The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-09-25


the major portions Of both trains were
demolished and why the orders were
disregarded or misinterpreted VIII
probably never be known, as the en-
gineers of the two trains were crushed.
their bodies remaining for hours under
the werckage of their locomotives.
Light Train Smashed.
The collision was between east
bound passenger train No. l. and west
bound passenger train No. | from Birs-
tol. No. i was a heavy train, carrying
three Puilma1s. Two day COACHES and
mali and baggage car. No. Is was a
light local train. The greatest loss Of
life occurred in the east-bound train,
while i'm the west bound train only the
engine crew were killed. Relief trains
were dispatched from Knoxville within
an hour. and all the physicians in the
vicinity of the wreck were doing all
they could when the local corps ar
rived
The first train arrived here from the
scene of the wreck at APO O'Clock,
bringing about seventy of the injured
Six of the injured aboard had died
while en- route to the city, and after
their bodies were taken off the train
proceeded TO a point near the general
hospital, where vehicles were in wait
ing and a large force of physicians
were ready to receive the wounded The
next train from the wreck arrived
shortly after O'clock. 1t brought the
bodies OF forty-three dead. The six
others who died en- route brings the
list up 10 fOrty-nine and there are at
least six more at the scene of the
wreck, none Of the bodies of the train
men having yet been recovered.
John w. Brown of RogersviIIe. Tenn
"a newspaper editor, was i'm the rear
coach of the westbound train. When
the fearful jolt came he said all the
seats in the car were torn loose and
people and seats were hurled TO thu
front end OF the car When he recov-
cred from the shock he heard the
screams and groans Of the injured and
dying in every direction.
Agonizing Scenes.
Il left the car" said Mr.. Brown. as
soon as 1 could, and walked TO the
main part of the wreck It was the
most horrible sight | ever witnessed
saw woman piHioned by a piece OF
split timber (which had gone com
pletely through her body A little child
quivering in deaths agony. lay beneath
the woman. I saw the child die AMI
within few feet OF her lay a woman <
head, the decapitated body being sew
eral feet away. Another little girl
whose body was fearfully mangled. was
piteousy calling for her mother
have since learned that she was Lucilie
Conner OF Knoxville and that both OF
her parents We're killed. 7 heard one
woman. terribly maRgled praying
earnestly 10 be spared for her children
bat death ensued in few minutes
Both engines and all of the coaches OF
No. Is were literally demolished. the
smoker and baggage car completely SO
The two engines lay to the north of
the track. jammed together into one
mass of ruins. The cars which Were
demolished were piled on the wrecked
engines"
Congressman Henry z. Gibson, from
the Second congressional district o.
Tennessee. was a passenger in a day
coach on the eastbOund train. He ami
another man. whose name is not
known. were the only persons to escape
alive from the demolished car. Con
gresham Gibson was en- route TO
Russenvnle. Tenn, TO deliver Dolit
zeal address.