The state herald., 1899-01-01
A TRAIN WRECKED.
THROWN FROM A HIGH TREsTLE
Twenty-Onc Passengers Lose Their Lives
on an Alabama Road as IA Result of
the Deliberate Work of n Villain.

Memphis, Tenn, Dec. PA special to
the Commercial Appeal from Birmlng-
ham, Alabama, says:
Fiends in human form wrecked the Bir-
mingham Mineral passenger train No. 40
at Cahaba river bridge, twenty seven
miles from here, at $50 o'clock this
morning, and twenty-one lives were lost.
That number of bodies have been recov-
cred from the wreck and further search
may swell the list of dead.
The wreck is regarded as almost cer-
tainly accomplished by the removal of a
rail on the middle span of the trestle. This
derailed the train, which caused 1t to
full down the two spans and precipitated
1t into the river, 40 feet below. The
wreck was the worst that has ever occur
are so few and are so badly hurt that
they are unable to give any detailed de-
scrlpton of how 1t happened. II Is not
known. and may never be ascertained,
just how many passengers were on the
train. Most of them We're miners and
residents of mining towns in this dis
tr,,t, who had round-trip tickets and We're
II urning to their homes along the line
of the Birlnlnsham Mineral road.
'Conducj3r Connel WHO probably knew
better than anybody else as to how many
passengers were aboard, is dead. 1t is
thought, however, there were not ex-
ceeding twenty-five or thirty. But one
passenger purchased ticket at Blrming-
ham.
The train consisted of the engine, bag
gage car and two coaches.
The engine landed on its side almost at
right angles with the track. The cars
piled upon each other through the main
span. The entire wreck took fire soon
afterwards and was rapidly burned to the
waters edge. Nine persons alone escaped
alive from all who went down, and sew
ernl of them will probably die.
The first news of the wreck was
brought by farmer to Hargrove, four
miles distant
When the relief train fom Birming-
ham arrived there was little need for
the army Of physicians that had gone
along. The wounded had been at
tended to and then sent to Blocton for
further attention.
The work of taking out the dead
was entered upon. Nothing was left
of the wreckage Int the smouldcrlng
remains, which had burned TO the wa
ter's edge. Charred corpses We're
packed in between the iron framework
where the seats had been. Most of
the bodies had been burned beyond
recognition. Some had their heads
burned or and of others nothing was
left hut the mere skeleton. AS rapid
ly as possible the remains were taken
out and laid In row on the river
bank.
Dr. Ray. n Blocton physician. who
attended Gardner. telegraphs tonight
the statement made by Gardner as 10
the cause Of the wreck Gardner says
he felt the cars leaving the track and
he saw three savage looking men
rushing from hiding place down to-
wards the waters edge. mad that after
the wreck they went through the
wreckngc, robbing the dead and
wounded and then fed to the woods
They did their work quickly and offer
ed no assistance whatever In rescuIng
the imprisoned and injured passen-
gers. This story, however, has not yet
been corroborated, hut other facts
tend to show II was the work OF train
wrcckers.
An examination OF the engine shows
that Engineer White had shut or the
steam and reversed before II went
down. indicating that he saw danger
ahead ms lie approached the bridge
and tried to stop his train. His char
red body was found with his hand on
the throttle. The survivors all agree
that the train left the track and bump.
ed along the ties and then. with n
crash, plunged through the bridge.
Expert engineers say that there is ev-
cry indication that rail was removed
which dcralled the train and caused Il
to pull down the bridge. The cross.
Ties show marks Of the wheels.
An unsuccessful attempt to wreck
train AZ the same place and In the
same manner was made i've years
ago. The railroad company at late
hour gave the number OF lives lost at
twcnty-one.
a-