The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-22
FIVE MEN ARE NOW DEAD
Heavy Trains Collide North of
 Birmingham.
T. A. Coghill, Engineer, and J. Q. Rittenberry, Conductor, Among Those Who Lost Their Life
 in the Smash-up.

Birmingham Nov 21.-(SpeciaD-DEAD IT. A. Cogbill, engineer; J. C. Rittenper- ". conductor; William Bell (colored), brakeman; Anderson Loving (colored), fireman; Preston Pearce (colored), fire man.
 INJURED-M H. Everin, engineer; W. F. Shannon, conductor; c. Shannon iagman; w H. Hughes, coal inspector; Frank Fancher (colored). brakeman; Robert Christian (colored, brakeman.
 A fearful collision occurred this morn- ing on the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road between two freight trains one mile north of 'Hughes's Siding. about seven miles north of Birmingham. As result five men are dead and others are badly hurt.
 Extra freight, northbound, known as the Warrior Turn Around, which daily goes to Warrior after coal, collided with the first section of freight train No. 16, southbouni, which was on schedule ana had right of way. Engineer T. A. Cog bill and Conductor Rittenberry were on e1 while Engineer M. H. Everin and Con- ductor w. F. Shannon were in charge of the southbound train. Both trains were making good speed when they came together. There was an awful crash as the two locomotives drove into one an- other.
 Wrecking Crews Sent.
 A member of one of the crews hastened to the nearest telegraph office and wired to the office of the Superintendent saying ,rrd and that eral had been hurt. The wrecking crews at Bfrmingham and Decatur were rushed to the scene, Superintendent J. l.. Weich and other officials with physicians going from here Engineer Cogbill and Conduct or Rittenberry were under the wreck. Engineer Everin in horribly bruised condition was picked up tenderly and placed on the side. The dead body of Sanford Bell, a negro brakeman. was picked up and Dan Pearce, colored, fireman, and Anderson Loving, colored, brakeman, were also found to be very badly hurt. Coal Inspector w. H. Hughes who was on the extra train, was slightly injured as was Conductor shannon of the southbound train.
 The dead who were not under the wreck and the injured men were all sent back to the city, the injured being taken to the St. Vincent Hospital where their injuries were attended to at once The wrecking cars went to work at once clearing up the damage done. Several cars were splin- tered and both engines were almost made ready for the scrap pile.
 When taken out Engineer Everin pre- sented an awful sight. His face was burn cd almost to crisp, his eyes seemed to be gone and the only sign of life was a slight twitching about the lips.
 Cogbill and Rittenberry.
 Engineer Cogbill and Conductor Rit- tenberry, who were caught beneath the engines were men of large acquaintance in Birmingham. Both had families, En- gineer Cogbill having married daughters. One of his daughters is in St. Louis. Rittenberry was son of l. J. Ritten- bery. well known citizen, and was brother of the Drs. Rittenberry and Mack Rittenberry. the latter being night warden at the city prison. Engineer Everin Is a man of family also, The track was blocked for four or five hours, both wrecking crews getting in their work. All freight trains due to pass the place where the wreck occurred after Il o'clock were annulled for today and pas senRer trains transferred It was the worst accident that has happended in the Birmingham district in the last two years and a half.
 Preston Pearce. colored fireman, and Anderson Loving, colored fireman, died tonight. Loving was from Atlanta.
 The remains of Conductor Rittenberry are being prepared for shipment and will probably go tomorrow to Tennessee. Engineer Cogbilrs remains will be sent to Kentucky. Both of these men were horribly mangled and scaIded.
 The two engines which went together stood up to one another and locked wheels.
 The injuries of Engineer Everin are not considered as bad tonight as they were at first thought to be.
 None of the dead resided in Montgom- cry. Conductor John Rittenbery of No. eo1. ran between Montgomery and Birm- ineham for several years, as did also En- gineer Mike Everin.
 A coincidence of the wreck Is that the caboose on train 9O1 has had seven or eight men killed in it, being behind the train bearing the 69th New York regi- ment three years ago when several of the soldiers were killed.
 RECORD OF THE JACKSONS.