem it
proper TO ask space for correction. The gross
loss viii not amount to one-third of his esti-
mate.
will state that Que of the engines was not
very badly damaged, and will be rebuilt. The
other was in her thirteenth year Of SER
vice, and would have been taken out this
coming fall. The cars in the passenger train
were insured, and we have been notified that
freight conductors cab and one box car
were left intact. The salvage
IN wheels, aXles. etc., viii mate
rally diminish the loss on the other cars. The
were five ear loads of meat, of which four ana
one quarter car loads were saved. So was
one car load of bulk corn, and almost car
load of bran. Two car loads of cotton were
entirely saved. and nearly all of a ear load Of
hay. There were only three horses aboard
and one was rescued.
After the bodies of the engineer and fireman
were dug out from the wreck, and nearly all
of the freight that could be considered yalu-
able, the freight train wreck was fired as the
quickest way of getting rid of it. This fact
probably gave rise to the report about the
river of bacon gravy.
At the passenger train wreck the two sleep
ing cars were cut loose from the others and
rolled back by hand after all the passengers
had been sent back into them.
The net loss on rolling stock and freight will
hardly exceed S24,00
Your readers can probably form some idea
of how extraordinary the affair was when 1t
is stated that the midnight passenger train,
No. II, from Atlanta, passed over the scenes
Of both disasters, and also over that OF the
large WashOut south of either of these within
less than hour before either wreck occurred,
and when she went north, nothing about either
place attracted any attention. The freight
train met this passenger train at AcwOrth
and came south and went into the middle
chasm less than fifty minutes after No. II had
passed up safely.
Passenger train No. r. which was wrecked.
met No. IL at Gainesville, and coming south
went into the upper chasm less than thirty
minutes after the freight train had passed
| safely over it.
The upper chasm was GO feet deep, the mid
! die one 30, and the lower one n. The upper
and lower breaks were where the embank-
| ment IS wide enough for double track at the
| top. and are about BPS feet thick at the base.
At the lower one the western half of the
embankment was washed out, and pond OF
water covering from to u acres was formed.
] Mr.. D0Oly built the two splendid trestles
over the upper chasms and Mr.. kimball con-
! structed his temporary trestle on the eastern
| side of the lower washOut. In letting the
| water through the culyert after this trestle
| was done it caved in again, causing the second
trouble. Mr.. D0Oly has now gotten rid of the
| water and viii have the permanent trestle
| done this evening, and all trains can hence
! forth run regularly.
| The Undersigned having spent the most OF
! the past two weeks in the mud and rain at
| the scenes of the disaster and seen the road
| lie helpless, like wounded giant, can keenly
| appreciate the very great kindness which the
| public have on every side extended toward
| US. Very respectfully,
JOSEPH NJ. BROWN,
| General Freight Agent.