The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-12
One Child Killed and Twenty-Six People
Were Injured, Some of Them Seriously.
MISPLACED SWITCH THE CAUSE OF IT
But for the Prompt Action of the
Conductor in Pulling the AIT
Brake Cord, tho Loss OF Life
Wonld Have Been Great Doctors
Were brought from Savannah.

pound New York and Florida express on
the Florida Central and Peninsula rail-
road, was thrown from the track, at An
derson, small station ten miles south
OF here, to-day by misplaced switch
The entire train, with the exception of
the body of the engine. was derailed and
was killed and twenty-six people were
injured, none of them fatally.
The train was made up of one first
class coach, one second-class coach
smoking car, combination baggage and
mail car and Pullman sleeper. and was
running at the rate of thirty-two miles
an hour. The switch was turned and
locked and the switch target shifted,
indicating that the train was on the
straight track. At the first shock OF the
engine leaving the track Conductor j.
u. Glass seized the air brake cord and
set the brakes. bringing the train al
most 10 an instantaneous standstill, as Il
left the track and preventing the tele-
scoping Of the cars.
There were 20S passengers aboard. OF
this number twenty-siX were among the
list OF injured, although 1t is probable
many more received slight injuries. The
dead and wounded, so far reported, are
as follows:
Killed-Lous Nathans, years old.
Injured-Mrs. w. l.. Grogan, Bruins
wick, Ga, shoulder fractured.
b. w. Brewster, Georgia, wrist sprain-
ed.
c. A. Shaw. Brunswick, slightly in
jured about shoulders.
]. A. Fisher, Lake City, Fla. finger
broken.
Susan Courier. Savannah. wris, and
back sprained.
Il. l.. Greer, Lake City Fla. shoulder
fractured.
81.
body.
]. j. T.dmh1e. Tampa, Fla, arm
bruised.
Mrs. ]. s. Durbe, Brunswick. slightly
bruised.
Augustus Law. McIntos!,, Ga, injur
ed about shoulders.
j. j. Barrett. Brunswick, injured in
back.
Della Smith, Darlen Ga. hip sprained.
William Dukes, Jacksonville, right leg
hurt.
Lizzie Johnsot Darlen, injured in
chest.
Sterling Law Liberty county. Ga.
shoulder dislocated.
Rebecca Norway. Dar!en. severely in
3ured internally.
Mr.. Smith, Charleston, S. c., right
hand broken.
Annie Pacetti Charleston: cut in face.
d. G. Hall. Tampa, Pullman car wait
er, Dadly bruised
Rev. w. p. Guion, assistant rector
Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans.
right ear severed
Charles Douglass Arnold Springfield.
Ills. head and arm injured
T. p. Hoppel. harrington. Ga, neck
sprained and internal injuries.
Fl. p. Levin, Brunswick, shoulder in
jured.
Fleming Winn a twelve-year old boy
or DOrChecte~ Xyhn 10 rj
the address of II. l.. Fulton, Savannah.
leg and cheek bruised.
Mrs. Patterson, OF Ridgeland ribs
crushed
c. NJ. Fryerday, Lafayette county,
Fla, head injured.
"hree others, whose names are nm
known are slightly injured. The scene
OF the accident was at a small station at
the crossing of ditch draining q rice
field There is no telegraph at the station
ana no means of communicative other
than by train. The train was due in
savannah at l2:40 o'cl ok. AS soon as
the engine could be r!ghted, tn engineer
came TO Savannah and brought the FIRST
report of the accident
physicians were hurriedly summoned
ana q relief train went to the wreck
The injured We're attended there. and
the more seriously wounded were
brought to the city and taken to Sayan-
'tNii ihOSpibuIs ne COI. fusion at tha
wreck made 1t impossible for some time
to get at the injured. No official state
ment can be obtained from the officials
OF the road. The statements OF the
conductor and engineer. however. show
mat the disaster was the result of a de-
liberate plot To wreck the train. The
place chosen was close beside a trestle
crossing the ditch. which was about
SIX feet deep. The probability is that
the plan was to pile the train into the
ditch. AS 1t was. the rear car went
over the trestle into the water. The
tide, which GIBBS and flows into the ditch
was out. and there was very little water
In 1t. In short while the tide began
TO come I'm and covered the lowlands.
Ut is supposed that the child of Mrs.
Nathans is In the ditch. The report
OF the accident caused great excitement
In the city To-day is the opening of
the annual festival; crowds Of people
were coming into the city, and hundreds
OF inquiries have been received tonight
from all parts of Georgia and Florida.
The hospital physicians say that none
of the wounded there are likely to die.
although the injuries of a number are
more serious than was at first believed
The motive OF the wreckers is as vet
unexplained. Detectives were put on
the case at once, but without anv tan