Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-12-18
RAlLROAp DISASTER IN GEORGIA.
TWELVE LIVES LOST AND MANY
PERSONS INJURED IN A Col
LIsION NEAR ATLANTA.

IAnlDA ~ LAlN ALLAN n
ATLANTA, GA, Dec. 15.-A
frightful and fatal collision Oc.
CURED this morning, shortly after
midnight, on the Georgia Pacific
Railroad, about fifteen miles from
Atlanta, III which twelve lives
were lost and two persons were so
badly injured that it is thought
that death will result. The cir
cumStances of the wreck are as fol-
lows. The East Tennessee and
Georgia Pacific Roads use the
same track from Atlanta to Aus
tell, where they diverge, one going
west and the ether north. They,
however, leave Atlanta from diff
ferent depOts and meet just at the
city limits, and from there they
both use the same track to Austell.
just one mile east of Austell to-
ward Atlanta is a water tank used
by the Georgia Pacific. The night
passenger train of the Georgia
Pacific leaves here at 1000
o'clock and tho East Ten
nessee train at 1915 O'clock. Last
night, however, the Georgia Pacific
was somewhat delayed, and when
1t stopped ut the water tank was on
the East Tennessee time. The East
Tennessee passenger train came
flying around curve near
the water tank, and without a mo.
ment's warning went crashing into
the rear of the Georgia Pacific
train. Engineer Owen and the
fireman of the East Tennessee
train saw the Georgia Pacific train,
but too late to avoid a collision. The
fireman jumped from the engine,
but the engineer remained at his
post, reversing the engine and ap-
plying the brakes. He was unable,
however, to avert the collision
The engine tore its way into the
rear of the coach, and the rear of
the coach telescOped the one in
front of it, which was forced into
the one ahead of 1t. The rear
coach was filled with passengers,
many of whom were so pinned
down by the wreck that they were
unable to stir, and the escaping
steam soon caused the death OF
five or six. The cries of the in.
injured rent the air.
All was darkness, and the state
ments of those who FASTENED to
the scene are to the effect that
words cannot describe the awful
ness Of the situation. AS soon as
possible the East Tennessee train
was backed from the wreck, and
the work of removing the dead and
wounded commenced. From Aus.
tell a message was sent to Atlanta,
apprsing the officials of the road
Of the accident, and asking for
help. At 2:25 A. NJ, a train left
here bearing physicians and several
of the railroad officials. The Off.
GERS of the road Immediately set
at work to have the track cleared,
and at $50 this morning this had
been done. About $50 A. NJ, a
train left Austell for Atlanta with
the dead and injured, arriving here
at 500. The killed were PLACID on
bicrs in an undertaking establish.
ment, and hundreds of people have
crowded its doors all day.
The blame Tor the accident can
not be yet placed, and an investl-
CATION will be necessary to settle it..
The East Tennessee conductor
says he was on his time, and fol-
lowing the schedule and his direc-
tions IN full. The Georgia Pacific
conductor says that he had no
Official knowledge Of the night
passenger train Of the East Ten
nessce, and ran out as he had al
ways done. The coronePs inquest
has been going on all day. In the
examination DR.. Roy, surgeon Of
the Georgia Pacific, said that when
he arrived on the scene the engine
had tclescoped the sleeping coach,
passing through the entire length
OF the car, within a few feet of tho
end, and water and steam from the
boiler gushed through and flooded
the whole train. According to his
examinaton,not single one of the
dead died from external injuries,
but all met death by being scalded
and from inhalation of steam.