The record-union., 1896-12-28

BIRMINGHAM (Ala), Dec. 81
The most horrible train wreck in the
South since the famous one at States
vile, S. c., some years ago, occurred
this morning near this city, when a
passenger train crashed through a
trestle to a river 10 feet below. 1t IS
known that twenty lives were lost. and
a more complete search of the charred
train may reveal more. 1t is also most
certain that the wreck was caused by
fiendS for the purpose of robbery.
Of the persons on the train nine eS-
capped DEATH and several of these will
die of serious injuries. None of them
can give a correct and detailed account
of how the accident occurred.
The train was a local on the Birning-
ham Mineral branch of the Louis
Vile and Nashville system, its number
being forty 1t left Birmingham at
6:30 a m. to make the daily circuit OF
the mining towns in that section of the
country, and most Of the persons on
board were miners and their families,
taking advantage of the excursion tick
cts ON sale for the holidays.
For a part of the way the line uses
the tracks of the Southern Railway
Company, and it was on these twenty
seven miles from here that the acci-
dent occurred.
In crossing the Cahaba River there
is an iron trestIe surmounted by wood
work, 10 feet above the water, which
at this season is only four feet deep.
The bridge was built only four years
ago and was always considered perfect
ly safe It is 500 feet long, the main
span being 10 feet in length. This
with the span next beyond went into
the river with the train.
The engine fell at right angles to the
line of the bridge, with the cars piled
On top of it and around 1t. Engineer
White was found with his charred
hand still grasping the throttle.
To add fury and commOtion to the
event, the flames from the stoves in the
coaches ignited the wreckage and the
entire mass was burned to the edge
OF the water. The only one of the train
crew that escaped with his life from the
wreck was the colOred fireman, Sam
Spencer. He jumped from the engine
while it was in midair and falling into
the river escaped by a miracle with
broken arm. Thoroughly frightened,
he fled for the nearest station to give
the alarm, but before he reached a
farmer passing saw the condition of
affairs and drove to a telegraph station
with his horse at full speed. Messages
We're sent to this city and relief train
went to the scene, but ere it reached
there the flames had done all of their
work.
The killed are: Frank White, en-
giner; George Carney, flagman; a. p.
Connell, conductor, all of Birmingham;
Tom Streeter, colored porter of Bir-
mingham; Jordan Powell wife and
eight children of Blocllton; Mrs. Henry
Hanbury and two children of Birming
nam; James Boiling, express messenger,
of Guthrie; l.. w. Martin. BrookwOOd;
Bruce Phillips, Blockton: s. w. Tibbs
and wife, Campbelltown; Andrew Bry-
son, BlocktOn; George Glendale, Hell
ena, and four other unidentified.
The injured are: Ed Echols, slightly;
Henry Hanbury, ribs broken; - Pow
ell, child. feet badly burned; Mrs
Walker of Blockton, internally, viii die;
Stan Stewart, arm broken.
The bridge was a ponderous wooden
structure, with an iron span of 200 feet
in the center, and just at the beginning
of the iron work train wreckers had
pulled the spikes and removed one of
the rails. When the engineer discovered
this, as was apparent from the position
of his throttle and reverse lever. he i'm
mediately attempted to stop, but was
running at such a rate of speed as to
carry down the bridge. Every evidence
showed that train wreckers had been at
work.
both the Louisville and Nashville and
AS soon as news was received here