The age-herald., 1900-08-05
THE FAMOUS SENATOR'S
 # IN THE HISTORIC WRECK
BY ". R. NELSON.

passed over the further side of the bridge, and had there fallen half way down to the creek It Was on fire, and burning rapidly: both engineer and fireman were killed at their posts or died shortly after-in fact, were sealded to death.
 The seeond-class coach, or smoking car, eased itself down as it were, and none of its occupants were killed or injured Sev- eral of the occupants of the regular day coach were thrown forward, and heavy bridge timbers fell upon them. The inside of the car scarcely had seat left in posi- tien. but all seemed to have been. torn from their fastenings; under one of these seats little child was found. after considerable search; the child was making no cries and was unnjured. None of the children were at all hurt they were asleep and their muscles were relaxed.
 I soon began to look about for my com panion the judge; after time an elderly person was found dead under the large bridge timbers one of them having fallen across his head; his head was crushed, and his face covered with dirt and blood, and although I was searching for him. failed to recognize him. and not until I took charge of his purse and watch, and discov- cred the very check that I had a short time before paid over to him. was I able certainly to identify the body of my friend, who but few moments before had taken the proffered seat. and thus in a, moment had this prominent figure and good man been called into the presence of his God 1; and great and genuine was the grief and mourning of his family and friends.
 When we came to the man with one leg, who had offered me a seat. we found him caught fast between pieces of bridge groan escaped him: he was a man, and Anew how to suffer in patience.
 We were fortunate in having with us Colonel Lseckett. an ex-Cenfederate soldier who by profession wzs an engfneer, and had been an officer during the civil war, and after the civil war served in Egypt. He had about him that cool head and abil- ity to lead, so much needed under such trying circumstances. and knew how to give directions, and how to secure the will ing aid of those about him.
 Nor was our conductor wanting in his anxiety to do all he could for his unfor- tunate passengers. Captain Robert Barber Is still conductor on the same road, and never meet him without feeling like touching my hat to him, as I recall his manliness and his efficiency. as well as his solctude, on thai trying occasion. This was the more noticeable. perhaps. because of the fact that his mother was a passen- ger, but he very soon discovered that she was very slightly injured and shocked, and having made her comfortable. he gave all of his time to others who needed it most. Some men might have busied themselves altogether with their mothers.
 One of the hearfrending scenes was in the case of a large westener, who with hts wife and child was coming south to teach He died in a few moments after being taken from the wreck, and his wife expired perhaps few hours later: thus the little prattiing child was left an orphan amid strangers. There were six or seven deaths, and ten twelve, or more, who were ln- jured more or less As for myself, 1t was after exerting myself great deal in try ing to assist others that discovered that I was getting stiff, and by the afternoon could scarcely walk and it took me two or three days to recover from my bruises that, at first, I did not feel.
 A relief train arrived after a few hours with doctors and bandages, and by night we were at home again where sister and wife had awaited my return all day. l had failed to telegraph them of my safety, and as the town was full of rumors, and excitement had run high all day. their anxiety had been very great
 The railroad authorities claimed that the bridge had been tempered with by man who had a mule a horse killed by a train. at any rate that an enemy was re- sponsfbie for the great crime. They made several arrests, and one fellow I think was sent to the penitentiary, but there was an impression in the minds of the public that as it was mainly on the evil dence of railroad detective he might not have been guilty, and that the real trouble was that the railroad bridge was In very bad condition-the claim was that many Of the timbers appeared to be rotten
 For some years I could not travel with out having the horrors of that early morn- ing scene open up to my view, but time has altered all this. and never think of the accident now when travelling: but if should happen on a, train again that was wrecked, or even deraed. no doubt there would float before my minds eye in a mo- ment nearly every detail above narrated. I should much rather take my chances in hard fought battle, with improved fire- arms in the hands of my enemy, than pass through the same perils again. Selma, Ala.