Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-01-02
AWFUL WRECK.
Railroad Train Goes Through q
Bridge in Alabama.
Cwenty-One Killed and Many Fatally In
jured-Only Seven EscapeA Brave
Band of Texans Meet Their
Death in Cuba.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 2s--Twenty
people killed, five fatally injured and
two badly wounded is the frigh tful re-
suit of a wreck which occurred at 7:3O
o'clock yesterday morning on the
Birmingham Mineral road, 81 miles
from this city The wreck is regarded
as almost certainly accomplished by
the re moval of rail on the middle
span of the trestle. This derailed the
train, which caused it to fall between
two spans and precipitated it into the
river 10 feet below The wreck was
the worst that has ever occurred in the
state, and the survivors are SO few and
are SO badly hurt that they are una BILE
to give any detailed description of how
it all happened. 1t is not known and
may never be ascertained just how
many passengers were on the train
Most of them were miners and resi-
dents of mining towns in this district,
who had round trip tickets and were
returning to their homes along the
line of the Birming ham Mineral road
A few country people gathered at
the scene to render what aid they
could and nine people were got out,
the others being burned up in the
wreckage. When the relief train from
Birmingham arrived there was little
need for the army of physicians that
had gone along. The wounded were
quickly attended to and then sent to
Blockton for further attention. The
work of taking out the dead was en-
tered upon. Nothing was left of the
wreckage but the smoldering remains,
which had burned to the waters edge
Charred corpses were packed in be-
tween the iron framework where the
seats had been. Most of the bodies
had been burned beyond recogni-
ton. Some had their heads burned off,
and of others nothing was left but
skeletons. OF the eight survivors
three were children, all of whom had
their feet burned and mashed, and a
lady who had both feet crushed.
Band of Texans Perish
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 2S.-The Lone
Star company of the patriot army of
west Cuba, consisting of Is Texas
sharpshooters persisted to a man after
he-oically battling for more than five
hours against vastly superior Spanish
forces in Pinar del Rio province, kill
ing double their own number and
wounding probably as many more.
Havana officials are jubi1ant, passen-
gers arriving here say, over the news
of this victory.
A Cuban band was observed near
Pinar del Rio City Thursday morning,
and Gen. Melquizo sent two squadrons
ming fght the band, which proved to
be composed of Is Texans, were chased
into bottle" bit of hammock hav-
ing only one opening.
A flag of truce was sent in by the
Spanish, and the Texans were called
on to surrender, but the Americans
fused with one accord to lay down
their arms. shouting: 1--WE remem Der
Maceo." This Infatuated the Spanish
Il.
ness. Twice they charged, but the
rapid firing of the brave little band
drove them back. By getting on a
high ridge beh ind the Texans posi-
tions the Spaniards were enabled to
pour in fire that killed all but two of
those left Those two gallantly con-
tinued to fight, and held off the enemy
an hour longer. Then, overcome by
the loss of blood flowing from dozen
wounds, they were cut to pieces by the
7Spaniards, who finally dashed up the
Texans cried: Viva Cuba Librer'