Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-12-31
WORK OF FIENDs.
fwenty-One Killed and Many Fa-
tally Hurt in a Wreck
Removal of Rail on a Trestle Precipitates
the Train no Feet Below with
Frightful Resu1ts-Braye
y Texans Perish.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. % Twenty
people killed, five fatally injured and
two badly wounded is the frightful re-
suit of a wreck which occurred at 7:30
o'clock yesterday morning on the
Birmingham Mineral road, 27 miles
from this city. The wreck is regarded
rs almost certainly accomplished by
she re moval of rail on the middle
span of the trestle. This derailed the
rain, which caused it to fall between
Two spans and precipitated it into the
river Ito feet below. The wreck was
he worst that has ever occurred in the
state, and the survivors are SO few and
are so badly hurt that they are unable
% give any detailed description of how
It all happened. It is not known and
may never be ascertained just how
many passengers were on the train.
Most of them were miners and resi-
ients of mining towns in this district,
who had round trip tickets and were
returning to their homes along the
line of the Birmingham Mineral road.
A few country people gathered at
the scene to render what aid they
could and nine people were got out,
the others being burned up in the
wreckage. When the relief train from
Birmingham arrived there was little
aeed for the army of physicians that
had gone along. The wounded were
quickly attended to and then sent to
Blockton for further attention. The
work of taking out the dead was en-
tered upon. Nothing was left of the
wreckage but the smoldering remains,
Which had burned to the waters edge.
Charred corpses were packed in be-
tween the iron framework where the
seats had been. Most of the bodies
had been burned beyond recogni-
ton. Some had their heads burned off,
and of others nothing was left but
three were children, all of whom had
their feet burned and mashed, and. a
lady who had both feet crushed.
Band of Texans Perish.
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 2s.-The Lone
Star company of the patriot army of
west Cuba, consisting of Is Texas
sharpshooters, persisted to man after
heroically battling for more than five
hours against vastly superior Spanish
forces in Pinar del Rio province, kill
ing double their own numb Der and
wounding probably as many more.
Havana officials are jubilant, passen-
gers arriving here say, over the news
of this victory.
Cuban band was observed near
Pinar del Rio City Thursday morning,
and Gen. Melquizo sent two squadrons
of cavalry to attack it. After run
ming fight the band, which proved to
be composed of Is Texans, were chased
into bottle a bit of hammock hav-
ing only one opening.
A flag of truce was sent in by the
Spanish, and the Texans were called
on to surrender, but the Americans re-
fused with one accord to lay down
their arms, shouting: 1--WE remember
Maceo." This Infatuated the Spanish
and they fought with renewed fierce
ness. Twice they charged, but the
rapid firing of the brave little band
drove them back. By getting on a
high ridge beh ind the Texans posi-
tions the Spaniards were enabled to
pour in a fire that killed all but two of
those left. Those two gallantty con-
tinued to fight, and held off the enemy
an hour longer. Then, overcome by
the loss of blood flowing from a dozen
wounds, they were cut to pieces by the
Spaniards, who finally dashed up as the
Texans cried: Viva Cuba .Libre!''