The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-25

larta.
J. E. Wood, conductor, Atlanta.
J. T. Sullivan, engineer.
w. w. Bennett, baggageman, At
lanta.
w. ]. Pate, Atlanta.
Twelve-year-old son of w. J. Pate,
Atlanta
H. r. Gresham. Pullman conductor.
George w. FlOUrney, Atlanta
H. c. HightWater, StOckbridge, Ga.
w. w. Park, Macon. Ca.
Elder Henson, travelling man, sup
posed to have been from Florida.
J. r. Florida, Nashville.
w. E. Ellis, brigeman, Stockbridge,
Ga.
d. Y. Griffith, supervisor.
j. H. Rhodes. flagInan.
John Brantley, white, fireman.
Will Green. extra fireman.
w. d. MOrisett, pump repairer.
w. r. Lawrence. foreman extra gang.
Ed Byrd, colored. fireman, Atlanta.
Robert Spencer, train porter.
-Four bodies unidentified
Eight negro section hands.
Matt KOrcher, Oshkosh.
Adam Weber.
Ten Escape Alive.
The following passengers were res
NQGu N4llOul serious injury
Jesse L. Rahe, Baltimore.
Walter Pope, Atlanta.
Miss Mary B. Merritt, Boston.
Miss Clara Alden, Boston.
]. c. Flynn, Atlanta.
r. Schriner, Chattanooga, Tenn.
L. I. Mack, Chattanooga, Tenn.
J. ]. Quinlan, fiagman.
I. {. Carter. Pullman porter
Andy TOmlinson.
The-train left Macon at 40 o'clock.
and was due in Atlanta at 9:4O O'Clock
last night. McDonough was reached
on time At this point connection is
maze Tor Columbus, Ca, 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 reported two hours late on account
of a washout on that branch and the
Macon train started on to Atlanta
without its Columbus connection.
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.
camps creek, which runs into the
Ocmulgee, was over its banks and its
waters had spread to all the lOwlands
ana a half north of McDonough the
creek comes somewhere near the South
ern track and running alongside if for
some distance, finally passes away un-
Ger the road by heavy stone culvert.
A cloudburst broke over that section
OF the country about 6 o'clock last night
and presumably shortly after dark
washed out section of the track near
" 100 feet in length.
Train Plunges Into Abyss.
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 from the in
clement weather, went to death with
out an instant's warning.
The train, consisting of a baggage
car, second class coach. first-class
coach and a Pullman sleeper. was
Knocked into kindling wood by the fall.
Inc wreck caught fire in a few min
utes after the fall and all the coaches
were burned except the Pullman car.
There was was no escape for those
on the other cars, as the heavy Pull
man weighed down the others and the
few alive in the Sleeper. were unable
TO render assistance to their fellow pas
Sengers.
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 and found themselves
on the track in the pouring rain.
The extent of the catastrophe was
quickly apparent. Flames were al
ready seen coming from that part of
the wreck not covered by the water.
Bodies Float From Wreck.
AS the wreck began to go to pieces
under the destructive work of both
flames and flood, human bodies foated
put 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
1t UP the scene with fearful distinct
ness.
Flagman Quinlan, who was one of
he first to get out, at once started for
he nearest telegraph station
Making his way as rapidly as posi-
Die in the face of the binding storm
lie stumbled into the office at McDon-
'ugh and after telling the night oper-
ator of the wreck, fell fainting to the
iOor
Word was quickly sent to both At
anita and Macon. but no assistance was
% be had except in the former city. as
he interrupted track prevented the ar
'ival of any train from Macon
Nearly the entire population of Nc
Oonough went TO the scene to render
assistance. but little could be done by
he rescuers, as the fire kept them at
| distance.
At daylight the bodies that had float
ID from the gorge wire gathered UP.
)ne body was found a mile from the
wreck and many were seen along its
banks.
Help Arrives Too Late.
A. wrecking train was started out
rom Atlanta at midnight, but owing
o the burning wreckage nothing could
De done until morning. A special train
1t o'clock this morning took doctors,
minister's. railroad officials and helpers
o the scene. but nothing could be done,
ave to gather up the bodies
AS the dead were found they were