The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-24
Engineer Hollis Wright and Negro Mail Clerk
 Dead
THREE BADLY INJURED
 AND THIRTEEN SLIGHTLY
Through Train From Cincinnati And Decatur Accommodation Have Head End Collision at Morris, Nineteen
 Miles From Here.

In head-end collision at Morris. nine- teen miles north of Birmingham. yester- day afternoon at 405 o'clock between south-bound Louisville and Nashville passenger train No. and north-bound Decatur accommodation, No. 8, two peo- pie were killed and a score or more in- jured. None of the injured will die.
 The dead are:
 Engineer Hollis Wright, of No. 8. De- catur.
 Mail Clerk Henry Allen, negro, Nash ville
 Seriously injured:
 J. A. Williamson, express messenger, lives at 1897 Eighth avenue Birmingham, leg cut head cut and eyes injured.
 Ike W. Starr. Nashville, mail clerk, right leg badly cut, right wrist broken and cuts about body Has mother and sisters here.
 Warren Cummings and Albert Elmore. negro firemen, Decatur, cuts and bruises. Only Slightly Injured.
 Among the slightly injured are:
 T. T. sharritt, Morris. Ala, knee cut.
 George Allen, Decatur, ankle sprained and bruises
 c. P. Price, Decatur, right side in- jured
 Mrs. Laura voyles of Macon, H., right side of face hurt.
 Mrs. w. D. Salisbury, Warrior, bruises.
 Mrs. Mandy Roberts. Miss Ida Moss. L Tt1tf and shaken up.
 J. D. Morgan. Warrior, hip hurt.
 J. S. Humphries, Bardstown, Ky, right leg hurt.
 w. J. Crawford, Irondale, back
 Mrs. J. c. Williamson, Cardiff, neck hurt.
 w. T. Crawford. fagman, Decatur. shoulder spraned.
 Susie Atwater, slight injuries and bruises
 A few others, perhaps half dozen. were only little scratched. Conductors Presence of Mind.
 The comparatively small loss of life is accounted for by the presence of mind of Conductor J. T. Arnold of Nashville, who put on the emergency brakes and greatly lessened the speed of the south bound through train before the collision occurred.
 The wreck was in cut and the south- bound train was coming down a small grade. The two engines struck, and both remained on the track but the mail car No. 3 telescoped it's engine and it was under this wreckage that the lives were lost Three or four cars were demolished, but only one of those of the southbound train. No. was brought to Birmingham at 1 o'clock last night with all the in- jured and dead, as we'll as the passengers.
 The wrecking train from Birmingham was sent to the wreck and was followed by relief train with Superintendent Starks and several physicians. The wrecking train left here in twenty min utes after the first report of the wreck came in. Or in less time than it was ever got out before.
 As soon as the injured were made com fortable at the wreck the track was cleared and the train from the north was brought on through to Birmingham. All the injured were carried to St. Vincent's were carried to warner-Smiley's under- taking establishment. Cause of Wreck. The wreck was caused by train No. 3 passing the switch where it was to meet No. 8. The former Is the through train from Cincinnati to New Orleans and con- sisted of nine cars. two of which were sleepers and one diner. The latter IS the Decatur accommodation, which leaves here at 3:15.
 The trains have a siding where they meet at Morris. and it was just south If this siding that the wreck occurred.
 The south-bound train, instead of stop ping on the main line at the siding and allowing the local to go into the siding, came on through. Conductor Arnold saw the mistake and put on the emergency brakes. partially stopping the train. But for this the loss of life would probably have been large.
 The two trains met on curve and in a cut. so that 1t was impossible for either engineer to see the other until they were comparatively close. Engineer Allen, of No. 8, put on the brakes and jumped from his window when he saw the other train. His foot caught and caused the sprain. It is said that Hollis Wright stuck to his engine, as he was found un- der the debris. He was alive when found, but died just as the relief train was leaving Morris.
 Wild reports of the wreck were spread over the city. the number of killed being reported as being as great as 100. The reports were gradually corrected during the evening, and excitement subsided to large extent. There was a crowd of people at the station last night when the relief train came in, as many had friends or relatives on the train.
 The travel was unusually heavy yes- tefday on account of Christmas. The southbound train was section No. 2, which was put on to handle the traffic. DTS. Pressly, Northington. Hardness and Hays went up on the relief train and rendered medical relief to the suffering.
 A Coincidence.
 Six years ago yesterday Ike w. Starr, the mail clerk who was seriously injured in the wreck, and Mail Clerk Henry AL