Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-29

to the superintendent office In this city
and to the office at Blocton.
RELIEF TRAINS GET AWAY.
As soon as the news was received
here Assistant Superintendent B. M
Starks ordered a relief train out and
summoning all the available city physi-
clans, got them, with number of Off
cials and workmen on board, with in
structions to those in charge to hurry
with all possible speed to the scene. A
train was hurriedly gotten out of Bloc
ton with physicians and a number of
miners. on board This train was first
at the scene and as soon thereafter as
possible the work of rescue and caring
for the injured was begun.
THE SCENE AT THE WRECK.
Eye-witnesses, who were soon upon the
scene, tell narrowing tales of the suffer-
ings of those who were gotten out of the
wreck alive, and those taken out shudder
in recalling the horrible and agonizing
cries from those caught in the cars which
became ignited a few minutes after the
fall and who were being slowly cremated
alive, without helping hand to give
them succor. Pen cannot describe how
the unfortunates thus caught and who
were being slowly roasted to death must
have suffered.
The relief corps arrived too late to be
of service to those imprisoned in the
| cars, as life was extinct in every in
stance. There was work to be done
| among those more fortunate, and all pos
sible relief was given them.
AS the charred and burned trunks of
victims were brought from the wreck
strong men shuddered and wept at the
| awful sight. In some instances nothing
remained of an unfortunate save the
headless and limbless trunk and in one
instance that of poor George Carney, not
even this much was obtained.
Engineer White was the only victim
whose remains escaped the cruel flames
DISPOSITION OF VICTIMS.
| After all had been gotten from the
| wreck the dead and wounded were plac-
| ed on board a relief train and started
| off. All of the dead belonging out Of
| this city were sent to their respective
| destinations, and the train arrived in
| this city at $3.50 p. m. Owing TO the
unusual jam around the Union depot and
| yards. Assistant Superintendent Starks
| ordered the train stopped at Fifth ave-
| nue. and Thirtieth street, where 1t was
met by ambulances and dead wagons.
Here the remains of the dead were taken
/ in charge by undertakers from Warner
| & Smiley Co., and e. Erswells under
| taking rooms and the injured were taken
| to Wilson & Browns infirmary. The
| remains of Mr.. White were taken to
| the latter place while those of Mrs Han
| bury and children, and Messrs Bowling,
| Connell Webb, Carney, Blount and the
| unknown were taken to Warner & Smi-
| ley's.
THE NEWS IN THE CITY.
When the terrible news reached Birm-
| 1ngham 1t spread like wild fire and in an
incredibly short time hundreds of peo-
pie rushed to the depot anxious to hear
| the worst. Anxiety and terror was de-
picted on every countenance and with
bated breath the question was asked on
all sides, How many were killed?"
Who have you heard of as being kill
idfr cc;.
instances to note the countenances Of
inquirers.
Exaggerated reports of the number of
Fatalities got out and as many as 120
deaths were reported at one time.
The superintendent's office was be-
seiged byahundreds, but owing to lack of
information their pains were unreward-
ed. During all the trying time Mr.
Starks, though worried and panied at the
aWful calamity, never once gave an un-
kindly answer, realizing, as it WERE the
anxiety of his questioners.
BIOGRAPHIES.
Mr.. J. Frank White the engineer, has
been a locomotive engineer for several
years, and was considered one of the best
on the road He was about As years of
age. He married Miss Anglin, daughter
of DR.. T. N. Anglin, and was a brother
in-law to Mr.. j. P, Mudd and Hon. S. d.
Weakley. Mr.. White was a man of firm
convictions. During the railroad strike
he continued to run his engine, although
the strikers tried to influence him to get
off. He leaves wife and three children.
He made his home with his father-in-
law, on Eleventh avenue and Eighteenth
street, South Highlands. The funeral
will take place this morning from the
residence of DR.. Anglin, at 1920 o'clock
Mr. White is said to have objected to TAX
ing the engine given him on the fateful
morning and remarked: II will pound
her through or break down a trestle."
George Carney was the flagman and
was about rs years of age. He was for
awhile q conductor on the Highland
Avenue and Belt railroad,and was known
for his courtesy and Kindness. He was
at one time employed on the Age-Her-
aid. He was married to Miss Vigo about
four years ago, and leaves two children.
James Bowling was the messenger of
the Southern Express company, and was
about 20 years of age. He was a resident
of Guthrie, KY He was caught in his
car and was probably burned to death.
His body was brought to this city and
was prepared for burial and shipped to
Kentucky. His body was only recog-
nized by scraps of clothing.
Mrs. H. M. Hanburry and two children
resided at 2108 Humboldt avenue. South
Highlands. Mr.. Hanburry is a conduc-
tor on the Mineral and was taking his
family on an outing. He was badly hurt
himself and was pinned down In the
wreck while he saw his wife and children
dying. M
A. P. Connell, the conductor, was SUBJ
stitute the regular conductor, Robert
Rutherford, having asked to lay off for
that day. This is the second time Ruth
erford has escaped a wreck by the merest
chance.
A young man informed a State Herald
reporter Sunday evening that on Satur-
day night he was in a barber shop in
this city and Mr. George Carney was
also there. After the latter had shaved
he bade the young man goodbye, say
ing he did not think that they would
ever see each other again. The prophecy
proved, alas, too true. Mrs Carney it
is said, also remarked that her husband
had often said that he would be burned
up If he should ever be SO unfortunate
as to be caught in a wreck.
Mr. Bryson, at late hour last night,
was reported In very critical condition.
The rapidity in getting wrecking and
relief trains from this city to the scene
of the tragedy is commendable and re-
fleets credit on Mr.. Starks, assistant su-
perintendent of the Louisville and
Nashville.
Blocton's relief train did heroic work
81 x,oro much commanded therefor