The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1891-09-24
A TERRIBLE WRECK.
FRANK HICKS KILLED AND 9TH.
Frs INJURED.

Passenger train No. 4. and freight train
No. Is, collided on side track at Smyrna
Tuesday night about SIS o'clock, which
resulted in the immediate death OF Fireman
Frank Hicks. Of Marietta, and the injury
OF Engineer Hackney, mail agents ]. T.
Miller and Mr.. Wing6eld. little tramp
white boy about Ia years old, was between
the baggage and mail cars, and VIXEN the
engineer reversed his engine he took alarm
and jumped from the car, and fractured
his collar bone inatwo places and injured
his hip. Charley Pine, engineer on the
freight train received slight injury on
the arm by jumping from his train.
II seems that the local freight train in
leaving Smyrna about 6 o'clock had left
the switch open. The south bound train
had just taken the siding, coming in on the
upper end. That passenger train does not
stop there but was dashing through at the
rate OF 35 miles an hour. Engineer Hack.
ney says he saw that the switch was open
and he reversed his engine, but the speed
that he was going was checked but little,
and the two engines CAME together with
crash that was heard two miles.
The tender Of the passenger was driven
full length into the mail car, while the
express car next following telescoped the
other end of the mail car, plunging halt
way.
Hicks was evidently in the gang>way at
tempting to jump from the engineers side
OF the engine, when he was caught, piece
OF iron several inches thick and the run.
ming board passed clear through him, dis
emboweling and otherwise mangling his
body, while the escaping steam scalded his
flesh. His body was wedged in between
the tender and boiler and it required great
effort to release him.
Engineer Hackney received cash in
the back, several gashes on the head and
his foot was mashed He bled profusely
but will recover. 1t is supposed that he
was knocked from his box and fell to the
ground when the cab parted.
Miller was fastened in the timbers of the
mail car and received such internal ipiur>
les as will result in his death. He vomited
blood profusely.
Wingfeld is only slightly hurt on the
arm, cut by piece of glass, in climbing
out of window.
The wrecked engines are driven into
each other at least Is inches, while the
machinery OF both are bent broken, and
disjointed. Much of the wood work of the
cars are splintered into kndling. 1t is a
fearful spectacle of devastation and ruin.
Mr. John L. Reed. of this place, was in
the baggage car, but escaped unhurt, all
though the trunks in one end of the car
and himself changed places, when the
cars came together.
} The little white boy, Charlie Tillman,
was stealing ride. He thought he was
on Western and Alabama train, but had
gotten on the W, & A. through mistake,
and in place of being carried toward his
home, Columbus, Ca, he was being whirled
in the opposite direction, and almost to
death. He had runaway from home about
three months ago, and was anxious to get
back, but had no money. His terrible ex>
perience Of running away from home will
last him life time. The passengers on
the train escaped from any serious hurt.
They made up $3.50 to pay the little boy
fare to Atlanta and Columbus.
Drs. Moore and Hurt gave all the atten,
ton in their power to the wounded. DR..
Moores Office was covered with blood,
vomited by Miller and which dripped from
the wounds of Hackney.
The body of Hicks was carrind to At
lanta along with the wounded. His father,
Capt. R. B. Hicks, Of Roswell, arrived IN
Marietta on Wednesday morning and
went on the Marietta accommodation train
to Atlanta. Mr.. Chuck Anderson sent a
man to inform him of the death of his son
Frank that night.
Mr.. Frank Hicks was about "a years
old and had been living in Marietta four or
five years. He was highly esteemed and
had many friends He was sober, upright
and gentlemanly, and his tragic death is
, | uOOpiy iCStCCOCu W ouT peOplc' ne De>
longed to the Odd Fellows, Masons, and
the Marietta Fire Co There is some in
surance on his life.
The freight cars, when the collision took
place, were knocked backward from the
engine and driven some rs yards. The
bumbers were driven into each other and
the cars otherwise disabled. Out of 19
freight cars, only five are in good coupling
condition.
Only the mail and express cars were
demolished Of the passenger train.
The track under engines were twisted
and turned over so great was the force,
when the engines locked horns"
1t was a miracle how any one in the
mail coach escaped instant death. so
} terrific was the telescope and splintered
timbers.
liberated sore leg with a running sore
OF several years standing, which the docs