Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-28
OVER THIRTY DEAD.
Train Goes Through Bridge
Over Cahaba River, Ala.
Cars Plunge 10 Feet to Rocks and
Survivors Are Burned Alive.
Horrible Scenes Of sufIerins-ver Few Is.
cape. All Badly Injured.

Birmingham. Ala. Dec 27-The most
horrible train wreck in the South since
the famous one at Statesville, s. c.. in
1881, occurred, at an early hour this
morning. near this city. when a passen-
ger train crashed through a trestle to
river 10 feet below 1t is known that
IS lives We're lost and 10 were injured, of
whom two will die. A more complete
search OF the charred train may reveal
more bodies
1t is most certain that the wreck was
caused by fiends for the purpose of rob-
berry. OF those on the train nine escaped
death. and several of these will die of
serious injuries. None can give correct
account of how the accident occurred.
The train was a local on the Birming-
ham Mineral Railroad branch Of the
Louisville & Nashville system 1t left
birmingham at go A. NJ. to nuke the
daily circuit of the mining towns in that
section of the country, and most Of the
persons on board We're miReSs and. FAM
lilies, taking advantage of thd excursion
tickets on sale for the holidays.
For a portion of the way the line uses
the tracks of the Southern Railway Co
and it was on this road that the accident
occurred. In crossing the Cahaba river
there is an iron trestle surmounted by
woodwork 10 feet above the water.
which at this stage is only four feet
deep. The bridge is only four years old
and was always considered perfectly
was 10 feet in length. This. with the
span next beyond went into the river
with the train.
The engine fell at right angles TO tho
line Of the bridge. with the ears piled on
top of il and around it, Engineer White
was found with his charred hand grasp
ing the throttle Flames from the stoves
in the coaches ignitcd the wreckage and
the entire mass was burned to the edge.
of the water.
The only one of the train crew that es-
capped with his life from the wreck was
u colored fireman. Sam Spencer. He
jumped from the engine while II was In
mid air, and. falling into the. river. es-
, napsn almost mo by amiraae with only IA
Wild with fright. he fled for the nearest
station to give the alarm but before ne
reached there n farmer passing saw the
condition of affairs and went to the tele-
graph station with his horse at full
speed.
kilograms We're sent to Birmingham
and relief train went to the scene. but
before it reached there the flames had
done all their work and the destruction
The train was made up of an engine.
baggage car and two passenger coaches.
A rail had been removed from the track
and when the engine struck this, 800 feet
of the bridge gave way and went down
with the train. The passengers and
train men who were pinioned under the
debris were burned to death in sight of
the other victims of the wreck. Some
passengers not SO badly hurt managed to
crawl out and do all they could in assist
ing others. but with little avail. OF the
dead four are unidentified.
The bridge was a pOnderOus wooden
structure with an iron span of 200 feet In
the center. 1t was just at the beginning
of the iron work that the train wreckers
pulled the spikes and removed one of the
rails. When the engineer discovered
this. as is evident from the position of his
throttle and reverse lever. he attempted
to stop. but was running at such speed
as to carry down the bridge.
AS soon the news was received both
the Louisville & Nashville and Southern
Railways sent out relief trains loaded
with physicians and others. and every
thing possible was done for those fortil-
nate enough to get out of the reach of
the flames. Many of the dead were
charred beyond recognition.
The exact number who persisted will
never be known. but it is believed it will
reach So. One of the relief trains ran into
the rear end of the wrecking train.
which was stopped about $50 feet from
the bridge. and came near knocking IL
on top of the burning train. In this acct
lent five were injured, two of whom will
lie.