The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-28

W NAlC NNAAllANNANlsll -NilFtNl AAOAAA
mlnSham. Ala. says: Flcnds In human
form wrecked the Birmingham Mineral
passenger trlin No. 40 Mt Cahabn bridge.
twenly-seveu miles from here. at 100
o'clock this morning, and over twenty
lives werI lost That number ot bodies
have been recovered from the wreck
and further search may swell the list OF
dead. The wreck Is regarded as almost
cermInly accomplished by the removal
OF = rail on the middle span OF the tres
tle. This derailed the train. which caus-
ed Il to fall down the two spans and Pc
c!pliateL 1t into the river 10 feet be-
low
The wreckwas the worst that has ever
occurred in this state and the survivors
are so few. md are SO b2llly hurt, that
they are unable to give any detailed
description OF how It all happened: 1t
IS not known just how many passengers
were on the train. Most .Ol them wer.
miners and residents ut mining towns
in this dse;r!ct, who had round trip holl-
day tickets And were returning to their
homes along the line OF the Birmingham
Mineral railroad.
Conductor \. P. COnnell. who knew
probably better than any body else as to
how many passengers were aboard. Is
dead. Il IS thought. however, tha; there
We're noteNceedinGt twenty or thirty.
But,one passenger purchased ticket at
birmingham.
The Inflated train was local passcu-
ger. which left here at $50 u IN, and
was scheduled 10 make circuit OF the
birmingham Mineral which Is 4 branch
line Of the Louisville & Nashville. touch
ing all the important mining towns II:
the district. The trIlin, consisting OF au
engine. baggage car and two coaches.
left here at $50 4. m. and went to Toe
Goa. on the main line OF the Louisville
* Nashville. There II switched of to che
birmingham Mineral track and went TO
Gurnce. from Gurnee 10 Blocton. The
Mineral trains operate over the South
crn railways Brierheld. Blocton and
birmingham branch under contract
arrangement
Ihe Avrul Plunge.
Six miles south OF GurHee Is tho Ca
haba river, n shallow mountain
stream, which has depth at this kline
Tt only about three or four feet. This
river Is sranncd by an Iron bridge with
wooden ,restle on each side. Its en-
tire length is 500 feet and The length
OF the 'na!n spaA where tho wreck oc-
CURED Is 10 feet. The bridge was
built only four years ago and was re-
Gardcd as very strong structure. Tho
main span and the span Just beyond
Il, both made Of iron. gave way and pre-
Cipitatcd 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
IftcTward and was rapidly burned TO
The waters edge.
Nine persons alone escaped alive from
MI who went down, and several OF them
will probably die. The first news OF the
wreck WAS brought 10 HargTovc. 4 tele-
graph station four miles from the Ca
haba river. by farmer who said that
while passing near Ihc place he heard a
crash. Going nearer he saw the two
Spans of IT." bridge broken out He
then discovered the burning wreck In
the shallow water below. He could hear
the GroanI Of the wounded and dying.
hut without waiting TO sne further he
rode his horse rapidly 10 HnrSrOvc.
whcrc the operator IclCgraphed TO BIr-
mingham and RlCcton for relief. Mean
while Il few country people gathered . I
the scene 10 render what aid they could,
but I; was too late to do much. Nine
people had gotten out and tho others
had been burned In the wreckaga.
Little Need for Doctors.
When the relief train from Brmlng-
ham arrived there was litlr need for
the army Of physicians thathadEone
nlonE. The woundcd were quickly at
,e.ticd 10 ana then sent TO Biucton for
further attention. The work Of taking
out the dead was entered upon. NOth-
inE was lr!t OF the wrcckuge but the
Fmould"rlEr remains. which had burn
ed 10 tho wn,cr'I edge. Ch1rrCd Corpsrs
were packed In between the iron frame
work where the Rcnts had been. Most
nL the bodies had been burned beyond
recognition. Some had their heads
burned off anJ Of others nothing Waa
~: bat tho mere skeleton. As rnpidlv
ng possible the remains were taken out
;sUl laid in 4 r0T on the river bank.
~ { O'Clock twenty bodies had been
'rulH and no more wc"c IN sight. j IL
.Grslhle however. that there or" others
under lhc wrpckagc and also thnt some
:D7y Lr hid hy the water. OF the 5urvl-
fOTS SAN Spencer was tue only one Of
the train crew that escaped alive. lie
Ens the cJlprrd fireman. He jumped
tom the cHg.nc while 1t was IN mid
mir aHh landed IN the water some dis
tauc" :rum whore the engine fell. Ills
Only i5Jury wa II broken arm. He left
thc scene Tor l3lOCt0n on foot almost
Immediately after the wreck, npplr-
entity Cra2ch with fright. The rnilrOnd
officials have not yet been able TO see
hr'1 and get a statement