Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-01-02
WORK OF FIENDS.
rwenty-Ono Killed and Many Fa-
tally Hurt In q Wreck.
Removal of q Rail on Trcslie rrecipitates
the Train 10 Feet Below with
Frightful Resnits-Ilrave
Texans Perish.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Dec. 2S Twenty
people killed, five fatally injured and
two badly wounded Is the frightful re.
suit OF wreck which occurred Mt 1880
o'clock yesterday morning on tho
Birmingham Mineral road, "a miles
from this city. The wreck Is regarded
Is almost certainly accomplished by
the re moval OF rail on the middle
span OF the trestle. This derailed the
train, which ca7sed II to fall between
two spans and preciritatcd II into the
river 10 feet below. The wreck was
the worst that has ev,r occurred In the
state, and the survivors are SO few and
are so badly hurt that they are unable
TO give any detailed description Of how
II all happened. 1t Is not known and
may nsver be ascertaihed 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 Birmingham 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.
Charrcd corpscs 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 n
lady who had both feet crunhed.
Band of Texans Perish.
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. IS The Lone
Star company of the patriot army OF
west Cuba, consisting Of 10 Texas
sharpshooters, persisted 10 man after
heroically battling for more than Eve
hours against vastly superior Spanish
forces In Pinar del Rio province, kill.
ing double their own number and
wounding probably rs many more.
Havana officials are jubilant, passen-
gers arriving here say, over the news
Of this victory.
A Cuban band was observed near
Pinnr del Rio City Thursday morning,
and Gen. Melquizo sent two squadrons
OF cavalry to attack II. After run
ming tilht the band, which proved to
be composed OF 10 Texans, were chased
into n 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 re.
fused with one accord 10 lay down
their arms. shouting: ave remember
Maceo." This infuria.ed the Spanish
and they fought with renewed fierce
ness. Twice they charged, but the
rapid firing of the brave little band
drove them back. BY getting on
high ridge beh ind tho Texans posi-.
tions the Spaniards were enabled to
pour in fire that killed all but two OF
those left. Those two CALAMITY 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 10 pieces by the
Spaniards, who finally dashed up as the