The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-01
Flyer Between Chattanooga
and Salisbury Thrown
From Track.
SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED
Among The Many Injured are Number From
This Statt---The Rails Spread bya
Landslide Coaches Telescoped
and Burned.

Knoxville, Tenn, Feb. 2S.-The fast
bury. leaving Chattanooga at 1l:45 last
night, was wrecked about three and one
half miles west of Lenoir City, Tenn,
this morning about 2 o'clock The wreck
was caused by spreading of rails Three
deaths are reported so far, and twenty
five people are injured. The dead are:
JOHN BIBB. of Knoxville, engineer.
j. TUCKER, Newport. mail clerk
ALFRED BEST, Knoxville, colored
porter.
The injured: r. A. Tompkins, express
messenger. Bristol, Tenn, shoulder and
neck bruised; G. NJ. Betty, Knoxville,
mail clerk. arm and wrist bruised; w. r.
Kluttz, Knoxville, baggage master, back
injured; w. S. Overton, Knoxville,- con-
ductor; Thomas Mills, Knoxville, col
ored, fireman, both legs broken.
The following passengers were injured:
j. l.. Falcet, Chattanooga, shoulder
bruised and right leg broken; f. F.
Wannison, Rogersyille, Tenn, arm brok-
en- and head bruised: p. H. Guice.
FitlSfleTs N. -, Ddck ana ana
head injured Mrs. p. III Guice, Fletcher,
N. G., back and head injured w. b.
Holt. Lyonidas, Tenn, chest badly bruis-
ed and injured internally; H. O. Toms,
Columbus. Ohio. shoulder and arm in
jured; Mrs. Lee, Rogersville, Tenn,
head hurt and internal injuries. Two
children of Mrs. Lee, one of whom may
die Mrs. Sarah Emerson, Rogersville,
Tenn, spine injured. will die; L. A.
Hughes, Lone Mountain, Tenn; j. B,
Troppolin New York, internally injured
j. A. Kelley, Alexandria, head hurt;
Sam L. Kelley. Alexandria, Va, head and
chest injured; F. t. Fisher, Knoxville,
head bruised; William Whitehead,
Marysville. Tenn, both hands and head
injured; T. w. Toohey, Greenville, N. c.,
leg broken; r. p. Harris Muskogee, 1.
T., head and right hand injured; H. B.
Sargent, New Orleans. slightly injured.
The wrecks occurred on the tracks of
the Southern Railway. The train
plunged down a steep embankment The
locomotive went within thirty feet of the
Tennessee River. Four of the coaches
were telescoped and partially piled upon
the engine. Three coaches were burned
outright.
The Cincinnati Southern train, from
Chattanooga to Cincinnati, was travelling
behind the ill-fated train, it having TO
come by the way of Knoxville on account
of damage to tracks of the Cincinnati
Southern between Chattanooga and Har-
riman, last night. This train was await
ing orders at Loudon. when it was ad-
TIL .1.
Cincinnati Southern train 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 wreeking train, with physicians and
railroad officials left this city imme-
diately after the wreck was reported.
is stated that the wreck was caused
by two landsldes.
In the first. it is thought, big boulder
came down the side of the bluff and fell
upon the tracks. These landslides spread
the track and when the locomotice struck
the boulder it was thrown from the ties
and down the embankment Several
coaches followed The scene of the wreck
is between Loudon and Lenoir City,
ltnn.. WDere the TdllTOdQ the
Tennessee River for considerable dis
tance The construction of the road at
this point was very difficult, engineering,
and it it the most unfortunate place for
wreck.
Just before Engineer Bibb died ply
sician endeavored to have him drink
little whskey. in the hope of extending
his life as long as possible. The engi-
neer refused il. saying
Il have never touched it yet. and don't
expect to begin to drink it now.' Con-
tinuing he said: II am going TO die, so
go and look after the women and child
rem in the coaches
lie expired a few minutes later.
The Chicago and Florida Limited of the
cincinnati Southern Railroads. one of
the hnest trains in the country. running
from Jacksonville to Chicago. was but a
short time ahead of the wrecked train
The Chicago Flyer which left Chatta-
nooga ahead of Bibbs train was com
PEELED TO run TO Hartman by way of
Knoxville instead of over its own line
for tie reason stated above. Had this
train been wrecked the loss of life might
have been very much greater. as 1t al
ways carries long list of passengers and
runs on very fast schedule.