The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-06-28
Every Person on the Train Pershed
Except Those on the Pn.!1lan Car-
Not Note of Warning.

William a. Barclay, conductor, at,
lanta.
,.,E. Wood. conductor. Atlanta.
J. II. Hunnicu.l, conductor. Atlanta.
J. T. Sullivan. engineer. Atlanta.
W. W. Bennett, baggagemaste-, Al.
laata.
T. d. Maddox. cotton buyer, Atlanta.
w. J. Pate Atlanta.
Twelve year old son of w. J. Pase,
Atlanta.
II. r. Gresham. Pullman cc2duc:cs.
George w. Flcurnoy. Atlanta.
d. c. Hightower. Stockbridge, Ga.
w. w. Ipark Macon, Ga.
Elder HCnTon, travelling man. sup
posed to have been from Florida.
J. R. Florida. Nashville. Tenn.
W. 0. Ellis, bridgeman. S:ocXDr.dge.
D. Y. Griffith, supervisor.
J. II. Rhodes. fireman.
John Brantlcy whi,e, fireman.
W. l.. MoTiset;, pump repaireT.
W. Il. Lawrence, foreman extra
gang.
Ed Byrd. colored. fireman. Atlanta.
GoOeit spencer, taIn porter.
Four bodies yet unidentified.
Eight negro section hands.
The train left Macon at 80 and wa.
due in Atlanta at 9:45 p. m. McDon>
ough was reached on time At this
point connection is made for Columbus,
aid here every night the Columbus
train is coupled on and hauled through
to Atlanta Saturday nigh. however,
for the first time in many months, the
Columbia train was reported two hours
late on accouE; of a washout On that
branch and the Macon train started Oh
to Atlanta without its Columbus con.
nection.
Tremendous rains of daily occur
rance for the past two weeks have
swollen all streams in this part Of the
south, and several washouts have been
reported on the different roads. Camps
creek. which runs into the Ocmulgee,
was over its banks and its waters had
spread to all the lowlands through
which it runs. About mile and q
half north of McDonough, the creek is
somewhat near the Southern's tracks
and, running alongside it for some us
tance, finally passes away under the
road by heavy stone culvert. A cloud
burst broke over that section Of the
country about o'clock and presuma-
bly,, shortly after dark, washed out
section of the track, nearly 100 feet in
length. Into this the swiftly moving
train plunged.
There was not note Of warning
The storm was still raging and all the
car windows were closed. The passen-
gers, secure as they thought, JId shell
tered cofortably from the inclement
weather, went to death without an in
stant's warning. The train. consisting
Of baggage car, second coach, first
class coach and Pullman sleeper, was
knocked into kirdling wood by the fall.
The wreck caught fire few minutes
after the fall and all the coaches were
burned except the Pullman car.
Every person on the train except the
occupants of the Pullman car peri5heu
in the disaster.
For brief time there was silence.
Then the occupants Of the Pullman car
recovered from their bewilderment and
after hard work managed to get ous
of their car and found themselves on
the track in the pouring rain. The eX>
tent Of the catastrophe was quickly ap-
parent.
Flames were already coming from
tina: part of the wreckage no, covered
by the water.
AS the wreck began to go 20 pieces
under the destructive work of both fire
and flood human bodies fioated ous
from the mass and were carried down
stream by he swift current.
The storm did not abate in fury.
Flashes CT lightning added to the
steady glow Of ;he burning ,r2!n and
lit up the scene with fearful distinct
ness.
F!agm2n Quinl22, who was one CT
the first TO get oft at once started fer
the nearest telegraph station. Making
his way as rapidly as possible in the
face of the binding storm. he stumbled
into the office At McDonough and af-
ter telling the night operator of the
wreck, fell fainting 20 the floor. Word
was quickly sent 20 bo;h Atlanta and
Macon. bat 10 assistance was to be
had except from the former city as The
interrupted track prevented the arr,>
val cf any train from Macon.
A wrec&ing train was started Crs
from Atlanta ct I::G-ig.:::. bit owing
to the burning wreckage nothing could
be done until morning 4 special train
at o'clock took doctors. ministers.