The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-04-04
DEATH IN A CHASM. .
A Train Falls Through a Trcstle-
Many Persons Killed.

Many Persons Killed.
At 9:4o Saturday morning the first section
of the south bound West Cuban fast mail
train crashed through the trestling just after
crossing Hurricane River, near Blackshear,
Ga, rs miles south of Savannah on the
Savannah, Florida and Western Railway.
The accident was caused by broken rail
under the baggage car. The baggage car
got off the track about quarter OF a mile
before it reached the bridge at Hurri-
cane River. The train passed safely
over the bridge. Immediately on the
other side there is a trestle several hundred
feet in length. When the baggage car struck
train, with the exception of the engine,
dropped through. The train consisted Of a
combination car, three baggage cars,
smoking car, one coach, two Pullman
sleepers, all Of which were thronged
with passengers, and private car
of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. This private
car, which was the only one not broken to
pieces, was occupied by President Wilbur,
Of the Lehigh road, his family and friends,
who survived the shock. When the en-
gine reached the bridge over Hurricane
500 feet in length, speed OF forty
miles per hour was being made. When it
struck the trestle the front axle of the bag
gage car broke down, and that car, followed
by the balance of the train, jumped the
track, knocking the trestle down, and the
whole fell into the creek. The engine and
tender tore loose, and reached the other
shore safely. In the creek there was only
three or four feet Of water.
The scene at the moment after the wreck was
heartrending. The lower coaches were well
nigh smashed to pieces. Fortunate were those
passengers to whom death came instantly.
Every coach was flled, and hardly passenger
escaped without some injury. The cars were
piled on the top Of each other and smashed
into splnters, and the cries of the frightened
and injured passengers arose from the
mass. Messages were sent to Superlntend,
ent R. G. Fleming, who Immediately wired
to WaycroSs and Jesup for physicians. A
wrecking train was made up in the yard
right away, and Doctor William Duncan,
the road physician, and large force
of men started for the scene. An hour later
another train was made up. 1t carried out
physicians and an additional force OF men
and cof1ins.
The fourth car was occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. George Gould, son and daughter-in-law
of Jay Gould, and although badly damaged it
was " IS not complete wreck. The end Of the
last car was telescoped into Mr.. Gould's
car, but was almost intact. 1t con-
tained twelve persons, comprising Mr..
Wilbur's party. One son was killed, and
Mr. Wilbur himself was seriously hurt
Two other sons were injured and Others in
the car more or less hurt, except a little
daughter of Mr.. Wilbur, who escaped with
out injury. Mr.. and Mrs. Gould were not
seriously injured, although Mr.. Smith, the
conductor of the car, was instantly killed his
body being mangled almost beyond recog-
milton.
The total number Of killed was thirty and
over forty were more or less injured, several
Of them fatally.
Of the killed twenty were white and ten
colored. OF che wounded ten are ladies,
twenty white male passengers, and six are
children.