Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-06-18
THREE MEN KILLED.
TERRIBLE WRECK ON SALU
DA MOUNTAIN.
A WILD TRAIN RUSHES TO DE-
STRUCTlON.
A Number Injured-The Bodies
Brought TO OAsheviIle-AI I.Oss
Of $4,000 to the Com.
ISalsy.

Brought to Asheville-A I.Oss
Of $4,000 to the Com.
pany.
The second section Of freight train No
II which left Ashcvillc for Spartanburi
last night was wrecked in a terrible man
ner below Saluda, thirty-two miles from
this city. Three men were killed ant
several others more or less injured. Th,
killed we're:
ENGINEER J. J. SMyER, of Yorktown
Virginia.
ENGINEER LEWIS TrNsTALL, of Saluda
NC.
FIREMAN WILLIAM 6. TAYLOR, OF Nor
ristown, Tenn.
The names of the injured cannot all b'
obtained. Flagman {. Bowcock hat
both legs broken and two brakemcn, Ed
Foster, colorcd, and man named Green
Ice both were injured but not seriously
1t was reported that Conductor Geo
Ricketts, was seriously il not fatally in
iurt d, although this report has been dc
nicd.
The wreck occurred on Saluda noun
tain. The grade is in some places an av'
eragc of 237 feet to the mile. The train
which consisted of ten loaded coal cars
was met at the top of the mountain by
the helping engine, run by Tunstall with
Poe as fireman, and the helper, as it is
called, hitchcd on between the train and
the regular engine to assist in holding
back down the grade. lust after leaving
the top of the mountain the train became
unmanagcablc and started down at a
terrific rate of speed. 1t ran at the rate
of sevcntv-fvc or more miles an hour for
three miles and then jumped the track.
The place at which the wreck occurred
is on the side OF the mountain and in a
little less than three miles the fall is GOO
feet. The men who were killed were
caught as the cars went over and their
bodies were taken out from among the
wrcckagc as soon as possible.
1t is stated that Fireman Poe jumped
from the train as soon rs he understood
what would occur, and before the tram
had attained much speed. lie escaped un'
hurt.
As soon as the news Of the disaster
reached this city by telegraph last night,
a wrccking train with DR.. W. ID. Hilliard,
the railroad surgeon, ON board was sent
to the scene. A train was sent out this
morning from here with undcrtakcrs,
who returned at 1910 O'Clock with the
bodies of Engineer Smycr who lived here
and Fireman Taylor. Smycr's wife is at
Morchcad City, and has been tclcgraphed
for. Superintendent Melee has gone to
the wreck.
The occurrence OF wreck ut this point
has heretofore been thought by the rail
road pcopleto bc almost impossible. Ex'
ira precautions have always been taken.
The little station of Mclrosc lies Just at tho
southern base of the mountain and an en-
ginc is always kept there to help the trains
over the grade. More than that George
Ricketts,, the conductor Of the ill-fated
train, is one OF the best on the road and
has always been considered ono Of the
safcst. No other reason has been assigned
for the wreck than that the track was
wet and the train became unmanagcablc
The loss to the company IN engines aud
cars will amount to $4,000.
Taylor's body was sent to Morristowr
for intcrmcnt this afternoon, and Smycr''
will go to Newton tonight.