The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-22
A HEAD END COLLISION.
International Passenger and Freight
Trains Met On Curve,
FIVE OR SIX TRAMPS WERE KILLED.
Trntnmcn and Passengers wcrc
slightly Injured--Enstues and
Several Cars Demolished.

| No. 40 had head-cnd collision twelve
o'clock. Five tramps, and possibly the
sixth. were killed. Some OF the trainmcn
We're more or less slightly injured and n
negro woman suffered u fracture of the
right leg
| Tho wreck was as complete In every de-
tail as 1t is possible for such a destruction
of life and property to be II Is only a
| miracle that more were not killed and that
| injuries werc not greater. The place where
| the two locomotives came together Is a
| curve one mile south OF Kclly's switch and
| sixty-one miles north OF Houston II is n
peculiar condition that at this curve It is
| down grade from each direction, therefore
! tho two trains were not only being moved
| by the power OF steam, but had the velocity
caused by the gravity attraction which
| carried them down tho grade. when tho
| engines struck they reared In the air. and
the cars following crowded them along the
| right OF way. SO fast We're the trains 20
| ing at the time that the speed carried n
number OF freight cars by tho engines, and
| when the two locomotives fell to the side
together they fell upon freight cars
In addition to the englneS leaving the
track. the mall and baggage cars left the
track in pieces, and seven freight cars.
each loaded with merchandise. went TO The
side of the roadbed and demolished the
| telegraph poles In the vicinity. cutting off
wiro communication north Of Wayerly.
| Tho track was blocked with debris from
the wreck, and nothing could he done but
look out for the injured until relief should
arrive. and the passengers and trainmen
set about this task at once
| The trains involved in the wreck We're
southbound passenger train No. II, Euei-
neor Rutlcdge and Conductor Ransom, aud
northbound local freight No, 10, Engineer
| Dick Wright and Conductor McCool Tho
| freight train left Houston on time al 81
| o'clock No. II. southbound. was carrying
the pay car. which was In charge OF Pay
master Cunningham and MIR. Thomas Gro
min. tho latter formerly Of Houston. The
| passenger train WAS behind time. IN ac-
count Of the delay caused by pulling the
pay ear. which was paying OFF as 1t won't.
| At willis No. 10 received an order allow
ing 1t until lt:40 o'clock to reach Kcllys
TO meet No H. When No. 40 reached Wa
verify. seven miles from Kellys. another
| order was received extending the time and
allowing until Las O'Clock TO reach kol-
Tvs for the meeting. No II had received
these orders az Phelps Junction. When
within ono mile Of Kelly's Engineer Wright
| saw th,. locomotive OF No. II rounding the
curve. aud his cugine was seer at the Same
time by Engineer Rutledge. They reversed
| auplisd the air, called TO the flremen TO
| iump. and then left their cabs. 1t was TOO
late TO avert the accident A collision was
certain. and they followed the first law OF
nat,re-.elf. preservation. The two loco
motives came together ns described above.
and the air was filled with escaping steam.
living pieces OF demolished cars. ana amid
| II all could be heard the groanH of some al
the injured.
The freight train was composed OF M
teen cars. loaded with merchandise from
fine Mallory boat IN bond for MoNlco. or
the fifteen seven OF them went Into ire
ditch and were more or less badly bfofen
up Engine No. AZ OF the passenger train
| and engine No. LOG Of the freight tram arc
! totally wrecked. The mail car was torn All
To pieces. hardly n portion OF the roof,
| sides or ends being left on the flooring.
Mail Agent a, A. Forbes was nt the tiinc
working In the rear end of his car. aad tAis
ia what saved his life. Had he been for
ward his death would have Instantly ie-
suited. AS It was. he was badly bruised
about tho hips. but not seriously Injured.
| The baggage car is badly demolished.
The following were killed or injured:
white man who was riding on the
blind end Of the mail car. forward. was
cut about the body so badly that he died
within twenty-five minutes after the accl-
dent. He was conscious to the last. how
ever. lie gave his name as johnson. and
said he belonged to oliphants sawmIll at
Wayerly. He had been to Pine Valley.
and with two companions was returning.
AZ the time this is written it is not
known what became of the two men with
him. They were white. and their bodies
Will probably be found when the wreck
is cleared away.
Two negroes riding on the truss rods
OF freight cars were instantly killed. They
we're mashed beyond recognition, had their
friends been present searching for them.
1t is believed there were several others
Killed In the same way, but as yet their
bodies have not been found
a negro woman, Bette Cane. Jumped
from the passenger irain after It had
come 10 standstill. She broke her right
leg below the knee. The bone protrude.
Engineer Wright jumped and landed
against barb wire fence. His face was
badly lacerated and his left ankle spralned.
|. Fireman Quesenberry, OF the freight
train, had his ankle sprained.
Engineer Rutledge found landing
place In a lot OF bushes alongside the
track. His face was lacerated by briars,
and his houlien bruised.
| Fireman Tom Worbutton suffered, bruis-