Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-12-31
TWENTY SEVEN DEAD.
HORRIBLE RAILROAD ACCI-
DENT IN ALABAMA.
The Rails Were Removed aud Train Was
Dashed Through q High Bridge into
. Rivor-wreck Catches Fire aud Many
Bodies are burned.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 9s.--Twenty-
two people killed, five fatally injured
and two badly wounded is the fright
full result of wreck which occurred
ut 1880 o'clock Sunday mornin G on
the Birmingham Mineral road, twenty
seven miles from this city.
The wreck is regarded as almost GER
tainly accomplished by the removal OF
a rail on the middle span of the trcstlc.
This dcrailed the train, which caused
it to fall between two spans and pre-
cipitated it into the river, ITO feet be-
low. The wreck was the worst that
has ever occurred in the state, and the
survivors are so few and are so badly
hurt that they are unable to give any
detailed description of how it all hap
pencd. It is not known and may never
be ascertained just how many passen-
gers were on the train. Most of them
were miners and residents OF mining
towns in this district, who had round
trip tickets and were returning to their
homes along the line OF the Birming-
ham Mineral road.
The Inflated train was a local pas
senger, which left here at G:3O q, M,
and was scheduled to make circuit OF
the birmingham Mineral. which is q
branch line of the Louisville and Nash
vile road, reaching the mining towns
in the district The train, consisting
of an engine, a baggage car and two
coaches. left here at G:30 a m, and
went to TacCo, on the main line of
the Louisville and Nashville. There
it switched off TO the Birmingham
Mineral track and went to Guerney,
and from Gucrney to lSlOcton.
Six miles south Of Gucrncy is the
Cahaba river. shallow mountain
stream, which has depth at this time
of only about three or four feet. This
river is SPAWNED by an iron bridge with
wooden trestleS on each side. Its GU
tire length Is 500 feet, and the length
of the main span, where the wreck
occurred, is ITO feet. The bridge was
built only four years ago, and was re-
garded as very safe structure. The
main span and the span just beyond it,
both made of iron, gave way and pre-
cipitated the entire train into the river.
The engine landed on its side, almost
at right angles with the track. The
cars piled upon each other through the
main span. The entire wreck took
fire soon afterward, and was rapidly
burned to the waters edge.
OF the eight other survivors three
were children, all of whom had thcir
feet burned and mashed, and lady
who had both feet crushed. Their
names have not yet been learned. The
other three were Henry lIandbcrry,
a conductor from birmingham, who
was taking his wife and two children
out for ride around the circuit, and
Will Gardner and Andrew Bryson,
miners from Blocton. Handberry was
on the same seat with his wife and
children when the crash came. The
latter three were killed, and he was
pinned down and would have
been burned alive had he not
been rescued by BrySon and
Gardner. These two men also
saved the unknown woman and three
children who were likewise pinned
and appealing piteously for help, but
by the time they had rescued these
five persons the heat had become so
intense that they were compelled to
desist in their work of rescne. 1t is
thought that fully three-fourths of the
dead were killed outright in the crash,
while the other five were pinioned
down and cremated. Gardner and
Bryson were both badly hurt, while
will probably die.
The flames had completed the work
of destruction before any help arrived.
The country around the scene OF the
accident is sparsely settled, and the
few farmers who heard of the wreck
and went to the scene arrived too late
to be of any assistance except to the
survivors.
Was tho Work Of Wreokers.
Gardner says when he felt the cars
leave the track he looked out and saw
three savage looking men rushing
from hiding place down toward the
waters edge, and that after tho wreck
they went through the wreclSagc, rob
bling the dead and wounded, and then
fled to the woods.
An examination of the engine shows
that Engineer White had shut off Inc
steam and reversed before it w mt
down, indicating that he saw danger
ahead as he approached the bridge and
tried to stop the train. His charred
body was found with his hand on the
throttle.
A relief train with Superintendent
Frazier of the Southern road and eight
physicians, nurses and supplies left
here at 10 o'clock n. m. for the scene of
the Bloclxton wreck. The train re-
turned at 10 o'clock last night with
twenty seven bodies. These cornscs
are now at the several different unuer-
taking establishments in this city
awaiting Identification. All Of the
bodies, however, are charred beyond
recognition.
On the approaches Of the same bridge
Yesterday afternoon another fatal ac-
cident occurred. A bridge carpenter
was killed and several persons were
injured by a collision between an
engine and one of the wrecling trains
sent to the rescue of the victims of the
first accident
Upheld by f. j. Phelps.
BURLINGTON, Vt, Dec. ss.-E. J.