The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-28
THROWN FROM THE RAILS
AN ISLE OF HOPE TRAIN WRECKED
BY A BROKEN AXLE.

Sunday Excursionists Given Lively
Shaking Up-Two Cars Derailed and
One of Them Partly Upset - The
Breaking of an Axle Under the For
ward Car the Cause of the Accident
The Passengers Brought Back to
the City in Horse Cars-Narrow Es-
cape from a Fatal Disaster
The outgoing City and Suburban train,
which left the city at 1925 o'clock yester-
day morning was wrecked mile south of
the White Bluff road crossing by the break
ing of an axle. The train consisted of
three coaches and combination car, and
was crowded with passengers for Isle of
Hope and Montgomery. A large number
of ladies and children were on board.
After passing the Savannah, Florida and
Western crossing, the engineer opened out
his engine as he reached the stretch of
straight track, and was making fast time
Conductor Rain was going through the
forward car when the axle broke. There
was a heavy jolt as the truck dropped
Mr.. Rain seized the bell rope but it was
drawn tight and the engine gong would not
ring
The forward car was a combination
smoker and baggage car. The smoking
section was crowded and the passengers
sprang from their seats the instant the
shock was felt. Mr.. Rain ran forward
through the baggage-car and signaled the
engineer from the forward platform. The
couplings between the forward car and the
one next to it were torn out and the train
pull sd apart the locomotive and comblna-
ton running ahead a quarter Of mile be-
fore they came TO stop.
BREAKING OF THE AXLE.
The jolt that was felt was caused by the
swapping of the axle under the rear truck.
The break was close to the wheel, and as
the truck dropped the wheel lay across the
track and derailed the second car. The for
ward truck was demolished, and the front
end of the car dropped down.
The third car passed over the obstruction
in safety and kept the track, but the last
car was thrown off and was nearly upset in
the ditch. Fortunately the sagging of the
front end of the second car acted as brake,
and when the fourth car left the track, its
momentum had been somewhat lessened
otherwise it would have been turned com.
pletely over and smashed to pieces, and the
passengers in it badly injured, il not killed.
AS the truck under the combination car
dropped on the cross ties, the heavy strain
snapper the axle Oh Tue OIuoT Sue, leaVlDE
both wheels on the track. The strain on
the cars tore out the couplings, and the
train broke apart.
RAN AHEAD OF THE TRAIN.
When the passengers got out the engine
and forward car were away ahead of the
second and third cars, and the last car was
partly overturned in the ditch some distance
back.
The passengers were pretty well shaken
up, but aside from few bruises, no one was
injured. One young woman was so badly
frightened when she got out that she threw
away her parasol and pocketbook. When
asked what she threw them away for, she
excitedly exclaimed: "Oh, dear, l don't
want them" For few minutes, until all
the passengers were out, there was good
deal of excitement.
LOOKING AFTER THE PASSENGERS.
President Johnston was driving in the
Southern part of the city when the acct
dent occurred. The train had not gone out
Of sight, and be saw it stop. Knowing that
something was wrong, he hurried out
road. Before reaching the train he learned
be sent messenger back to the city for half
a dozen horse cars and another engine to be
brought out Supt. Alley was at the
depot, and firing up an engine
he started out with a force of men. The
passengers in the meantime had been trans
ferred to the horse cars and were brought
into the city
The wrecking force went to work and at
O'Clock last night the track was clear. All
of the cars except one were brought into
the shops. New trucks will have to be put
under two of them. The damage to the
woodwork of the cars is comparatively
small