Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-11
TRAIN WRECKERS' WORK.
TWO SAVANNAH, FLORIDA AND
WESTERN TRESTLES FIRED.

WESTERN IltiNS HES FIRED
Further Particulars of the Disaster al
KelIy's Branch--NarrOw Escape Of u
Colored Brs teman--Ths Turning OF
the Train-Uhe st. Mary's Bridge Dis
covered on Fire-Tho Main lrestles
and Bridges Under Guard-Lookirs
for the Incendiaries.
Capt. K. G. Fleming, superintendent Of
the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail-
way, returned home at 9:l5 O'Clock last
night from the scene Of Saturdays wreck
near B1ulogue station, an account OF
which appeared iu the NEWS yesterday
morning. The burned treste through
which the wrecked train ran was replaced
with a temporary structure, and the urst
train passed over at / o'clock yesterday
afternoon. II is believed that the Hfe
was Of incendiarv origin, but by whom IL
was started, and for what motive, are
alike unknown. Every effort is being
made to clear up the mystery and appre-
bend the author of the villaiuous work.
The officials, of course, have their suspi-
cions, but they do not disclose their
theories.
The wrecked train was fast express
for Jacksonville. II was composed of
twentY-uine cars and a cabOOse. Five OF
the cars IN the forward part Of the train
were empty and were to be delivered 90
the Florida Railway and Navigation
Company for carrying fruit. These with
the tender of the locomotive and ten
other cars. all loaded, broke
THROUGH THE TRESTLE
and were burned. 1t is matter Of great
surprise that the locomotive itself passed
safely over, for the supports Of several Of
the short wooden spans had ALREADY
burned out and the flames were rapidly
consuming the others. The locomotive
jumped the rails whtn the cahoose broke
loose, nut 1t did not leave the bridge.
Robert Baker. a negro hrak eman, was
sitting on the fifth car that broke through.
He SAYS that he was SO frightened that he
did not know whether % jump or 20 down
on top OF the car. He held on, however,
and was thrown down among the debris,
from which he managed TO escape. badly
shaken up, but not seriously injured.
The trestle at this point is over what
is known as kelly's branch, and
is fifteen or twenty feet high.
Car piled upon car until the wreck
reached as high as the track. This filled
up the gap and stopped the rear cars from
going over. The sixteenth car was
loaded with flour from the West. 1t
hung over, and the end was partly broken
out. The ears and freight, which con-
sisted of general merchandise, added
fuel to the flames, and soon there was
fierce raging fire.
SAVING THE CARS.
The cars that remained on the trestle
were with much difficulty pushed back
by hand TO a place Of safety. lnfOr-
nation was at once sent to WaycrOss
aud wrecking train and crew were i'm
mediately started out. When they reach
q "a ma az hpt
debris. 1t was impossible To do ANYTHING
toward clearing it away until It was cool.
The men were put to work carrying
water in buckets. The trucks and wheels
were finally cooled of and work was be
gun at clearing away the ruins. 1t was
almost night by that time. The trestle
was 1876 feet long, the greater part Of
which was destroyed by the fire.
All through the night the men worked
steadily, and until past noon yesterday.
Trains going north and south came up on
either side and transferred their passen-
gers, baggage, mails and express. The
Macon train from jacksonville was only
about 30 minutes late at Jesup Saturday
night.
Superintendent Fleming left on the fast
mail early Saturday morning, and re-
NAMED on the spot until the repairs were
completed. 1t is thought that there was
destroyed.
A SECOND BRIDGE ON FIRE.
At 8 O'clock Yesterday morning, and
before the burned trestle was repaired
the iron bridge over the st. Marv's river
was discovered on hre. This bridge is
abcut two miles north of Bpulogne and
three miles north OF the wreck AneXtra
train was passing over the bridge at the
time.
The engineer stopped, and the train
men soon eNtinguished he blaze. This
second fire was construed as an indIca-
ton OF persistent efforts on the part of
some fiend TO wreck the trains.
Officials of the company say that theg
have not had trouble with any OF their
employees in that section recently. The
country is thinly populated, there being
no towns OF any Importance for several
miles in either direction. The nearest
section shanty rs at the 1885, mile post
bot very far from the burn q trestle. The
st. Mary's bridge is over 100 feet in length
The damage 10 il is slight.
ESTIMATING THE LOSS.
The loss TO the railroad company on
rolling stock and the trestle work which
was burned on Saturday VIII amount to
several thousand dollars. An estimate of
the value of the freight could not be OBJ
tanned last night. 1t was miscellaneous
and was probably worth $4,000. The erec-
ton OF the temporary trestle is said to he
the most RAPID work ever done on the
road.
All Of the maiu trestles and bridges are
placed under guard, and IL is hoped that
the tiend who caused the accident may be
speedily brought TO justice. Work will
be begun to-day at replacing the tempo
rary structure with a permanent one.