The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-12-31
WRECK ON The RAIL.
Passenger Train No. 5 Jumps
the Track
And HurlS Human Freight to the
Doors of Death.
No One Killed, but Several are Badly
Injured.--The List.

What might have proved disas-
trous wreck occurred yesterday morn
ing near Vance's station, on the E, 7.
V. & G. road, the exact locality being
four and half miles this side OF Bris-
tol. About twenty passengers were
aboard, but happily none were fatally
injured, Judge R. r. Butler, of John
son county, being reported as the most
dangerously hurt.
The reporter used every effort to get
all the facts, but such feats are always
impossible in connection with railroad
disasters, due to the reticency Of all
the employees.
Passenger train No. 5, due here at
7 :35, left Bristol on time, and all went
we'll until it neared Vance's, when q
broken rail caused it to jump the track.
The engine and baggage CIR passed
over safely and it's thought that the rail
was broken by the jar. The morning
was very cold and the rails are steel and
consequently would snap in two on
short notice. The train was in charge
of engineer John Patterson, fireman
John Hacker, Conductor Ross Smith,
baggage master j. Boyles, brakeman
w. B. Roddy and a colored porter.
Only two of the crew were hurt
Captain Smith escaped with lame
leg and Roddy came back with bruis
ed jaw and leg and hurt on the side,
All those on board say it was indeed a
wonder that several we're not killed, as
both the coaches we're hurled down an
embankment and turned bottom side
up.
A reporter of the Bristol News
talked to most Of the injured, and tC
him we are indebted for much of Qul
information.
None of them knew when they
struck the ground or when, where OF
how they regained their equilibrium
One young lady, Miss Mamie St. JOHN
Of Chilhowie, felt that she was leaving
her seat, and quicker than she coulC
think she went flying across the car
through a window and on to red clay
bank under the debris. She was hur
about the face.
Miss Nellie ST. John refused to tall
to the reporter to any great degree o
huency. That was strange for twt
reasons: She is woman, and the in
terrogator was reporter. But sh
couldn't talk very well her tongu
was one of the injured members. Sh
was also bruised about the chin AM
limbs. These young ladies were e1
route for South Watauga.
Judge r. r. Butler, exmember c
Congress from 1st Tennessee districr
was more seriously injured than an
on board. He rece we'd flesh woun
on the head and bruise on the bach
and it is thought received internal il
juries.
Mrs. G. A. Harr, wife of Rev. F. N
Harr, of Midway, was hurt; contusio
of face and leg.
Miss Sadie Harr, Morrell's Mill
confusion of head and face.
Beverly Butler was slightly injured
cut on his hand
B. G. McDo we'll and J. B. ChildeI
were on board but not injured.
The company's wrecking rain pas
ed up the road about 2 p. M. boun
9 for the scene of disaster, but long b
g fore that a special train had been sci
: out from Bristol, having on board DR.
q Nance, Butler and others. The il
i jured, after receiving all possib
Y medical attention, were placed {
:. board and taken to their homes or Il
homes of their frie IDS and relatives.
Everything is cleared away al
trains are running as regular rs usus
), Those who were not injured are,
J. course, devoutly thaekful, while Il
0 lie fortunate ones who were so ne
!, deaths door are doubly grateful +
e their renewed lease upon life. AT Ia
accounts all were doing nicely,
Ie They Want TOlt Hall.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn, Dec BOT,