The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-09-06
A BAD RAILROAD WRECK.
THE ENGINE GOES DOWN FORTY
FIVE FEET.
The Trestle Was Washed Away-A Most
Miraculous Escape From

The Trestle Was Washed Away--A Most
Miraculous Escape From
Death.
The Cannon Ball train from Mont
gomery, due in Dawson at l p. M,
did not reach Dawson Thursday night.
The train was wrecked. That night
about II 80 o'clock the Cannon Ball
reached Geo ,getown on les way from
Montgomery to this city. The train
stopped there for water, after which it
started on its usual run. About 800
wards this side of the water tank is what
is known as the Mercer mill creek trestle
When the engineer, MI. JnO. t. Taylor
neared the ;restle he was just beginning
to get his train under good headway.
CHANGING out on the track in fornt OF his
engine he was horrifed to see that a
part of the trestlsng was gone. He yell
ed to his fireman to jump, which he did,
but the brave engineer stood at his post
of uuty and in another moment was
precipita with his engine
FoRrY-FIvE FEET BELOW,
When the engine and tender went
through the hole they were broken loose
from the other part of the train, which
saved tue lives Of the large humber OF
passengers on board. 1t is pretty geDeJ-
ally known that when a train of cars are
detached the rear section is Immediately
stopped by the forced application of the
air brakes and So taht night when the
engine and tender went down, the train
not having yet gained full Roadway, was
brought to a sudden standstill.
AS soon as Conductor G. G. Wright
man recovered from the severe shoes of
the train stopping SO suddenly he secur-
ed lanterns and assistance and went to
work to rescue Engineer Taylor, and
Fireman Jno. Res. whom he thought
must surely be dead or dying. While
he was making preparati ms for the
work Fireman Ross put IN appearance,
having saved his life by jumping from
the engine. He was only slightly bruis-
ed ard took an active hand in the rescue
of his engineer Before the work had
hardly begun the rescuers were startled
by hearing Taylor cry out that he was
not hurt but could not get out, as he was
pinioned in his cab.
HE IS RESCUED.
After about TWO hours hard work in
the darkness, while a steady rain was
falling, Engineer Taylor was allowed to
creep from underneath the debris which
had held him SO securely in perilous
position.
The fact that Engineer Taylor was not
killed instantly establishes one of the
most miraculous escapes on record.
By those who have seen the trestle it is
claimed that, at the point where the en-
CINE went down, the height is at least
forty-tive feet to the marshy ground be-
low, and that person falling that dis
lance in the cab of an engine and escap-
ing death is simply miraculous.
THE PASSENGERS HokRIFIED.
When The passengers on the train had
learned of what a narrow escape they
had had they were Mortified. Had the
ar-blakes, just at this juncture, failed
to work the loss of life would have been
terrible. Every passenger present lifted
up silent prayea TO the man who in
vented the air brakes.
There can he no doubt about tit
was trying time. The rain was coming
down in a steady pit-a-pat and the pas
sengers, horr0r-stricken as they were,
grouped about in the darkness, thankful
that their lives had been spared by one
of the greatest inventions of the age.
A bout month ago there was wash
out at this place, and it was several days
before it could be repaired SO that tie
trains could make their regular trips.