Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-09-15
TRAIN FELL INTO RIVER.
Engine and Coaches on Seaboard Air Line
Plunges Through Trestle.

CnarlOtte, N. I. (Special) ).-onoItiy
after I O'Clock A. M. train No, 4I on
the Scaboard Air Line Railroad con-
sistlng of all express car, mail car,
two day coaches and Pullman sleep
er, was derailcd at trcstlc just south
of the Catawba river, South Carolina,
and 22 miles southwest of Monroe, N.
c, followed by the wreck of light
engine and caboosc, resulting in the
death of a persons and the injuring Of
IS others.
J. M. Barr, first vice president and
general manager of the road, said that
there was evidence of malicious at
tempt to wreck the train, number
of joints having been found d,con-
neCted.
He gave the following details:
Train No. Al was in charge of Con-
ductor Richard West and Engineer
CASTOR Mears. The wreck occurred
about I O'Clock at the trestle just south
of Catawba River. South Carolina, and
22 miles southwest of Monroe, N. c.
The engine passed over the trestlc
and went down the embankment, kill
ing Colored Fireman Ed Roberts and
seriously injuring Engineer CASTOR
Alears. "A light engine and caboose,
running as No. I0, in charge of Con-
duclor Chapman and Engineer Z. Y.
Barksdale, which train was passed by
No, al a short distance east of the
point where the accident occurred,
ran into the damaged trestle and on
top OF the passenger train. resulting
in the death of the engineer of No.
10, the fireman of the passenger train
and of Mrs. Black and an unknown
lady passenger Two Pullman en-
ployes, six railway employees, one mail
clerk, one So1thern Express Company
employe and 20 passengers were in
jured."
The wrecked train was running
about 40 miles an hour when the tres
tie, which is about 800 feet long, span
ming a meadow near the Catawba
river, gave way. The engine and some
of the cars passed over, but were
drawn backward into the abyss and
upon the other cars, and then to add
to the disaster a light engine and ca
boose ran on top of the train OF
wreckage before it could be tagged.
CASTOR Mears, the engineer of the
passenger train, cscapd with some
bruises and painful scalp wound.
How he escaped death Is beyond his
own or anyone clsc's comprehension
He said that he was driving at the
rate of 40 miles an hour as he crossed
the bridge. Just before the engine
had swept entirely clear of the struc-
turc he felt it sinking, but the impetus
carried the engine and all the cars ex-
ccpt the frst-class passenger car and
the Pullman over and clear OF the
yawnng gulf, which was left when
half the bridge collapsed, but the ell
ginc and cars were swerved from their
course to the right, tearing the rail
loose from its iastcnings and hurting
the entire train upside down over an
cmbankment to the meadow, about 90
feet below
The accounts of the survivors are
terrible. When the train went crash
ing over the embankment every light
went out and passengers were thrown
heads over heels against the sides OF
the coaches, bleeding and bruised
Some were rendered unconscious for
moment Mrs. Black, sitting with
her husband, gave short cry and
when he managed to strike a match
and find her body he discovered that
she was dead, her neck having been
broken. She was the only passenger
killed or even hurt seriously