The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-28
A Fast Passenger Train Runs Into
Landslide-Three Men
Killed.
Other Wrecks Are Reported on the
Pennsylvania and Grand Trunk
Lines.
Explosion Of Firedamp in Penn
sylvania Coal Mine-Some
Gallant Rescues.

knoxville, Tenn, Feb 2s-The fast
passenger train. Chattanooga TO Salisbury.
leaving Chattanooga at 11:45 last night, !
was wrecked on the Southern rail-
way, about 80 miles west of Lenoir
City. Tenn, this morning about
o'clock The wreck was caused by
spreading Of rails. Three deaths are re-
ported an da number are injured The
dead are:
JOHN BIBB of knoxville, engineer.
A. J. TUCkER OF Newport, the mail clerk.
ALFRED BEST OF Knoxville, colored porter
Th injured trainmen
r A. Tompkns, express messenger, Bristol
Tenn: G.. II. Bettick. Knoxville. mail clerk; w.
T, Klutz, Knoxville, baggagemaster; w. S.
overton, Knoxville, conductor; Thomas Mills,
Knoxville, colored fireman.
The following passengers were injured:
J. l.. Falcett, Chattanooga, Tenn; l. F.
Wanson Rogersyille Tenn .n,o F. r,aicn Guies.
c.: W. s. Holt, Lyonidas, Tenn; FL. C. Toms.
Knoxville; Mrs. FL. G. Toms; Mrs. NJ Lee and
two children, one may die: Mrs. Sarah Emerson,
Rogersville, Tenn, will die: l.. A. Huges. Lone
Mountain, Tenn; l. A. Hughes. Lone Mountain.
Ten; J. B. Troppoln, New York. ]. A. Kel-
ley, Alexandria, Va: Sam L. Kelley, Alexandria.
Va; F. L. Fisher, Knox ville William Whitehead.
Maryvile. Tenn: ]. ". Toohey, Greenville, n.
c.: r. H. Marsh, Huskosee, I. t.; H. B. Sar-
gent. New OrclaI.s.
The wreck occurred on the top Of
steep embankment and the train plunged
down this. The locomotive went within
thirty fet of the Tennessee river. Four
of the coaches were telescoped and par
TALLY piled up on the engine. Three
coaches were burned outright. The Gin
cinnati Southern train from Chattanooga.
to Cincinnati was travelling behind the
Inflated train. 1t had to come by way
of Knoxville on account Of damage to the
tracks of the Cincinnati Southern between
Chattanooga and Hartman, last night.
This ira N was awaiting orders LOudon
When 1T was advised of the wreck, the
engine ran up to the scene Of the wreck
and, by pulling two Of the rear sleepers
back on the track and away from the
wreckage, succeeded in saving them from
destruction by fire. The wrecking train
with physicians and railroad officials, left
this city Immediately after the wreck was
reported and the track may be cleared
by noon to-day.
1t is stated that the wreck was caused
by two landslides. In the first. 1t is
thought big boulder came down the side
of a. bluff and fell on the track. These
landslides spread the track and when the
locomotive struck the boulder, 1t was
thrown from the ties down the embank
ment Several couacIes. followed The
scene Of the wreck is between Loudon and
Lenoir City, Tenn, where the track paral-
lels the Tennessee river for a considera-
BILE distance. The construction of the
road at this point was very difficult en-
gineering work and It is the most unfor-
tunate place for a wreck
Just before Engineer Bibb died. a ply
stefan endeavored to have him drink a lit
tie whisky In the hope Of extending his
life. The engineer refused it, saying.
II have never touched 1t yet and
don't expect to begin to drink 1t now
He added:
81 am going to die soon. Go and look
after the women and children in the
coaches
He expired a few minutes later.
The Chicago & Florida limited of the
Cincinnati Southern road, one Of the fines
trains in the country running from Jack.
sonville to Chicago, was but a short dis
lance behind the wrecked train. Had this
train been wrecked. the loss Of life na1gh
have been very much greater, as 1t al
ways carried a long list Of passengers ant
run on a very fast schedule.