The Portland daily press., 1885-12-16
A TRAIN TELEscoPED.
Frightfui Collision of Passenger
Trains on a Georgia Railroad.
Eleven Passengers Killed and Many
Others Badly Hurt.
careIessness of Employees the Cause
of the Accident.

ATLANTA, Ca, Dec. ia frightful collision
occurred this morning, shortly after midnight, on
the Georgia Pacific railroad, 15 miles from here,
in which eleven lives were lost and three persons
sobadly injured that it is thought death will re-
suit. The circumstances Of the wreck are as fol
lows: The East Tennessee and Georgia Pacific
roads use the same track from Atlanta to Austell,
where they diyerge, one going west and the other
north They, however, leave the city from differ
ent depots. and meet just at the city limits. Just
onei mile east of Austell, towards Atlanta, is a
water tank, used by the Georgia Pacific. The
night passenger train of the Georgia Pacific leaves
here at 10 O'clock and the East Tennessee train
at 1915 Last night, however, the Georgia Pa
cific was somewhat late, and when it stopped at
the water tank it was on the East Tennessee time
and the East Tennessee passenger train came fly
ing around the curve near the water tank and
without moments 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 the collision The fireman jump
ed from the engine, but the engineer remained at
his post, reversing his engine and applying the
brakes. He was unable however, to avert the
collision, The engine tore its way INTO the rear @
coach, which telescoped the one in front, which
in turn was forced into the one ahead OF it. 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. For a time
the cries of the injured rent the air, then all was
The statement Of those who fastened to the
scene are to the effect that words cannot describe
the awful 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 Austell message was sent
to Atlanta, asking for help, and at 2.2 a train
left here bearing physicians and several railroad
officials
to have the track cleared which was done at $50
this morning. About 7.30 a. m, a train left Aus
tell for Atlanta with the dead and injured, arry-
ing here at sos. The killed were placed on biers
in an undertaking establishment, and hundreds OF
people have crowded It's doors all uay. Inc HsI OF
killed and injured is
Bernard Peyton, Of Birmingham, Ala, attorney
of the Georgia Pacific.
Nathan Stanley, OF AnnlSt0n, Ala.
E. Y. Hull, of East Point Georgia.
j. w. Pierce, of Texas.
One little baby, the infant of Jake and Mary
Banks, who died in its mothers arms;
Two little children, one BABY belonging TO b.
Bright.
B. Bright, of Fairburn, Ga.
INJURED.
John Bryant, of Oxford, Ala.
B. Cook, of Fairburn, Ga
W. J. Irwood, of jackson, Ga.
Mrs. Carrie Bright, of Fairburn
E. N. Ellison, of Riverside, Ala.
j. III. Sink, of Salem, Ala.
G. w. Beton bound for FL Paso, Texas
Mrs. Jane Eliza Brown, bound for Cleveland
county, Alaba.
a colored man named Jake Rogers.
Mrs Bright died this afternoon, and Belton is
rapidly sinking, as is also Mrs Brown.
The blame for the accident cannot be yet placed
and an investigation will be necessary to settle
it. The East Tennessee conductor says he was
on his time. and followed the schedule and direc-
tons in full.
fetal knowledge of the plight passenger tram OF
the East Tennessee and ran out as he has always
done. The eoroner's inquest has been going on