Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1891-05-28
A TERRIBLE WRECK.
Smash Up Between Two Freight
Trains,

A@th"s
A very disastrous wreck occurred at as
o'clock Monday morning, on the Louisville &
Nashville railroad at Phelan's, a small station
fifty-two miles north Of Birmingham, Ala
1t was rear end collision between south
bound freight trains. The wreck took fire
and much valuable property was destroyed.
At Phelan, about fifty miles from Birming-
ham the first section of freight No. Is stopped
about o'clock to get water and pack some
hot boxes. Engineer Bilingsby, Conductor
Rockwell and Two brakemen were in charge
OF the first section of the train. The said
section was standing on switch and flag
man had been sent back to warn the section
which was about thirty-flve minutes behind.
The second section OF fourteen cars was in
charge of Engineer T. Edmunds, Fireman
Brown, Conductor Coleman and two brake
men, on j. N. Costello.
The section of the train passed Clillman,
Two miles from Phelan at u very rapid speed
The engineer was working steam' when the
train struck the grade down by Phelan The
decline there is about GO feet to the mile He
blew his whistle for off brakes and turned his
train to the wind, and was scorching the
breezes when he went into the switch at
| Phelan. 80
The first section numbered eighteen cars
and was standing at the water tank at Pie
Ian. The rushing, wild train came into the
switch and crushed into the first section with
terrific force. The engineer attempted to
leap Off. The fireman also made the attempt
| Both were caught in the wreck and terribly
burned, bruised, mashed and scalded. They
| were taken out. The cars to the number of
| eighteen piled up one on the other, and ON
space that could be covered by four cars.
The flames from the engine soon ignited the
hay, oil and meat with which the cars were
principally loaded, and such scene has not
been Witnessed by railroad men for a long
time Brakeman Costello WAS not to be
found anywhere, and has not been found yet
He was undoubtedly erefnated in the burning
cars. The conductor and two brakemen of
the second section escaped unhurt.
None of the men on the first section were
hurt, and after the wreck they brought the
remains of their train into the city.
Engineer Edmunds and Fireman Brown
were taken to Cullman and physicians sum
moned.
Assistant Superintendent B. M Starkes
Trainmaster John R. Wheeler and Dir. VIII
son boarded the wrecking train at 10 O'Clock
and left for Phelan
The doctors did all in their power for the
wounded men, but about II O'clock they died
Engineer Edmunds was married only three
weeks ago. He was from Evansville, Ind,
and had not been liz Birmingham very long.
lie was about 30 years old, member of the
church and always considered very safe
man.
Brakeman J. NJ Costello was a young man
about 80 years of age. He had held several
positions on the road and enjoyed the ac-
qnaintance of many warm friends.
The dead fireman, Lester Brown, was UNI
married, about 30 years of age, and came
from Ohio here.
The dead bodies of Engineer Edmunds and
Fireman Brown were shipped to Undertakers
Warner ~ Smiley. Tho body Of Engineer
Edmunds was shipped to Evansville, Ind,
last night 1t was accompanied by his wife
and several friends. III
The wrecking train had the main line
cleared by ~ O'clock and no train was delayed
except the Decatur accommodation which
was about four hours late.
When the engine was examined it had
changed end for end and was lying on its
side. The throttle was wide open. which
evidence correspondent with the brakeman
and conductor, who say THAR when they
PASSED Cullman the engineer whistled brakes
Off.
There are but two causes to attribute the
accident to- namely: First, that the flag
man did not give sufficient warming
thinking probably, that the second section
would also stop at Phelan and get water and
would approach the station under control;
and secondly, that the engineer on the second
section did not intend to stop at Phelan, and
| thinking that lie was about Thirty five min
uteS behind the first section, did not appre-
bend any danger at all. When he saw the
| tlagman it was then too late to save himself.
Eighteen cars were destroyed, Ind just
| what the damage will amount to would be
only conjecture.
| Up to a late hour last night the body of
Costello had not been discovered. :