The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-06-29

mdH sleeper, was destroyed, Every
person on the train except the Occu-
pants of the Pullman car, persisted. Not
a member of the train crew ESCAPED.
Thfrty-five persons in all were killed.
The dead are:
William a. Barclay, Atlanta. con-
ductOr in charge.
j. E. Wood, conductor, Atlanta.
j. H. Hunnicutt, conductor, Atlanta.
J T. Sullivan, engineer.
w w. Bennett, baggagemaster, At
Ianta
7. E. Maddox, cotton buyer, Atlanta.
w. j. Pate, Atlanta
Twelve-year-old son of W. J.. Pate,
Atlanta.
H. r. Gresham, Pullman conductor.
George w. F~lOurnOy, Atlanta.
d. g. Hightower, StOckbridge, Ga.
w. w. Spark, Macon, Ga.
Elder Henson, travelling man, sup
posed 10 be from Florida.
j. r. Florida, Nashville, Tenn.
w. Q. Ellis, bridgeman, Stockbridge.
d. Y. Griffith, supervisor.
J. H. Rhodes, fagman.
John Brantley, fireman.
William Green, extra fireman.
w L. Morrisett, pump repairer.
w. r. Lawrenc, foreman extra gang.
LuN dIu byTu, COIOT6u, ITcTndn, Al
1anta.
Robert Spencer, train porter.
Four bodies unidentified.
Eight negro section hands.
Some of the killed were members of
extra train crews who were passengers
on their way to spend Sunday in At
lanta.
The train left Macon at 40 o'clock
p. m. and was due in Atlanta at Gas
p. m. McDOnOugh was reached on
time.
DASHED INTO a WASHOUT.
At McDOnough connection is usually
made for Columbus, Ga, and every
night the umb train is coupled
on and hauled through to Atlanta.
Last night. for the first time in many
months, the Columbus train was re-
ported two hours late on account of
a washOut on hat branch, and the
Macon train started on to Atlanta
without its Columbus connection.
Heavy rains, of daily occurrence for
the last 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 it's banks, and its
waters had spread TO all the lowlands
through which it runs. About a mile
and a half north of McDonough the
creek comes near the Southern rail-
way track ana, running dlOTSSlQe II
for some distance. passes away under
the road by a heavy. stone culvert. a
clOudburst broke over that section and
presumably soon after dark washed
out a section of the track nearly 100
feet in length. Into this the swift NOV
ing train plunged.
The storm was still raging and all
the car windows were closed. Passen-
gers, secure, as they thought, and shell
tered comfortably from the inclement
weather went to death without an in
stant's warning.
TRAIN KNOCKED INTO KINDLING
WOOD.
The train, consisting of a baggage
car, second class coach, frst-class
coach and a Pullman sleeper, was
knocked into kindling wood by the
fall. The wreck caught fire a few
minutes after the fall, and all the
coach were burned except the Pull
man car. Every person on the train
except the occupants of the Pullman
car persisted in the disaster.
There was no escape. The few alive
in the sleeper were unable to render
assistance to their fellow passengers.
For a brief time there was silence
Then the occupants of the Pullman car
recovered from the bewilderment and,
after hard work, managed to get out
of their car. They found themselves
on the track in the pouring rain. The
extent of the catastrophe was quickly
apparent. Flames were already seen
coming from that part of the wreck
age not covered by the water
AS the wreck began to go to pieces
under the destructive work of both
flames and flood human bodies foated
out from the mass and were carried
down stream by the swift current. The
storm did not abate in fury. Flashes
of lightning added TO the steady glow
of the burning train and lit up the
-oara ui+h fearful HiStinCtnSSS.
CARRIED THE TIDINGS.
Nagman Quinlan, who was one Of
the first TO get out, started for the
nearest telegraph station. Making his
way as rapidly as possible in the face
of the binding storm. ne stumbled
into the telegraph office at McDonough
and. after telling the operator OF the
wreck. fell fainting to the floor. Word
was quickly sent to both Atlanta and
Macon, but no assistance was to be
had except in Atlanta. as the inter-
rupted track prevented the arrival OIL
any train from Macon.
Nearly the entire male population of
Mcnonough went to the scene to rem
der assistance, but little could be done
bv the rescuers, as the fire kept them
at a distance. At daylight the bodies
that had ioated from the gorge were
ga+harad nm. One body was found a
mile from the wreck and many were
seen along the banks of the creek.
a wreck train vas sent out from At
Ianta at midnight and a specla! train
at s o'clock in h morning cooh uoc,
tors ministers. railroad officials and
helpers TO the scene Nothing could
be done save to gather up the bodies
As the dead were found they were re-
moved TO McDonough-
TERRIBLY CRUSHED AND BURN
ED.
There are two undertakers lnSIe;
Both establishments were soon lLns
with the mangled bodies of the pas
sengers. Some of the bodies were ter
ribly burned, while others were crusn-
ed beyong recognition. The only means
of identification in the majority or the
cases were letter and papers in the
nooEatS of the victims