Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1900-06-30
NUMBER 81.
THIRTY-FIVE MEN KILLED.
r rightful Wreck on tho Macon Branch OF
the Southern Railroad Near
MeDonough, Ga.


the Southern Railroad Near
MeDonough, Ga.
Atlanta, Ga, June 25.-A passenger
train on the Macon branch of tho
Southern railroad ran into a washout.
cne and a half miles north or McDonc
oLgh, Ga, Saturday night, and was
wrecked. The wreck caught
fire. and the entire train, with the ex-
ccptiun of the sleeper, was destroyed.
Every person on the train, except the
of the Pullman ear perished.
Not a member of the train crew es-
capped Thirty-fye persons in all were
killed.
ProyIdcntiaIIy Delayed.
The train left Macon at RIO, and was
due in Atlanta at 9:45 Saturday night.
McDonough was reached on time. At
this point connection is made for Coz
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
washout on that branch, and the Ma
con train started on to Atlanta with
out 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
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 somewhat near the South
ern's tracks, and running alongside 1t
for some distance, finally passes away
under the road by heavy stone cul-
vert
Plunged into n wnshout.
! A cloud burst broke over that section
of the country about six o'clock Sat
urday night, and, presumably, shortly
after dark washed out a section of the
track nearly hundred feet in length,
Into this the swiftly-moying train
plunged. The storm was still raging
and all the car windows were closed.
The passengers, secure, as they
thought, and sheltered comfortably
from the inclement weather, went to
death without an instant's warning.
knocked into KindIinr Wood.
The train, consisting of baggage
car, second class coach, first class coach
and a Pullman sleeper, was knocked
into kindling wood by the fall.
The Wreck Caught Fire.
The wreck caught fire a few min
utes after the fall, and all the coaches
were burned, except the Pullman car.
Pullman Car Passengers.
Every person on the train except the
occupants of the Pullman car, perished
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 FIoated d from the Wreck.
, The extent of the catastrophe was
quickly apparent. Flames were al
ready seen coming from that part Of
r the wreckage not covered by the wa
E ter. As the wreck began to 90 to
=. pieces under the destructive work of
n both fame and flood, human bodies
;. noated out from the mass and were
carried down stream by the swift cur
2 rent
= The storm did rot abate in fury
i, 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.
FIagman Quinand, 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
y the face of the binding storm, he
: stumbled into the Office at McDon-
ough, and, after telling the night
s operator of the wreck, fell fainting to
Y the floor
It Word was quickly sent TO both At
I. lanta and Macon, but no assistance was
e to be had. except in the latter city,
n as the interrupted track prevented the
arrival of any train from Macon.
., Nearly the entire male population OF
Il McDonough went to the scene to rem
III der assistance. but little could be done
y by the rescuers, as the fire kept them
y at distance.
y At daylight the bodies that had
At foated from the gorge were gathered
IN up. One body was found mile from
as the wreck, and many were seen along
its banks.
Little Could be Done.
=. A wreck train was started out from
rs Atlanta at midnight, but owing to the
IA burning wreckage nothing could be
.. done until morning
y A special train at six o'clock yester-
Is day morning took doctors, ministers,
-, railroad officials and helpers to the
- scene. but nothing could be done save
-, to gather up the bodies.
ns As the dead were found they were
removed to McDonough. There are
two undertakers there. Both estab-
Ut lshments were soon full of the man
be gled remains of the passengers,
ay Some of the bodies were terribly
ne burned, while others were crushed be-
or yond recognition
rd Only three women were on the train
: a Two escaped. II is presumed that th'
is. other perlshed, but the body has moi
=, yet been found.
:. All Were Killed.
ro Besides the regular crew OF The
80 train, several conductors and other EN-
80 ployes were en- route to Atlanta Il
80 spend Sunday. All were killed. Con
~ ductor w. \. Barclay was in charge o
the train,
A section boss, with a gang of eigh
ret negroes, occupied seats in the secont
on coach. These were on their way to re
is pair washout on the Georgia MID
in land g. Gulf road. Not one escaped
sr" -----