The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-22
Flames Released by Impact
Consume the Wreck.
CAPT. ". A. BROWN KILLED
And His Body Partially Consumed by the Fire
---3ear Eqd Collision in the Dead
of Night at Hen
derson.
Especial to News and Observer) }


coroner's jury found today that the
deceased, w A Brown, killed in a col
lision, near the coal chute, on or about
the goth of September, 1908, on the
Seaboard Air Line Railroad, came to his
death by the negligence of Engineer D. G..
Martin, who, after seeing that he could
not control his engine and train failed to
blow his danger whistle sufficiently t.
warn those who were in danger.
A terrible accident happened here Sun
day morning at the coal chute of the Sea
board Air Line.
accident happened here Sunday morning
at the coal chute of the Seaboard Air
Line
A northbound freight, No. %, had stopp-
ed at the chute about 2 a. M. to get coal
and water, and while standing on the track
another freight, No. 12, ran into the rear
of the first freight, smashing the caboose
and two freight cars and instantly killing
Capt. w. A. Brown.
On No. % were Engineer Asheworth,
Conductor Fennell The engineer of No
u was D. G.. Martin, Conductor, S. T.
| Crawford, Fireman, w c.. Miller, Flag
man, ). ID. Lee, Brakeman, Lewis Cahoon
The engine of the rear freight was bad
ly smashed in and at once set fire to the
debris of the wreck.
Tse dead hour of the night and the
small force of the two night trains made
it impossible for them to extinguish the
fire or even save the body of Capt
Brown from the flames
When the flames had died out there re-
mained but the ironwork of two cars. the
ties of car of cotton and the body of
Capt Brown.
So intense was the heat that the body
of the unfortunate man was almost COM
pletely consumed, the legs and arms be-
ing entirely destroyed and most of the
head and body. His watch, of heavy
silver type, was left melted mass Capt
Brown had charge of a bridge crew that
has been here for some time repairing the
bridges over the road and he had been up
to Raleigh on business and had caught
| this night freight in order TO get back to
his men as soon as possible. His caboose
is on the side track here a short distance
from where he was killed
Capt. Brown was thirty-four years old,
unmarried and from Rich Square, N. c.
His remains will be sent home tomorrow
The engineer who ran into the train
claims that his air brakes failed and he
could not stop.
The investigation by the coroner's jury
today brought out the following facts:
No. % with Engineer Ashworth, Fire
man w. G. Miller, Conductor Fennell had
stopped at the chute to get wood and
water and put out a hot box On this
train were passengers w. A. Brown and
negro, Hartwell Smith, who works for
Captain Brown. Hartwell testified before
the coroner's jury that when they got to
the chute the flagman walked them up and
told them that they were at Henderson.
That he got up and gave Captain Brown
his bundles and got off, as his home was
near the chute. That he walked slowly
to mis- home which is back down the rail
read about half mile. Saw fuses burn
ing down the road and saw one opposite
his home, these fuses were put out by hig
tram to warn any other train. Hartwell
says that he and Captain Brown were
| both asleep when they got to the chute
and that Captain Brown had time to go
to sleep again as he was not going to get
OF at the chute, but was going down
to the station where his crew slept. He
says that as he got off Captain Brown
told him to come up to the crew the next
morning. He says that as he got to his
house he heard the incoming train give
one whistle, saw it pass at about ten
miles an hour and saw it run into the
other train, but did not go down as he
did not think anythigg serious had hap
pced
J. ID. Lee. fagman on No. II, says he
heard no whistle and knew of no danger
till the train came to a standstil He
thought the train was running about five
miles an hour. He said that he got off
of the train and went up to the engine
and then saw a little fire starting in the
wrecked caboose and the fireman OF No
II trying to put it out.
Lewis Calhoon, brakeman on No. u.
says ne heard one whistle for hand brakes
and as he was standing at one brake he
applied that aud before he could get to
the other end of the car the smash-up
occurred. He says he was on the sixth
car from the engine and that the air was
working on that brake all right.
Conductor s F. Crawford says he was
in his caboose making out his report az
he had several cars to leave at Hender.
sen, and heard nothing Of the whistle and
knew nothing of the accident till he felt
the shock
Fireman W. G. Miller says he saw the
train a mile before they got to it and that
he said nothing to the egineer and the
.engineer said nothing to him but that
they both saw the other train on the
track and did all they could TO stop it
and when within three car-links of it