The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-24
THE PASSENGERS PLUNGE.

} came rushing along the road over which
the freight had gone in safety. The trail
was composed of mail car, two coache
J and two sleepers. Engineer Everett wa
at the throttle and beside him rode Fire
man Marion Burke. Conductor jaime
was in charge, and as the train rolled Oh
to its doom be went through the coache
looking after the comfort of his passen
gers. Two miles North of Big Shanty
while running rapidly and easy, Enginee
Everett felt his engine quiyer and at th'
same instant begin to sink down
Quickly he realized that he was in
washout, but believing that he had gone
too far to stop he gave his engine all th'
steam there was in the boiler, and closing
his eyes prepared to meet the conse
quence. The sinking sensation was soor
passed, but it was followed by a motor
of the engine which warned both mer
that the ponderous machine was going
over. Knowing that it meant death tt
remain longer at their posts both mer
sprang through the darkness and the rair
to tue ground. The engine was upon ar
embauEment and the engineer rolled
down to the solid earth. He was po
stunned, and getting upon his feet he saw
that bis engine was lying upon its side
motionless, while the tender had snap
ned the coupling link and was hanging
down over the track. AS he saw this he
heard the most pitiful cry.
ooh, my God !! let me out. Break
open the door, am burning to DEATH .
Plainly the voice came from the mail
car which was hanging over the opening
Forgetting his own danger the brave en-
gineer sprang up the bank, and with a
piece of the tender which had been
broken off, began trying to knock hole
in the postal car. While he was thus
engaged the earth began crumbling away
beneath his feet, and as the earth fell
the opening grew larger and larger. But
unmindful of his danger he knocked and
knocked until the car began sinking. AS
the car sank it carried with it the dirt
upon which Engineer Everett was stand.
ing. Feeling himself sinking he realized
his danger and tried to escape, and sue
ceeded only by hard climbing. At that
time the opening was only about twenty
feet, and the tender and mail coach alone
occupied it. But as the mail coach sank
down it drew the baggage car with it.
This made the opening larger and soon
the baggage car was followed by the
smoking car which went only partly
over. The gap by this time was fully
sixty feet. The cars did not 60 down
rapidly and it is good that they did not
for had they followed one another quick.
ly the loss of life would have been fear
full. Immediately after the mail coach
tilted over, the mail matter caught fire,
aud in second the Car was burning
brightly. The car was filled with mail
matter and the fire made swift headway.
The coach was soon entirely destroyed,
and then the baggage car which was also
on fire, dropped into its place. This was
also quickly destroyed, and then the
smoking car dropped down to the bottom
Of the burning pit The flames had
already caught the ladies' coach and it
was entirely destroyed.
When the engine broke loose from the
tender the automatic brakes did their
work we'll, and the cars stopped on the
opposite side of the gap. The stop was
sudden, and told all on board that some
thing was wrong. Conductor james was
sitting in the front of the ladies' car and
was pinned tight to the seats being drawn
together. He called for help, and as
soon as he was relieved quickly unloaded
his passengers. The unloading was
done hurriedly. As the passengers were
leaving the cars the wheels were slowly
rolling forward carrying the cars nearer
and nearer to the terrible pit which was
growing larger constantly. Finally every
BODY was out and then the TWO sleepers
were uncouped. By this time the burn;
ing mail coach gave plenty of light, and
believing that the entire train would
burn, the two sleepers were pushed back
and the ladies given seats therein.
The scene presented beggars descrlp-
ton. The burning cars, the crying wo'
men and the cries for help from the burn.
ing cars all went to make up the awful
ta6lcau. As soon as the passengers were
removed Conductor James began to see
the extent of the damage. He soon as.
certained that his engineer and fireman
had escaped death. He found mail
agents, Ed Hills and J. w. Gillespsie,
and from them he learned that MIR. ID.
A. Merrill, the mail weigher, bad gone
down with the car.
Yesterday big wrecking force worked
to clear the two tracks. There were no
trains on the road and The Atlanta ticket
office was closed until the Marietta &C.
commodation went out yesterday evening.
The passengers we're transferred by a
lumber train engine which was at Big
Shanty, and were brought to Atlanta last
night. Mr.. Kontz, the local manager
for the Pullman car company, who, went
up yesterday morning, was aboard, and
after his arrival he gave q graphic account
of the accident. Said he:
"It was the most horrible thing ever
saw. The freight wreck was all you have
heard. 1t was bad enough, but the other
vas worse. You see Everett felt the
road sinking and by pluck got over all
right. The road sunk until everything
went down. The burning cars were
awful. The shrieks of poor Merrill
must have been terrible. The engine is
now laying half on and half OFT the EN-
bankment. The gap is fully fifty feet
deep, aud the rails are hanging bent
over the edges of the chasm like reeds.
The remains of Merrill, charred, and |
guess beyond recognition, could be seen n
lying across the trucks OF car, hall
covered by dirt and car wheels. After
he was dead q pair of trucks, which was
all that was left Of the car which burned
on the track, rolled down on him. Why,
to see those car wheels turning slowly,
rolling along to the opening as the burn
ing be low made room ior them, was ter
rible. l tell you it was an awful sight,
and one :. man wants TO see only one
time in his life. The remains will prob.
ably be recovered tonight. The road
officials are doing all in their power"
THE NAIL DESTROYED.
The mail that was destroyed was a very
important one. The train brings one OF