The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1897-01-02
TWENTY-FOUR DEAD.
Frightful Result of a Railroad
Wreck in Alabama.
A Rail Was I;emoved and the Train Was
Sent Through the Sridge-Only Sew
en- Esrape-Travc Band OF
Texans Perish.

BTRMINGUAM, Ala, Dec. 2S. twenty
four people killed, Eve fatally in Ircd
and two badly wounded is the friGhtful
result 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
She re movaI OF n rail on the middle
span of the trestle. This derailed the
train, which caused it to fall between
two spans and prccipitated 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 unable
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 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.
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.
Went Down Before the spaniards.
KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 29.-The Lone
Star company of the patriot army of
west Cuba, consisting of Is Texas
sharpshooters, perished to man after
heroically battling for more than five
hours against vastly superior Spanish
forces in Pinar del Rio province, kill
ing double their own number aud
woundiug probably as many more.
Havana officials are jubilant, 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
of cavalry to attack it. After a run
ming fight 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 re-
fused with one accord to lay down
their arms, shouting: "We remember
Maceo." This infuriated 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 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 10 pieces by the
Spaniards, who finally dashed up as the
Texans cried: Viva Cuba LibreP'