The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-01
BY SPREAD OF RAILS
TRAIN HURLED To DESTRUCTION
AND PASSENGERS TO DEATH.
THREE MEN WERE KILLED.
AND TWENTY-FIVE PERSONS
WE'RE INJURED IN THE WRECK.

Terrible Accident on the Southern
Railway Near Lenoir, Tenn.--Land-
slides Caused the Rails to Spread.
Engine Struck BOulder-Engi-
neer John Bibb. MOrtaIIy Injured,
Told Rescuers to Aid the Women
and ChiIdren-Had Never Taken a
Drink, and Refused whisky.
Knoxville, Tenn, Feb. 2S.-The fast
passenger train from Chattanooga to
Salisbury, n. c., leaving Chattanooga
at 11:45 o'clock last night, was wreck
ed about three and 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
were injured.
The dead are: John Bibb of Knox
vile, engineer; A. Q. Tucker, Newport.
mail clerk; Alfred Best, Knoxville, COL
ored porter.
The injured are: B. A. Tompkins,
express messenger Bristol, Tenn.
shoulder and neck bruised; G. NJ. Bet
ty, Knoxville, mail clerk, arm and
wrist bruised; w. T. Klutz. Knoxville,
baggage master, back injured; W. s.
Oveuton. Knoxville, conductor; Thomas
Mills. Knoxville, colored, fireman, both
legs broken.
Passengers Injured.
The following passengers were In
jured:
]. L. Falcett, Chattanooga, shoulder
bruised and right leg broken.
E. F. Wanison, Rogersville. Tenn,
arm broken and head bruised.
P. H. Guiee, Fletcher, n. c., bach
and shoulder and head injured.
Mrs. P. H. Guice, Fletcher, N. c.,
back and head injured.
W. B. Holt, Lyonidas, Tenn chest
badly bruised and injured internally.
Fl. o. Toms, Columbus, o., shoulder
and arm injured
Mrs. H. o. Toms. injured internally.
Mrs: NJ. Lee, Rogersville, Tenn,
head hurt and internal injuries.
The 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. internal
ly injured.
J. A. Kelley. Alexandria, head hurt.
sam L. Kelley, Alexandria. Va, head
and chest injured.
F. L. Fisher, Knoxville. head
bruised.
William Whitehead, Marysville.
Tenn, both hands and head injured.
J. w. Toohy, Greenville, ". c., leg
broken.
r. P. Harsh. Muskogee, L. T, head
and right hand injured.
H. B. Sargent, New Orleans, slightly
injured.
How 1t Occurred.
The wreck occurred on the tracks of
the Southern Railway. The train
plunged down a steep embankmant.
The locomotive went within thirty feet
of the Tennessee river. Four of the
coaches were burned outright.
The Cincinnati Southern train, from
Chattanooga to Cincinnati, was travel
ing behind the Inflated train ii having
to come by way of Knoxville on ac-
count of damage to the tracks of the
Cincinnati Southern between Chatta-
nooga and Hartman last night, This
train was awaiting orders at Loudon
when it was advised of the wreck. The
engine Of the 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 wrecking train, with physicians
and railroad officials, left this city i'm
mediately after the wreck was report
ed.
1t is stated that the wreck was caus-
ed by two landslides. In the first, it is
thought big boulder came down the
side of a bluff and fell upon the track.
These landslides spread the track.
ard when the locomotive 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 Lepoir City, Tenn, where
the railroad parallels the Tennessee
river for a considerable distance. The
construction of the road at this point
was very difficult engineering, and it
is the most unfortunate place for a
wreck.
Bibb Was Brave.
Just before Engineer Bibb died a
physician ,endeavored to have him
drink a little whisky, in the hope of
extending his life as long as possible.
The engineer refused it, saying:
II never have touched 10 yet. and
don't expect to begin to drink it now"
Continuing, he said:
Il am going to die, so go and look
after the women and children in the
coaches"
He expired a few minutes later.
The Chicago and Florida Limited of
the Cincinnati Southern road, one of
the finest trains in the country, run
ming from Jacksonville to Chicago,
was but a short time ahead of the
wrecked train. The Chicago Flyer,
which left Chattanooga ahead of
Bibb's train, was compelled to run to
Hartman by way of Knoxville, instead
of over it's own line for the reason
stated above. Had this train been
wrecked, the loss of life might have
been very much greater, as it always
.a-.-ias Innn Iist of nassanc-ar-s a,a