Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-05
FULL REPORT OF THE WRECK Filed by Superintendent New
 bold, of the L. 6 N. WITH THE COMMISSION cahaba Bridge FiFk- tass-The Engine and
 Coach 1the Very Best AND ONLY lIS CAUSE OF THE WRECK Loft for e Body to Report-state Interest szSDen .s ld-Alabama Supreme Court
 Savenes = Appointments
 League Meeting.
AND oNLYa9 CAUSE OF THE WRECK

I Superintendent Newbold. of the South and North and the Birmingham Mineral | divisions of the Louisville and Nash Ville systems has filed with the Alabama railroad commission a complete report relative to the wreck on the Cahaba river l bridge, on December 27, in which twenty- seven lives were lost The railroad com | panys report is full of interest. It shows apparently beyond question that the dis | aster was the result of a criminal and diabolical attempt to wreck the train. The report shows that the bridge and
 the track over it are the property of the Southern Railway company, and that the Louisville and Nashville division operates trains over it under contract. The report | shows the train was on time when the accident occurred; that the engine was I one of the newest and best in the service,
 | being made by the Rogers Locomotive 1 works, and being rated by them so high
 l that 1t was placed on exhibition by them
 I at the Atlanta exposition as a specimen
 1 of their fine work.
 | The cars were new, having beer built
 l at the works at Decatur within the past | eight months and having been operated | on this division only for four months. l The passenger coaches were also strong, l comparatively good and without visible defects. There was nothing in the en- l SlHe OT any or tIle cars that cOulu nave contributed to the accident. The bridge is reported as being a most substantial one. It was entirely of iron and was built on heavy stone supports. All of the details of the bridge were worked out in splendid manner, the con- struction being done according to the
 most approved plans. The Keystone Bridge company built the bridge in 1890, and regarded it as model of its kind. Nothing has occurred since 1t was turned taf fr,dt afa fo or weakness whatever in its construc- ton. The track over the bridge was Of heavy steel rails, was perfectly straight, apparently, up to the time of the wreck, in perfect condition, and had been offi- cially inspected in detail month before the tragedy occurred. In addition to this, the track, which was used by both rail- roads, was constantly inspected by the officers appointed for that purpose. For five days previous to the wreck the same engine and cars were used on that run and on examination of the statements attached to the report shows that the total weight of the train was about 179 tons As suggested by the report, when 1t is considered that every day freights weighing as much and more than 800 tons passed over the bridge, the theory that the structure gave way under the weight of the light passenger train without con tributory cause, appears physically im- possible.
 Aside however, from all of this physical | testimony tending to show that the | bridge could not have been wrecked ex- cepting by designing scoundrels, the re- port states that the company has much | evidence to show that a fiend or fiends wrecked the train. The superintendent states, however that he deems it inadvis- able at this time to put such evidence on | record, as this might possibly defeat the arrest and conviction of the guilty par ties.
 The officers decline to state whom they suspect.
 INTEREST DEBT PAID. State Treasurer Ellis, by direction of the Governor today sent to New York over $60 900 which, with remittances here tofore made, will pay the entire January | interest on the state bonded debt, and will make it unnecessary for the Cover l nor to borrow any money whatever for l that purpose.
 ALABAMA SUPREME COURT. The supreme court met at noon today, after two weeks recess, pursuant to ad- journment. The cases from the seventh division are to be called this week. No cases were submitted, and no opinions handed down, and only consent orders were taken.
 Tomorrow the docket will be called regularly, and several important sases
 will be called up, coming up from Gads- den and Anniston.
 Messrs. w. R. Dortch, A. B. Goodhue, and MT. Martin, of Gadsden, are here representing their clients. GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTMENTS. The Governor today appointed w. I. Moorman consta ble in beat 10, Chambers county, and John J. B. Allen, justice of the peace in beat 10, Chambers county. THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE. The Southern Base Ball league met here today looking to a reorganization of the Southern league. There were present John F. Flournoy, representing Colum- bus, Ga Charles Frank, Memphis; W. E. Seay, Shreveport; MT. OConnor, Mobile; Henry Powers, New Orleans; B. L. Holt, Montgomery.
 Montgomery, Ala, Jan. 4.--tSpecial).- The league tonight organized with l thousand dollar salary limit, and with New Orleans Montgomery, Mobile, Mem pbis, Shreveport and Columbus. Ga., as members. Each club will be required to deposit $500 as a guarantee that 1t will play the season out. The last call for the deposit will be made at meeting which will be held in Birmingham on Jan. 1S., at which meeting the admission of Bir- mingham and Little Rock will be deter mined.