Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-23

A KEEN EYE AND A STOUT HEART
Brave Jim Ha ives.

Brave Jim Hawes.
To him is due the existence this morn
Ing of upward of 100 people and they are
loud in praise of his keen eye and remark
able nerve.
Had he not been in the full possession
of his faculties, his hand on the lever
of his noble engine and his eye, keen as
a razor's edge, on the track in front of
him, passenger train No. 81, westbound
on the Southern railroad from Atlanta,
consisting of six cars we'll filled with
people, would now be lying at the bottom
of McComb's trestle, fifteen miles east
of this city, with all on board dead or ia
tally wounded.
McComb's trestle is a three decker, sit
uated midway between Weems and H snry
Ellen, and at the base of a mountain,
hence heavy down grade. No. 81 was
on time and coming along on schedule
time The train hit the bridge but no
sooner did it do so than Engineer Hawes,
to his horror, saw before him, about the
middle of the bridge, a rail twelve inches
out of line. With his noted GOODNESS Jim
air and reversed his ponderous engine
The train struck the vacant spot and
the engine and every car left the track
and went its entire length and ten feet on
the timbers on top of the trestle
Fortunately, and, it may be said, by
Divine Providence, the train remained
on it's dizzy perch, but had not Engineer
Hawes been attending to his duty, it Is
reasonable to assert that he and every
one in his keeping would have made a
terrific plunge into eternity.
- WORK OF TRAIN WRECKERS.
That the removal of the rail was the
work of train wreckers there can be no
doubt.
Conductor Patterson informed a State
Herald reporter at 8 o'clock this morning
on arriving in the city that he examined
the track and found the plates, bolts and
taps on top of the bridge, where they
had been left by the demons in human
form. They had removed the fastenings
and showed the rail twelve inches out
of plumb and he was positive it was done
with the expectation of wrecking the
train for robbery.
THE FIRST REPORT.
About 10 o'clock, or shortly thereafter,
Night Station Master John Powers re-
ceived a message from Conductor Patter-
son, requesting him to notify Supt. Fra
zier of his train being wrecked at Nc
Combs trestle and to have him bring the
wrecker and "a special train. Also to
notify Sheriff O'Brien to send posse and
dogs as he was satisfied the wreck was
the work of would-be train robbers.
Mr.. Powers at once communicated with
both parties and as soon as possible Supt
Frazier had the wrecker and special
ready.
THE SHBRIFF'S POSSE OFF.
Sheriff O'Brien, as soon as notified
called up Chief Deputy Warnoclz and or
dered him to report for urgent duty at
the Jail. The two arrived promptly and
were soon equipped for business. Four
horses were secured. Deputy Sheriff Jim
Ball was sent to Woodlawn on an elec-
trio car, with six good dogs, and the
sheriff, Mr.. Warnock and a third man,
name not ascertained, left with the extra
horse for the scene of the wreck.
Deputy Ball caught the special at
Woodlawn and went on to the scene with
the dogs.
AT THE WRECK.
When the wrecking crew and special
arrived at the wreck all wondered how
it was the entire train did not go to the
bottonT-of the ravine. 1t was a miracu-
lous escape, and all at once saw the
great nerve of Engineer Halves.
THE TRANSFER.
The passengers on the wrecked train
were transferred and brought here at
o'clock this morning, with not single
scratch among the entire number. Some
spoke of gray hairs however.
Sheriff O'Brien had not reached the
scene with his posse at last accounts,
though expected momentarily.
Every effort will be used by the brave
sheriff and his aides to catch the scoun-
drels.
ANXIETY IN THE CITY.
A State Herald reporter used every
effort, after the news of the wreck reach
ed the city, to ascertain the facts, but the
train dispatchers were unable to give
any information. The wires, for time,
were grounded and the anxiety became
feverish. There were hundreds Of peo-
Pile at the depot awaiting trains and they
caught. the fever and the feeling of
many was terrible to witness.