Lancaster enterprise. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1891-1905, 1900-06-27
FEARFUL LOSS OF HUMAN
LIFE.
Five Hurled to Instant
Death in a Georgia WashOut.

was completely wrecked. The
wreck caught fire and the entire
train with the exception of the
sleeper was destroyed. Every
person on the train, except the
occupants of the Pullman car.
perlshed. Not member of the
train crew escaped. Thirty five
people in all were killed.
CAUSE OF THE CATASTROPHE.
Macon, Ga, June "a "A. Cor
don Jones, superintendent of the
Southern railway, said of the de-
plorable affair:
"It can onlv be explained as
one of the jnscrutable acts of
God. 1t seems that it was the
result of terrific rain storm or
cloudburst, something similar to
that which caused the Johnstown
flood.
"The accident occurred at
deep, narrow creek, which had
become so suddenly and so COM
pletely filled that the volume of
water carried such weight as to
wash out masonry of stone and
brick from under the trestle
which spanned the stream. Mr..
Griffith, supervisor Of tracks, was
on the engine of the wrecked
train, and if there had been
break in the track he or the en-
gineer or fireman would have
seen it. The masonry supporting
the track must have been washed
out, leaving the track itself In.
tact, so that the men, being un-
conscious of anything amiss,
allowed the train to rush in on
the unsupported track which
resulted in the fatal crash.
"Flagman Quinlin, in compli-
aHce with the requirements of his
position, was on the rear car of
the train. AS soon as ne could
extricate himself from the wreck
he crawled up the emba nix ment
and in spite of his injuries walk
ed back to McDonough, the
nearest station announced the
accident which had happened. 1t
is but due to Mr.. Quinlin to say
that he acted with great prompt
ness and heroism in spite of
grave obstacles. Fortunately a
freight train was standing on the
track at McDonough and it was
,nnraoooH into oaruioo M kbok
within Is minutes after the rail
road company was notified of the
accident assistance was at hand
and every thing possible was done
for the relief Of those who were
still alive"
In answer to the question
about when the bridge would be
replaced and trains be running
again Mr.. Jones said:
Nearly all the material nee
essary to replace the bridge is on
the ground, and within "a hours
after the material is in place the
bridge will be completed and
trains running again. The depth
Of the ravine over which the
bridge passes is so great as to
require so feet piling and, we did
not have any that length in stock.
The piling has been supplied,
however, and was on it's way to
the place when the down passen-
ger train from the scene of the
accident arrived at Macon"
FLAGMAN's STORY.
Flagman Quinlin said tonight:
II was sitting in the front end
of the sleeper Giraldo, and had
hardly COTTON settled when the
crash came. There was no warn
Ing for the others, but suddenly
noticed that the air brakes had
been turned on with a jerk.
knew as quick as thought that
something was wrong. But be.
fore | could think again 1 was
jammed into the corner and
great pile of something fell on
me. | fought to get loose from
my pinnings, but could not see
thing. 1t wac as dark and silent
as a grave. | turned my head in.
all directions and finally / saw
place that seemed less dark than
the rest of my surroundings. |
half swan and half crawled to
that place. 1t proved to be the
upper rear end of the car. got
on top of the coach. / found that
one Of my lanterns was the only
light still burning anywhere.
mo sooner had | secured my