Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-06-28

Atlanta, Ga, June PA passenger
train on the Macon branch of the
Southern railroad ran into n washout
| one and half miles north or Melon
| on.gh, Ga, Saturday night, and was
completely wrecked. The wreck caught
fire, and the entire train, with the ex-
ception of the sleeper. was destroyed.
Every person on the train, except the
| occupants of the Pullman car persisted.
Not member of the train crew es-
capped. Thirty-ive persons in all were
killed.
ProvidentiaIIy Delayed.
The train left Macon at 7:10, and was
due in Atlanta at 9:45 Saturday night.
McDonough was reached on time. At
this point connection is made for Co
lumbus, Ga, and here every night the
Columbus train is coupled on and
hauled through to Atlanta. Last night,
however, for the first time in many
months the Columbus train was re-
ported two hours late on account of a
washout on that branch, and the Ma
con train started On to Atlanta with
nut its Columbus connection.
Many washouts Reported.
Tremendous rains, of daily occur
renee 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.
Scene of the Disaster.
Camps creek, which runs into the
0cmulgee, was over It's banks, and it's
waters had spread to all the lowlands
through which it runs. About mile
and a half north of McDonough the
.reek comes somewhat near the South
rms tracks, and running alongside it
or some distance, finally passes away
ander the road by a heavy stone cul-
Iert.
Plunged into a washout.
A cloud-burst broke over that section
If the country about six o'clock Sat-
lrday night, and, presumably, shortly
tfter dark washed out a section of the
rack nearly hundred feet in length.
INTO this the swiftly-moving train
plunged. The storm was still raging
and all the car windows were closed.
The passengers, secure, as they
thought, and sheltered comfortably
rom the inclement weather, went to
death without an instant's warning.
Knocked Into Nindline Wood.
The train, consisting of a baggage
car, second class coach, first class coach
and Pullman sleeper, was knocked
into kindling wood by the fall.
The Wreck Caught Fire.
The wreck caught fire few min
utes after the fall, and all the coaches
were burned, except the Pullman car.
Pullman Chr Passengers.
Every person on the train except the
occupants of the Pullman car, persisted
in the destruction. Then the occu-
pants of the Pullman car recovered
from their bewilderment, and by hard
work managed to get out of their car
and found themselves on the track in
the pouring rain.
Dead Bodies FlOated from the Wreck.
The extent of the catastrophe was
quickly apparent. Flames were al
ready seen coming from that part of
the wrecllage not covered by the wa
ter. AS the wreck began to go to
pieces under the destructive work of
both fame and flood, human bodies
fioated out from the mass and were
carried down stream by the swift cur
rent.
The storm did not abate in fury.
Flashes of lightning added to the
steady glow OF the burning train, and
lit up the scene with fearful distinct
ness.
Thought Only of Duty.
Flagman Quinland, who was one of
the first to get out, at once started for
the nearest telegraph station. Max
ing his way as rapidly as possible in
the face of the binding storm, he
stumbled into the Office at McDon-
ough, and, after telling the night
operator of the wreck, fell fainting to
the floor.
Word was quickly sent to both At
lanta and Macon, but no assistance was
to be had. except i'll the latter city,
as the interrupted track prevented the
arrival of any train from Macon.
Nearly the entire male population Of
went to the scene to rem
der assistance, but little could be done
by the rescuers, as the fire kept them
1t a distance. i
At daylight the bodies that had
1oated from the gorge were gathered
Up. One body was found a mile from |
he wreck, and many were seen along !
It's banks.
Little Could be Done.
A wreck train was started out from |
Atlanta at midnight, but owing to the
burning wreckage nothing could be |
lone until morning
A special train at six o'clock yester-
lay morning took doctors, ministers, |
abroad officials and helpers to the |
ecne, but nothing could be done save
o gather up the bodies.
AS the dead were found they were
emoved to McDonough. There are
wo undertakers there. Both estab-
ishments were soon full of the man
led remains of the passengers.
Some of the bodies were terribly
while others were crushed be-
ond recognition.
Only three women were ON the train.
'wo escaped. 1t is presumed that the
Their persisted, but the body has not
ct been found.
All Were Killed.
Besides the regular crew. of the
loyes were en- route to Atlanta to
pend Sunday. All were killed. Con-
uctor w. A. Barclay was in charge of
he train.
A section boss. with a gang of eight