The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-07-20
CRASH AT A SWITCH.
ONE MAN KILLED INSTANTLY AND
FOUR INJURED.

I
FOUR INJURED.
The East Tennessee" Express Collides
with Freight Train at the Eighty
Two Nile Turnout on the Savannah,
Florida and Western Reilway-Fire-
man Wallings Crushed to Death
and Fireman Robert Fielder Terribly
Scslded-Engineors Anderson and
Gray Escape by Jumping-A COlored
Switchman Opens the Swith in the
Face of the Express and Throws the
Trains Together.
The north-bound East Tennessee ex-
press, which leaves Jacksonville at z o'clock
p. m, collided with south bound freight
train at the S2-mile turnout. four miles
south Of Patterson, at II o'clock Thursday
night, wrecking both trains, killing Fire
man William Walling instantly and injur-
ing four others.
Robert Fielder, fireman on freight train,
was scalded and burned about back and
stomach, and ON arms, hands and legs.
Luke Gaines Ccoloredl, train hand on
freight train, was bruised about the head
and left ear cut.
Charles Andrews, engineer on express
train, had his left arm broken and was
bruised about the body.
Henry Gray, engineer on freight train.
had slight bruises about the body.
BROUGHT TO SAVANNAH.
Three of the injured men. Gray, Fielder
and Gaines, were brought to Savannah.
Fielder is the most seriously injured. He
was brought in on the Jesup express
yesterday forenoon by DR.. II. l.. Whatley
Of Patterson, and was taken to his home at
CASTOR and West Broad streets, where
he was attended by DR.. Duncan,
surgeon of the company. The injured man
was placed under the influence of morphine
and his wounds were dressed. DR.. Duncan
said last night that he thinks ne will re-
cover.
Engineer Gray was taken to his home on
CASTOR street, near Price He is not seri-
ouSy injured and is expected to be out in a
few Jays. He jumped from his engine
when he saw the express coming, and es-
capped
Luke Gaines was taken to his home at
Price and Hall streets. Dr. Duncan, who
attended him, said that he is not seriously
hurt
Charles Andrews, engineer on the express
train. lived in Thomas county
William Wallings, who was killed, was
terribly mangled. His body was cut nearly
in two, and one thigh was torn from the
trunk.
THE FATAL CRASH.
The collision occurred few minutes after
the south-bound train had gone on the
switch to wait for the express to pass.
Switchman Joe Vail was sent ahead to the
switch to open it as soon as the express had
gone by. Instead Of waiting he pulled it
open and held it, throwing the express train
on the switch The train was running
thirty miles an hour, and struck the loco
motive of the freight train with a terrible
crash. The engineers of both locomotives
jumped as the express turned the switch
The fireman, WalHngs, on the north
bound train was caught and killed. The
fireman, Fielder, on the freight, was
firing the furnace when the crash came, and
he was thrown against the boiler, and
burned by the escaping steam.
THE WRECKED TRAINS.
The north-bound train consisted of four
cars--a baggage and express, two day
coaches and sleeper The freight train
had about twenty cars. Both locomotives
were demolished The forward end of the
first car of the no th-bound train was
smashed in and the car slid up on the tender
of the locomotive Neither of the coaches
was injured. Two cars of the freight train
were demolished and half dozen more
were damaged. The passengers in the
coaches and sleepers were badly shaken up
but not one was injured.
The collision was caused by the colored
switchmen, Vail, opening the switch
and throwing the express on the
side track instead of keeping it closed until
the nor5h-bound train had passed, and then
opening it to let the south-bound
train out on the main track. How
he came to do it has not been ex
planned. One story is that he fell asleep
and rouslng up as the express train signaled
its approach he imagined that the whistle
was that of the freight train TO go out on tht
main track, and opened the switch just as
the express struck the turn out. After see.
ing that the wreck was inevitable he started
to run, but was captured by the fagmar
and brought back to the train, and las
night he was started for Savannah.
OPENED AT THE WRONG TIME.
The officers of the road said yestsrda
, that they could give no explanation of how
the wreck occurred, except that the switch
was opened a8d the trains thrown together
, Vail, they said, has been in the employ OF
the company nearly two years, and they
looked upon him as a capable employee. He
was under Assistant Master of Transports.
ton Fulton, who was killed in the Hurri
cane creek disaster a year ago las
, March.
Assistant Roadmaster j. W. Moore
with a wrecking train and force Of
, hands, was sent out to the wreck, and al
, $50 O'clock Yesterday morning the tracb
, was clear. The Albany express, due in Sa
{ vannah at O'Clock, did not arrive unit
{ 9:35 O'clock. The south-bound fast mail Ief
on time, and there was no delay to travel
after that.
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THE FORDs, MATINEE